Our History
01
OUR History
In 1859, two brothers from Germany, George and Frederick Muench, established Mount Pleasant Winery as a commercial wine business.
Historical Roots
With more than 150 years of winemaking excellence, Mount Pleasant Estates is what every Missouri winery aspires to be.
As the oldest winery in the Augusta Appellation, Mount Pleasant’s rich history is a testament to Missouri’s long-standing contribution to the global wine industry.
In 1859, two brothers from Germany, George and Frederick Muench, established Mount Pleasant Winery as a commercial wine business. The Muench brothers built the cellars in 1881, using the wood and limestone from the area. These cellars are still used today to age Mount Pleasant’s estate-bottled wines and internationally award-winning Augusta Ports. The Muench brothers shipped barrels of wine up the river to Chicago, to be enjoyed all over the world.
When Prohibition was enacted in 1920, the winery was forced to close. The wine and all of the winemaking equipment was destroyed and the vineyards were set on fire.
Mount Pleasant is the oldest and the most well established winery in Augusta. The winery grows 9 grape varieties on 125 acres, winning numerous prestigious awards and achieving high point-ratings.
02
Reviving Mount Pleasant
It wasn’t until 1966 when Lucian Dressel and his wife Eva purchased the property that Mount Pleasant was reopened as a winery. They replanted the vineyards with self-rooted vines and classic grafted European varieties, turning Mount Pleasant into a destination.
In 1980, Augusta was chosen to be the first government-appointed wine-growing district. The first American Viticultural Area (AVA) became known as the Augusta Appellation.
Keeping the winery in the Dressel family, Chuck Dressel’s family purchased Mount Pleasant from their uncle, Lucian Dressel, in 1992 and then in 2021 was purchased and restored by the Hoffmann Family of Companies to it’s original colors and prestige.
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Mount Pleasant Today
Now part of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, visitors to the winery in Augusta enjoy tasting wine in the renovated spacious 4,000 square-foot tasting room and sipping wine on the remodeled campus and terrace with spectacular views of the Missouri River Valley. Enjoy entertainment on weekends in season and cellar tours, wine classes, winemaker dinners, holiday-themed events, and more.
