{{Short description|American Viticultural Area in Missouri}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox wine region | name = Hermann | image = TTB Map Hermann AVA.png | caption = | official name = | other names = | type = American Viticultural Area | year = 1983<ref name="Establish">{{cite journal |url=https://www.ttb.gov/media/68797/download?inline | title=Establishment of the Hermann Viticultural Area | journal=Federal Register | publisher=Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury |format=27 CFR 9 [T.D. ATF-136; Ref: Notice No. 440] Final Rule |volume=48 | issue=161 | pages=37371–37372 |date=1983-08-18}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> | wine years = {{years ago|1847}}<ref name="Establish"/> | country = United States | part of = Missouri, Ozark Mountain AVA | similar = Ozark Highlands AVA | sub regions = | season = 156 days<ref name="Almanac">{{cite web |title=Frost Dates for Hermann, MO|url=https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates/MO/Hermann| website=Almanac.com|publisher=Yankee Publishing Inc.|date=2025}}</ref> | climate region = Continental | heat units = | precipitation = {{cvt|39.55|in|0}}<ref name="TimeandDate">{{cite web |title=Climate & Weather Averages in Hermann, Missouri, USA |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@4390221/climate |website=Time and Date AS |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref> | soil = silty loam and fertile loess<ref name="Appellation_America"/> | total size = {{cvt|51200|acre|sqmi|0}}<ref name="Establish"/> | planted = {{cvt|102|acre}}<ref name="Establish"/> | vineyards = | grapes = Chambourcin, Norton, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Steuben, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles<ref name="Appellation_America">{{cite web |title = Hermann (AVA): Appellation Profile |url= http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Hermann.html| website=Appellation America | date=2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130902164442/http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Hermann.html |archive-date=2013-09-02 | url-status=live}}</ref> | varietals = | wineries = 7<ref name="Appellation_America"/> | wine produced = | designation = | comments = }}
'''Hermann''' is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in northern portion of Gasconade and Franklin Counties on the southern banks of the Missouri River. It was established as the nation's 36<sup>th</sup> and the state's second AVA<ref name="TTB_AVAs">{{cite web |title=List of AVAs by Establishment Date |url=https://www.ttb.gov/regulated-commodities/beverage-alcohol/wine/ava-establishment-dates |website=TTB.gov |date=2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205032450/https://www.ttb.gov/regulated-commodities/beverage-alcohol/wine/ava-establishment-dates|archive-date=2025-02-05|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2025}}</ref> on August 18, 1983, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Jim Bias, president of Bias Vineyards & Winery, and Jim Held, president of Stone Hill Wine Co., on behalf of local vintners proposing the viticultural area in central Missouri, along the Missouri River, known as "Hermann."<ref name="Petition">{{cite web | website=TTB.gov |url=https://www.ttb.gov/media/68798/download?inline|title=Petition to Establish "Hermann Viticultural Area" |author1=Bias, Jim. |author2=Held, Jim|publisher=Bias Vineyards & Winery|date=1982-07-22}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
The wine appellation is named after the town of Hermann, about halfway between St. Louis and Jefferson City. The AVA expands across the northernmost hills of the Ozark Plateau with many of the {{cvt|200|acre}} of vineyards planted along south-facing slopes. As of 2007, seven wineries were sourcing grapes in the appellation, including Missouri's largest winery, Stone Hill Winery.<ref name="Dufurpg68">{{cite book |author1=Dufur, Brett | title=Exploring Missouri Wine Country | pages=[https://archive.org/details/exploringmissour0000dufu/page/68/mode/2up 68–71]| publisher=Pebble Publishing | edition=2nd |isbn=0-9646625-6-6|url=https://archive.org/details/exploringmissour0000dufu |location=Columbia, MO|date=1999| ref=refDurfur1999}}</ref> The area is a flood plain with alluvial soil deposits up to {{convert|30|ft}} deep. Growing conditions have been compared to those in southern and eastern Germany. The USDA plant hardiness zone is 6a.<ref name="Plantmaps">{{cite web |url=https://www.plantmaps.com/en/wine-region-maps/united-states/hermann| title=Hermann - American Viticultural Area (AVA)|website=Plantmaps.com |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724115509/https://www.plantmaps.com/en/wine-region-maps/united-states/hermann | archive-date=2024-07-24 |url-status=live}}</ref> A wide variety of grapes are grown in Hermann, including ''Vitis vinifera'', ''Vitis labrusca'', and French hybrids.<ref name="Appellation_America"/>
==History== [[File:Hermann statue closeup.jpeg|thumb|150px|left|Statue of Hermann (Latin name ''Arminius''), namesake of the Hermann region.]] The Hermann area was founded in 1836 by settlers from the German Settlement Society. Pioneer leader George Bayer selected a location along the banks of the Missouri River for its similarities to the Rheingau region that many of the settlers came from. The area was named Hermann after Arminius of Germania, a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe, who defeated three Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. This "Second Fatherland" was intended for German immigrants to be a self-supporting refuge for their heritage and traditions. The settlers established a joint-stock company and advertised widely throughout the United States and Germany, seeking farmers, laborers, winemakers and artisans to establish what they called a "''German Athens of the West''."<ref name="Dufurpg1956">Dufer (1999), pp.[https://archive.org/details/exploringmissour0000dufu/page/19/mode/2up 19],[https://archive.org/details/exploringmissour0000dufu/page/56/mode/2up 56]</ref>
Winemaking and viticulture were quickly established in Hermann and by 1852 there were more than {{cvt|470|acre}} planted to grape vines. Several modern Hermann wineries can trace their origins to this period. Stone Hill's cellars were constructed in 1847, the Hermanhoff Winery was founded in 1852 and Adam Puchta Winery, in 1855, was founded by immigrants from Oberkotzau, Bavaria who had struck gold during the California Gold Rush before returning to Hermann. At the turn of the 20th century, Stone Hill Winery was the third largest winery in the world, producing over {{convert|1250000|usgal|L}} of wine and achieving favorable results at international wine competitions.<ref name="Dufurpg68"/><ref name="Opus">{{cite book | author=Gordon, Jim | title=Opus Vino|url=https://archive.org/details/opusvino0000unse | page=[https://archive.org/details/opusvino0000unse/page/122/mode/2up 123] | publisher=DK Publishing | location=New York | date=2010-10-18 | isbn=978-0-7566-6751-1|ref=refGordon2010 }}</ref><ref name="Pfister">{{cite book | author= Pfister, Fred | url= https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetob00pfis | title=Insiders' Guide to Branson and the Ozark Mountains| page=[https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetob00pfis/page/127/mode/2up 127] | publisher= Globe Pequot Press |edition=5th | date=2004-07-01 | isbn=978-0-7627-2998-2 |access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref><ref name="Hermann_History">{{cite web | website=Missouri River Communities Network | url=http://www.moriver.org/bicentennial/tour3osage/x27hermanntext.html | title=History of Hermann | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110727092758/http://www.moriver.org/bicentennial/tour3osage/x27hermanntext.html | archive-date=2011-07-27 | access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref>
Prohibition in the United States completely wiped out the commercial wine industry in Hermann. The large underground cellars of Stone Hill Winery were converted to mushroom farms and most of the vineyards were uprooted and planted with corn, oat, wheat and barley. After the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the Great Depression and World War II, it was several decades until the Hermann wine industry recovered when the original wineries reopened: Stone Hill in 1965, Hermannhof in 1974 and Adam Puchta in 1989. Today, there is around {{cvt|200|acre}} under vine with the Hermann Wine Trail as the primer enotourism guide of the Missouri Rhineland.<ref name="Dufurpg68"/>
==Viticulture== [[File:120 Year Old Norton Cynthiana Grapevine.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Norton vintage alongside an estimated 170-year-old Norton (Cynthiana) vine cultivated by legendary American vintner George Hussman, considered the "father of Missouri viticulture", on his original property.<ref name="Husmann_Wine">{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.ghusmannwine.com/about |website=G. Husmann Wine Co |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref> The vines are now cultivated by [https://oakglenn.com/ OakGlenn Winery] of Hermann and still produces fruit.]]
A wide variety of grapes are grown in Hermann, including the ''Vitis vinifera'' Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon, the ''Vitis labrusca'' Concord and Catawba, the ''Vitis aestivalis'' variety Norton (Cynthiana), and several hybrid varieties including Chambourcin, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Steuben, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles, Chardonel, Cayuga, Edelweiss and De Chaunac.<ref name="Dufurpg68"/>
The region also produces a wide variety of wine styles ranging from sweet late harvest dessert wines and fortified wines, including port-style and solera made sherry-style wines to drier still red, white and ''rosés''. Many fruit wines are also produced, usually from cherry, strawberry or raspberries.<ref name="Dufurpg68"/> {{Gallery |mode=packed |align=center |File: |Stone Hill Winery and Hermann AVA.jpg|The Ozark hills overlooking Stone Hill Winery and Vineyards |File: |Vineyard in Hermann, MO.jpg|Hermann Vineyards }}
==See also== *List of wineries in Missouri * Missouri Rhineland
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Further reading== * {{cite journal|author1=Muehl, Siegmar|title=Winegrowing in the Hermann Area: Early Years' Chronicle |journal=Missouri Historical Review| date=April 1993|volume=87 |issue=3|pages=233–252|url=https://digital.shsmo.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/mhr/id/46393/rec/5?_gl=1*1bjzsw1*_ga*MTkyNjAzOTc5My4xNjk4NDYxMDM0*_ga_B5NXL6MKLP*MTY5ODY2NTc4OC42LjEuMTY5ODY2NzcwMS4wLjAuMA}}
==External links== * [https://hermannwinetrail.com/ Hermann Wine Trail] * [https://www.ttb.gov/ava/ TTB AVA Map]
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Category:American Viticultural Areas of Missouri Category:Geography of Gasconade County, Missouri Category:1983 establishments in Missouri
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