Mount Pleasant Winery

I LOVE Mt Pleasant. Well named

I LOVE Mt Pleasant. Well named

We have been biking the Katy Trail for 10 years and stopping at Mount Pleasant winery for lunch and wine. Until a few years ago we could bring food onto the premises, then the policy changed to "no food" but you could buy lunch there. The food was well prepared so we were OK with buying our lunch. Then the food offered went down in quality but was still expensive. At that point they lost our business forever.
"No outside food or beverages are allowed on the premises as part of their sustainable practices". What does that mean?

They can not sustain their business (continue to exist) without food and beverage sales. If you bring food or drink and in use the winery only for a place to land, they make no money. Looks like they don't like people just sitting around without spending any money. Pretty common, most businesses like to make money while they provide a place to hang out.

ten years ago it was getting bad to visit this winery but now it is well over the top... cost to taste/event charges & the wine is not that good to pay a high price!!!! much better wineries all surrounding Mt Pleasant

I don't understand why people continue to patronize Mt. Pleasant Winery. My experiences there have been decidedly UN-pleasant. I went there with friends on Columbus Day in 2008. In order to sit on the patio, we paid *double the retail price* for each bottle of wine. Drink it inside, it's $10; drink it outside, it's $20. Ridiculous! Went back on a Sunday afternoon with a different group and had to pay a fee just to enter the grounds. The place was so packed, there were no tables or chairs available for us. A member of the security team took pity on us and let us have a "reserved" table that hadn't been claimed. The food choices were quite limited: cheese cubes, sausage, hot dogs, hamburgers and deli sandwiches...except the "market" had run out of lunchmeat, so sandwiches were no longer an option. A friend and I were hungry (we had cycled to the winery), so we went back down the hill and ate at the Augustry Brewery near the trailhead, which was less crowded and offered a better selection of food. Other wineries and restaurants along the Katy also are more appealing and hospitable than Mt. Pleasant; I suggest trying one of them...unless you like paying a 100% upcharge for the view and trying to fill up on cheese or pairing your wine with hot dogs.

Ugh. Another restaurant critique, how was your bike ride?

I hear ya about Mt Pleasant. We went there to get a cheap bottle of wine and a quick sandwich. Yea, they told us we could just buy our wine at the market with our lunch. When we got there the wine prices were outrageous!! But, the lady working there told us we could get our lunch and go back to the "take home" area, buy our wine and take it to the park across the street. Much cheaper and we could still hear the band very well. Even though they had only been open for an hour they were already sold out of a few wines. I have seen much better service elsewhere.

Went to the Cyclocross there. Definitely bike friendly despite being in un friendly St. Charles County. People brought dogs, kids and generally had a great time. They seemed very concerned to undo the damage done by Brasell and company. Wine was really good, the biking was hard. Make an easier course! Bicyclists need to patronize this place!!!

This is my least favorite winery on the "wine strasse." It is a large operation with an almost sterile-Disney Land type feel. While I have had their wine before and it was decent, I resent that they charge $5 for 5 tastings. I have not visited another winery in the state that charges. Also, at most wineries, the workers are very friendly and courteous. Not here! They acted like it was a huge nuisance to be serving their customers. I would recommend any of the other wineries along Highway 94 over Mount Pleasant. Montelle and the winery in Dutzow are especially nice.

I have to agree. The $5.00 charge really put me off.

Also the younger crowd, unable to handle their wine, gave it a real

"frat party" atmosphere. However in all fairness, it must be noted that I am new to the winery scene and have only a few other experiences to judge it on. Montelle and Dutzow are both very nice places.

That's funny because I noticed there were A LOT of older people that couldn't handle the wine when I was there. It was very suprising to me and funny!

I enjoyed Mount Pleasant. I'm also new to the winery scene. I've never been to one that charges for tasting but it didnt bother me. I receive a coupon & got my $5 back when I bought a bottle (or 2)to take home in the gift shop, so it evened out. The wine was tasty! I appreciate the person who compares it to Europien wines. The view was nice, entertainment in the afternoon on weekends. We enjoyed ourselves & will be back.

I was surprised of the poor comments about Mount Pleasant Winery. I consider myself a "wine snob" and visit not only Missouri Wineries, but most vacations will include a winery or two. Wake-up. Try visiting Napa, Sonoma or New Zealand without paying upwards of $45.00 to try estate wines. Or a tour of the winery. Sorry for the folks who pay $5.00 for a bottle of wine. You get what you pay for, I wouldn't cook with a $5.00 bottle of wine, let alone drink it. My experience with Mount Pleasant? I paid around $20.00 for a bottle of Vignoles that I compair to a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc. This was a great wine. I sat with my friends in the reserve section, and enjoyed the band. I'm "older" but didn't get so wasted that I couldn't ride back to our car. Sorry losers, you don't realize what you have. Next time don't stop and save your 5 bucks for some Mad Dog 20-20.

So I take it you want everyone to know you've been to Napa, Sonoma and New Zealand. My, oh my, You were pretty dead on with the part about being a snob.

I guess I better tuck my tail between my legs, go swill my Mad Dog and stagger back to my car.

--one of the "losers" :-)

Nice touch GC. I especially enjoyed the double entry! :)

Ray,something has gone haywire. I laughed at the double entry above untill I realized I had done the same thing. Does this mean we are stuttering? :)

Say it aint so, JK!

In response to Peter's travels, I appreciate his offerings of comparing Missouri wines to renowned wine districts. This is not the writing of a wine snob, just an informed oenophile. Yes, many wineries do charge for tasting now. Just soaking in the history of Mount Pleasant is worth the $5.00. Enjoy!

I'm originally from St. Louis, but live in Alabama now. I have been coming to Mt Pleasant for years. I remember paying $5-$6 a bottle. Last weekend, I took my girlfriend on a driving tour of Missouri's wine region. We stayed Saturday night in Augusta and met old friends at Mt. Pleasant, but the experience was horrible and awful. First, they charge you for tasting. Second, they charge for sitting and drinking their wine. Third, around 3 PM, Security (SHOULD I SAY NAZIS) made us move from your table for a wedding party that never materialized-we had to sit on a brick wall. Fourth, the smell from the local pig farm was overwhelming. How can they charge $30 a bottle now is beyond me. All that I can say is that Mt. Pleasant desires that pig farm. I will never go back.