Reply to Mount Pleasant Winery (Augusta)

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!!!