meramec vineyards

My sister and I ate lunch here today, since this is one of our favorite places for lunch in St. James. I had quiche, which I always order because it's so fabulous and it's something I don't eat anywhere else. Today's quiche was Mushroom & Onion and was served with salad and 2 slices of great French bread. My sister also normally orders the quiche but decided to try the BLT, which she said was also great. Neither one of us ordered wine. Lunch is served in a small room with only a few tables; however, there's outside seating and also a room for large parties. We always get good service, with very friendly servers, and we never have a lengthy wait for our food. Prices are extremely reasonable. We also enjoy looking around the gift shop.

I travel through St. James quite often for business and have stopped at area wineries for many many years. This was my first and last trip to Meramac. After a long day of working with horses at the sale barn, I took a break and headed to the winery on a mission to stock up for an upcoming vacation. The young man working apparently thought I had no money to spend because of my barn appearance. He was rude, would not work with me. I even told him I was stocking up. He would pour wine and leave, I didnt know what I was tasting. I decided to leave only purchasing 1 unique fall wine that I liked. The employee laughed at me asking if that was "stocking up" for me. I advised him I was leaving for another winery that would assist me where I would and did purchase 2 cases of wine. The wine was good but the service was TERRIBLE.

The staff (which usually includes the owners) are very welcoming and friendly - wine tasting is in the store area, which has a fun assortment of wine-related items for purchase. There is also a cafe which serves a nice variety of good foods, with items on the standard menu, and typically two quiches and a soup of the day (plus dessert of the day). Service in the cafe was good, though we did have to ask for refills on our water and coffee. Food was very good and reasonably priced. We've also been to evening events here (there's a Friday evening entertainment series) which have been great fun, and held in their larger event room. There's also a bocce court, though it needs some tender loving care.

The wines were fine, a carefully chosen small selection, but the food was the most impressive to my urban quick, light lunch taste. My artichoke & caper quiche was light and fluffy and not packed down and flat like many are. It came with a small salad. Delicious. Surprising in this meat-heavy food culture. The staff were very accommodating and informative. I think it would be lovely in the summer. Enjoyed ourselves very much.

This is the second vineyard down Route B in St. James and has its own identity. Meramec is much smaller than the St. James up the road but more serious about the grape wines. Didn't ask our helper whether she was the proprietor, but she was very knowledgable about her wines and about the history of the Missouri industry. Sampling 3 vintages of the state grape based Norton wine was particularly educational. What sets this place apart, however, was the small bistro and larger restaurant attached. Their signature dish is a quiche (a steal at $6.50 or so with a nice salad of tender field greens), and they have a short list of soups and sandwiches. This makes a good stop if you're exploring the wineries, and if wine isn't your thing, they have a short list of good beers too. Small, friendly, tasty.

Have visited this winery many times, I grow fonder of it with each visit. Staff are well informed about all their wines and you taste in real wine glasses. More wineries are going with plastic for tasting, which goes against my green spirit. The menu is small but very diverse and most food is made on site, giving it a very fresh taste. Their events, in season, are also diverse, so check them out when you are in the area. They are one of my favorite wineries in this area, and one of the friendliest!

Another surprise which makes this small town a lovely getaway. If you have reached the point in city living that you need to experience something different, try St. James. The wine here is excellent and the food (seven days a week) willl please.

Again, not really a winery, but this wine shop is smaller that St. James, and has a nice lunch restaurant there as well. Some good dryer wines than St. James.

We always sample the wines and buy a few bottles. The lunch is always good in a pleasant atmosphere. There's a gift shop also.

We had been wanting to visit a winery our whole road trip. This is the first one we found open. Pass up St. James Winery for this one to discover some creative, interesting and beautifully named wines! The gift area and tasting bar are beautifully decorated. This winery has a 10% discount on six bottles; at the oath er place you have to buy a case (12). Reasonable prices, too!

I know owner, Phyllis Meagher personally. She works hard to provide the best wines. Too, dinner with Phyllis is a meal you will long rmember.

Beautiful little winery with great wine and atmosphere. A Bistro with delicious food, and WINE DOWN FRIDAY--every friday in the summer. They offer great food, good wine, and a variety of really good musicians. Love, Love, Love it!!!

The wines were terrible, the food was tasteless, and the quiche I heard so much about, lame.The person offering the wine tasting was pleasant but treated you like it was your first time ever tasting. I mean come on, I know what a Riesling is and hate to tell you but it was Germany that made it famous not your vineyard. The waitress was very unfriendly and my food was cold. Cold tilapia is hard to eat but I didn't want to offend my host so I ate it. Not sure how or why this place is still in business. Have these people never had good wine and quiche?

The wines are very poor. The lunch cafe was nice in the past. Recently, it has been very disappointing. Very slow service. Very limited menu. The quiche contains eggs but virtually no cheese or other accompaniment, such as artichokes or tomatoes.

I consistently choose this bonuses over the Saint James winery. It is just down the road from the St. James winery, and just as charming, in my opinion. They have a wonderful wine selection, and they always have a delightful face behind the counter. In the fall, on Fridays they host what is called the "Friday night wine down" where they serve a delicious menu, have live music and all the wine you want. It is a wonderful way to end a week. In the alto.g and summer, flowers bloom all around, and in the winter mo.the, when dining or drinking indoors is a must, you have an incredible view of where they make the wine. I love this winery!