Balducci Vineyards

The wine here is good, though not a ton of selections; I’d recommend the off-​dry «Natalia.» The pizza is also very good, and I would recommend the meat lovers. The biggest perks about this place are: you can bring your own food, there is a lot of seating and tables available, and a LOT of room to spread out and not feel like you’re imposing on anyone else. We went here for Mother’s Day, and every spot in the shade was already taken, so we set up a small tailgate tent, as had some other groups. Nice place for families to gather and spend an afternoon.
However, fair warning, while you can bring in food you cannot bring in any sort of beverages, even water. Bags are searched and they will make you take it out before entering.

Not a big selection of wines, but you can be your own food.
This winery has an expansive field to drink your wine. Lots of tables and picnic tables. The wine selection is minimal, particularly if you like sweet wines (they only have one). They do have a kitchen with pizza, chicken fingers, some cheeses and other items. The food was actually pretty good. There are two hidden bathrooms under the building where you buy food, otherwise there are several porta-​pottys. A band was playing when we were leaving, a cover band, and it was pretty good.
Overall, the whole reason I visit these wineries is for the wine selection and views, and Balducci’s severely lacks in both those areas.

Great little day trip. The winery was refreshing; close enough to feel like home yet far enough for picturesque green pastures & tranquility.
Balducci Vineyards offered plenty of seating options: plastic round tables & chairs, picnic benches, industrial fan equipped tents, A/​C flowing interior or your own blanket to toss over a shaded grassy area.
There was free wine tasting (Port tasting $ 2). I actually bought a bottle of the Port it was so delicious. If you’re hungry their food options are pretty delectable as well, specifically the pizza. Buffalo wings, buffalo ravioli & fried shrimp are also tasty.
Live music was decent; nothing encore worthy but OK.
The staff was nice, personable and welcoming.
Balducci branded wine glasses are available for $ 3 inside along with cigars, snacks, and other souvenirs.
There are 2 spacious and clean indoor restrooms located around the side of the building. I didn’t peak inside but 3 Port-​A-​Potties were lined up for the impatient.
This was a great winery experience and I’m sure to return.

My husband and I stopped in for a nice afternoon of wine and music, but waited for several minutes for wine tasting (she was only waiting on ONE other small group of guys 2 – 3), with not so much as an «I’ll be right with you» (she saw us but ignored us) Then acteed as if we were an imposition when the guys left and we moved over to where they had been standing. We tasted two wines and left. (We were given a smirk as we left.) So sorry Balducci, your loss. We live nearby so would have been regular customers.

I’m always confused why everyone absolutely loves this place. I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that I want something different from a winery than these people rating this place at 5 stars.
As a disclaimer, I tend to like wineries that are quiet and picturesque with staff that talk with you at length about their wines. Therefore, if you tend to be more like me, this place will not be for you. However, if you’re more into the band scene and like free tastings, then this may be your place. The scenery is generally nice. I wouldn’t say that the scenery is as nice as Montelle, Chandler Hill, or Mount Pleasant, but it is nice nonetheless.
Other nice things about this place… they have TONS of seating, including some seating inside. I’ve tried their pizzas and brie. I would highly recommend both. Their café has covered seating and I’ve never had to wait long to get food. I also appreciate that this place is open late, has tons of parking, and a good number of restrooms. I think the real reason I can’t get behind this winery is that their tastings are in mouth wash glasses off to the side. Furthermore, the staff doesn’t really engage you during the tasting and I hate loud bands.

I had lunch with the fiancé here a couple weekends ago. We live in the area so we occasionally hit up a different winery for lunch. He is not much of a drinker, and I am pregnant so I can’t review their wine selection right now but we both really enjoyed our lunch. My fiancé had the baked brie appetizer and it was awesome! Two HUGE pieces of Brie, one smothered in apricot jelly, the other in strawberry. I had the tomato basil wrap and it was excellent! The tomatoes were ripe and juicy and they didn’t skimp on the chicken. Also their baked potato chips are amazing!
Apart from the food, we really enjoyed just sitting outside and enjoying the view. I’ve been to Balduccis winery a few times and it’s never been so busy I couldn’t find a table and I’ve never been there when there were really loud, drunk crowds which is really nice. It’s always been a quiet, pleasant place to enjoy the weather and scenery and now I know they have good food too!

Everything from the laid back atmosphere to the barn décor and beautiful rolling hills of Missouri wine country bespeak of the Midwest hospitality and charm. The short walk from the parking lot to the winery was pleasant on an unseasonably cool afternoon in July. As most Missouri wineries, the semi-​sweet white wines are excellent, especially the Sonata. My party ordered some pizza and I selected a Chambourcin to pair with it. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Missouri wines, most of them are notoriously sweet. This stems from the grape varietals that grow well in the region and large German influence on the wine making. That being said, the Chambourcin was one of the most well-​balanced semi-​dry red wines I have ever had out of a Missouri winery. I would highly suggest it both as a sipping wine and table wine.
I am giving this a five-​star review for the service, which was extremely friendly, the quality of the food and wine, as well as the laid back and easy going atmosphere. This is a great stop on a tour of the Augusta area or just to have a nice lunch away from the office.

Not enough food selection, they have a SECURITY gaurd upon entering, they do not allow you to bring in your own water (on 100 degree days)… Go to Noboleis!

I made my first trip to the Augusta wineries on with a small group of friends. It’s only about an hour away from STL and I’ve never been before. THAT is crazy talk. Seriously, this was one of the 2 wineries I went to and it is beautiful!
When you pull up you’ll see a big olé’ barn and a gravel/​grass parking lot. The layout of the place is perfect. The building where you order food and wine has indoor seating but they also have outdoor and covered outdoor seating. The covered outdoor seating looked like it was set up for a wedding. I imagine in the summer this place is hopping with weddings.
Anyways, we grabbed two bottles of white wine and ordered some foot. We claimed a table outside where we could enjoy the weather and our wonderful booze. My only concern with going outside again is the bugs. As I write this review I’m thinking about all the itchy spots on my legs. No bueno. But this isn’t a Balducci problem, it’s a Missouri problem…
The food is super reasonable priced. I went with the streak sandwich with fries and it was all only $ 11. Very reasonable, filling, and delicious. The food isn’t super great but it’s still good. You go here for the wine and environment, but the noms are a plus.
If you haven’t been to Augusta yet I highly recommend making the visit and going to Balducci’s!

Beautiful scenery! The wines here have come a long way over the past decade since they opened. Their pizzas are amazing! This is the perfect location for a winery wedding!

I’m not sure how I feel about Balducci. I’ve been there some three or four times and I haven’t had a bad experience. I haven’t had a particularly good one either, though.
Balducci is another of the in-​the-​middle-​of-​nowhere-​and-​prettily-​so wineries. It’s a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the winery. Nothing extreme if you’re athletic or just as unathletic as I am. Anyway, you have been warned.
They have a checkpoint, at least on summer weekends, so your bags, etc. will be searched for beverages. I don’t remember if that includes water.
They don’t have lots of sweet wines. I think that was limited to a port, which I liked at one tasting and disliked at a subsequent one. Unfortunately, I purchased a bottle of it at the first tasting, but fortunately, I have not yet opened it. I guess it’s going to be some lucky friend or relative’s wedding gift!
The service is nice, but sometimes staff get a little too busy. At busy times, tastings take place outside at a little plastic table, like at Sugar Creek.
I’ve never stayed long at Balducci. I probably won’t, either, as I don’t love the selection. The place is typically packed.

It’s so worth it to go the extra couple of miles to get to Balducci. Yes, it’s smaller and not as well known, but the upside of that is smaller crowds and more personalized service. We pulled in with a bus full of 18 folks recently, and they could not have been more kind. Plenty of samples, friendly service, and they allow you to bring in your own food and picnic items. Like any winery or drinking establishment, they do not want you to bring your own beverages in, and I totally get that.
Speaking of beverages, we went with the vidal blanc, just a basic Missouri white along the lines of a pinot grigio. It was dry and light, perfect for the sunny day. Prices are very reasonable, a little lower than the more popular wineries in this area for a very similar product. With it being a cooler day, some of our group did go with dry reds that were also enjoyed, but I’m not big on drinking red outside in the sun. Blotchy skin and red lips– no thanks!
The views are absolutely stunning! Rolling hills, deep valleys, and loads of trees create a dynamic backdrop, The grounds themselves have a lovely farmhouse that either has live music or Sunday sports on the big screen. A bocce ball court gets a lot of use. In addition, there is so much land that it’s easy to find a spot for a blanket if all the tables are taken or you just want to relax on the grass.
In addition to some johnny on the spots outside, there are a few indoor restrooms that are in decent condition. I appreciate this option!
This was my first visit to this winery, and I am so glad that I know it’s here. I will be back next year!

Cute little 3.5 star winery. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon with friends over a bottle of wine. The vidal blanc was perfect for a hot summer day.

I’m so happy our hosts decided to bring us to Balducci Vineyards on our weekend trip to St. Louis. It was the perfect place to spend a beautiful summer day — we brought a picnic, bought a few bottles of wine (following the tasting), played some frisbee in the field, and danced to the awesome 50’s style band.
Laid out on a gorgeous open field, Balducci Vineyards is not your average winery. Guests are welcome to bring their own food (no drinks though — even water!) and spend the day lounging on Balducci’s extra large patio in the sun or shade. They have a free tasting available (for about 5 or 6 wines) and a place where you can buy bottles and select glasses. Make sure you come prepared; ice and wine glasses will cost you extra! I believe the «doors» open at 11, so make sure to get there early — it was pretty packed by the afternoon!
Truly the perfect spot for a lazy Saturday or Sunday!

It’s a beautiful view out there! I would encourage anyone to go there. It’s very calming, peaceful, cozy and has a lovely feel of down to earth place to be at. Driving up to the winery, was greeted by this awesome chocolate lab outside who appears to be happy, wagging tail in greeting customers.
The service was very friendly, the food was incredible and their wine selection (small) but was very tastable. I would love to return to this place if I had a chance in the future!

This is my favorite Augusta winery.
They always have a live band and you can watch some questionable dancing.
The tents are great for any type of weather. The wine selection is commendable and you can always bring your own food.
Down to earth with excellent view and customer service.

I grew up working at the Balducci restaurant in Saint Louis, so when it came time for my wedding, what better place than their winery!
First of, let me start by saying that Karen, their event planner, was extremely helpful throughout the whole process. We had a very small wedding, only 25 people, and she was very accomodating and worked with us.
For our wedding, we had the Italian Salad and Chicken Con Broccoli which were both delicious. I knew the food would be good though having grown up around similar recipes.
As for the wines: The port wine they carry is a very strong port and it is wonderful. So much so that when we went for our tasting before the wedding, I had to drive home because my father in law had too much. Which was suprising to me since all he had was his tasting portion, as well as most of mine.
The Dolce Bianco is one of the best sweet white wines I have ever tasted. We ended up buying multiple bottles to take home and I am planning on taking a trip out there very soon to get more.
The only downfall to Balducci wines is they are not carried in local grocery stores like most of the other local wineries. I would like to see that change so I do not have to drive to Augusta. Some wines are carried at the Saint Louis restaurant, but only a limited few.

Oh! Oh! Oh! I can’t believe I’ve been going to Montelle over and over and completely ignoring Balducci. Never again will that happen!
This winery is a really nice size and parking was very easy, but granted, we got there around 11:30am… any later and it might have been more difficult to get a great spot. The first thing I noticed was the scenery, and WOW is it breathtaking! Out of all of the wineries in Augusta, this one (in my opinion) has the best views, the trees this time of year are gorgeous. We’re lucky to have places as relaxing & peaceful as Augusta so close to St. Louis.
The guys behind the counter doing the wine tastings today were so fun and friendly, and took us through every single kind they had (from the awful, sweet, cavity-​inducing varietals to the dry chards and pinot grigios.) I really like what they had to offer, but oddly enough I decided to spend the day drinking O’Fallon’s Pumpkin Ale. Loved that they had it!
The food we had was great and definitely was better than I’ve had at any winery around here. They had great salads, cheese and sausage platters perfect for a group, and the pizza we had was perfect! So many good things…
My only complaint is the only bathrooms they have are porta-​pottys, and NO thank you. If you really have to go that bad, drive down to the biker bars.
Can’t wait for another trip before Jack Frost graces us with his presence!

We drove out here on a Saturday around 4pm, and it was already pretty crowded. Located in basically a lot of cornfields, the place is open and has a lot of room. There was a large tend with tables and a band, then more tables scattered about. We made our way to the main building where we tried some wines.
We ended up with the Sonoma (a bottle) and one pumpkin beer (it was in season) and a cheese and meat tray (summer sausage and some cheeses in one of those plastic carryout boxes) and went on our merry way to find a table. You get plastic cups to pour the wine into. It’s not high class, but it’s cute. It seems like a place where a lot of people go to get a bit crazy, evident by the large amount of young brides-​to-​be with their girls. It’s an amazingly movie like bachelorette party thing — I felt like I was watching some chick flick — I heard a girl talk about how her husband didn’t actually wanna marry her or something while downing a glass of wine and a lot of drunken dancing. It was better entertainment than the band I gotta say.
The live music was nice. It’s just good in the background, but we sat far enough away to not really have it be the center of the night. The music wasn’t anything I was really wowed by, more of just a mention.
The wine isn’t truly worth the price, but it’s good, and I think you’re more paying for the experience (which…I guess… actually…isn’t much) and crowd.
Still partying in a cornfield is a weirddd thing to me.

Balducci’s is one of my favorite Missouri Wineries! Not only do they have great wines, but the views are beautiful and open, it is never too crowded as the tables are very spread out, the outdoor seating area is HUGE, and you have the options of sitting with a large group in the sun or cozy up in the shade of one of the barns or under a tree. They have great live music on the weekends including blues and jazz, as well as some food items including their delicious pizza. Although, you are still more than welcome to bring your own picnic basket full of goodies!
I recommend their sweet or semi sweet white wines as I prefer them on a warm sunny day over reds, but I still need to try their reds! Their wines are a bit more pricey than some of the other wineries, but it is worth it!
I can’t wait to spend more time at Balducci’s this summer!
P. S. Check out their restaurant (Balducii’s) in Maryland Heights!