Good wines and food - great service - nice view - beautiful setting did I mention great service at both the tasting room and restaurant.

We have been to DRW many, many times this year, including the Friday night music shows. We always get the table service and the servers are outstanding! They don't miss a beat regardless of crowd size. The food is amazing either from the menu or the To Go window, which has wine slushies! Yes! DRW has it going on! Recommend 100% read more

Took my mom to lunch here. She loved it. The food was great and the view was amazing. Friendly server who accommodated our special requests.

Still love this place. The trout sandwich is so good. It is a great sandwich to have on a warm day since it is a light. I also enjoy the chicken littles with Buffalo sauce. Their Buffalo sauce here has a bit of sweetness so it is perfect! In addition, the staff here is always so nice and helpful. Even on super busy days they get to every table and check in often. read more

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We love this winery! It's a perfect stop off the Katy trail! We have come here the last two years in a row for lunch. The views are beautiful. The drinks are good and the food is, too! We have had good service both times and have enjoyed the live music. I highly recommend coming here, whether it be for a stop on your Katy Trail ride or a nice lunch at a winery. read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Lunch menu - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

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Beautiful patio, food, and service! They have Missouri wines and they also have vineyards in Oregon that sends grapes back to Missouri for processing. Don't sleep on this place. It's worth the drive, especially on a sunny fall day. read more

Our niece suggested we visit Defiance Ridge Vineyards (DRV) while visiting them in St. Charles, Missouri. DRV is a restaurant and full-service bar operating on a first come, first serve basis. The only reservations taken are for members of their wine club. Exceptions are made for large groups who can call ahead for reservations. We planned to arrive when they first opened due to the popularity of the Vineyards and no reservations. Lunch is served Monday - Sunday 11:00a - 4:00p. The drive to Defiance Ridge Vineyards was so beautiful and relaxing with all the curvy country roads and lush green rolling hills overlooking the Missouri River Valley. As we drove up to the large, white farmhouse, I could see why it was a destination point. We received a warm welcome from the staff and were seated immediately indoors. The high temperature and humidity outdoors were staggering, so we chose to dine indoors. We still had the lovely views of the rolling hills, vineyards, and terraces from inside. The lunch menu offered some unique and intriguing options we don't often find in Indy. We started with the flavorful, breaded, beer-battered fried pickles. Our second appetizer was the buttermilk fried chicken called Chicken Little Bites that were extremely tender and served with a buttermilk herb dressing. Both appetizers were terrific and devoured. Our entrees were the uncommon Smoked Trout Sandwich with cucumbers, red onions, lemon capers dill spread on marble rye. Our niece found it unique and savory. Both our husbands had the chambourcin vine smoked brisket with crispy onions, chambourcin bbq sauce on brioche bun. It received rave reviews. I had the awesome grapevine chicken salad made with shredded chicken breast, grapes toasted almonds, and Dijon mustard on a large, fresh crossiant. All the sandwiches are served with chips, slaw, or fries for a $2 upcharge. After lunch, we checked out the restaurant, bar, wine selection, and oudoor terraces and veranda. The bar was surrounded by folks enjoying wine tasting or simply having a glass of their favorite wine. Defiance Ridge Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of historic Missouri Wine Country. You could spend hours wandering this 42-acre property. On the property are their vineyards' used for their award winning wines they are super proud of, a tranquil lake and lush garden landscape. We found breathtaking views of the sweeping Missouri River Valley from the terraces and veranda surrounding the historic, white farmhouse. A stunning location for any type of event from a wedding, bridal shower, anniversary, or birthday party. We loved visiting for lunch and hope to visit again on our next trip. read more

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Really good wines! Fun events for members. Servers are very nice! Cool vibe inside and really pretty outside.

Why would you have a sign that says "dinner on Wednesdays & Thursdays" and "open until 9" and then tell us when we arrive at 7:55 that the kitchen closes at 8. And, the server did get to our table at 8:01. Terrible way to treat your customers. read more

Took advantage of a warm day and came out to try some wines & have a meal. When you walk in there's the wine bar where you can do tastings (note if it's crowded they will have you wait and take you when a space opens up). I got to meet one of the owners who came in towards the end of my tasting and poured me a few extras to find the perfect wine for a day out on the patio! Seating is first come first serve with indoor and outdoor space. It was busy so it took a while for me to snatch up and outdoor table. I did a wine tasting, had a glass of white, took home a bottle of dessert white, and ordered the corned beef sandwich and fries upon the waitresses advice Pros: -THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD! My family ate the leftovers and wants to go to the winery when I do not to drink wine but to eat that sandwich again! -I love that they have a food menu not just cheese and crackers to help soak up all the wine. There are also water stations to stay hydrated -the space is beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating with a place for live music. There is also a covered indoor seating area full of windows so you don't miss the view -the wine selection was great! I got to taste a good variety of different wines Cons: -the only con I could point out is when it's busy finding seating can be hard. Depending on staffing sections of outdoor may be closed off so you either have to sit inside or wait for people to leave an outdoor table. I've been here a few times and I absolutely will come back! One of my top choices of wineries here read more

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Wonderful gatherings with tasty food, drinks at a winery setting makes it an unforgettable experience. Defiance Ridge winery is located right by Katy Trail at St Charles / Defiance. Even though they don't make wines, they invested in making the food, wine and drink offerings top-notch. Live music is available on Saturdays after 1pm. I totally enjoy my visit and would recommend others checking out. read more

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I really enjoyed our tasting experience here. We arrived early in the day, so it was not very crowded, and we were politely welcomed by the man behind the tasting counter. We each chose 5 wines from their impressive spread, which included not only Missouri wines, but also West Coast (CA/OR/WA) from vineyards they work with. We decided to stay local, and the wines were a good variety across the board. My favorite was a Vignoles that had a unique pepper flavor to it, which we were informed was the result of heavy rains the year the grapes were harvested. The vibe here was chill, the wine was good, and the service was friendly. It was a good experience all around. read more

I really love Defiance Ridge! The atmosphere is wonderful, with scenic views from every seat. I love that they offer plenty of outdoor and indoor seating as well, which I have not found at all wineries. Makes if a great stop for any day, any weather! Their lunch menu is very simple, but really well done. Has a wide variety of options for whatever hunger level you have, and has great options for sharing with a large group. We got the appetizer fries and charcuterie board to share (was so good, forgot to snag a pic!). And then I ordered the steak sandwich for the main entree (pictures below). It was perfectly cooked and very filling. The aioli on it was perfect! Our waitress was on top of it, we had a very large group, never ran out of drinks and all felt very well taken care of. And it was quite busy all around while we were there. A great experience at Defiance Ridge, we will definetely be coming back! read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

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We did not eat here just had wine tasting. Restaurant looked very cool as well as indoor banquet seating. Was middle of the week and off season. They bring in CA wines as well and we bought several bottles. Service & ambience we great. read more

We were there on Mother's Day and had a terrible experience. I should add this was our second terrible experience, but we also like to give a business a second chance in case the first time was a fluke. We were unable to reserve a table because we are not wine club members. We got there shortly after they opened and all of the tables that offer service were already taken so we had to sit in the "no service" area. No big deal we can walk to the counter to order. We were given menus at the bar. After us all deciding what we wanted to eat we went back to the bar to order, but we were told we weren't allowed to order food bc we were at the "no service" tables. Why did you give us a menu then? We were embarrassed bc we brought our mother there to celebrate her and we couldn't even get food. They did have a walk up window for food, BUT none of the food we had chosen on the menu was offered at the window. Ultimately we decided to leave and go to another winery that provided much better service. My advice to patrons would be there to get there the moment they open and fight for a "service" table. My advice to Defiance Ridge would be to have more help and provide all of your paying customers with the same service. read more

This is the place to be on a Sunny July Thursday. When we walked it, it was seat yourself, and we found an awesome view of the area around the Missouri River. If you to try the wine sampling, plan to move inside because you can only get that at the bar. That was apparently the move because the A/C felt amazing! The food was excellent! The Dip Duo was a great starter with two COLD dips with a variety. I will say that as someone who cannot stand spicy food, the buffalo chicken dip was GREAT! The chips were definitely the star of that show. The Turkey club used nothing but the freshest ingredients, and the sandwich had a bright and refreshing flavor. That buttery croissant did a good job holding the whole thing together. The Smokehouse pulled pork was cooked great! The sauce was so sweet, I wish they would have put just a little more on the sandwich. I did learn that if you need dipping for fries or such, make sure to ask early for a lot. They will not bring you the bottle of Ketchup. The wine tasting is the real star of the show, and for $8 and 5 wines you really can't beat it. For just a little more, you can keep your tasting glass as a souvenir. My guest and I both tried a variety of wines and found the one we both most enjoyed was the white mosketto. It was so refreshing and sweet that you want to just swish it around your mouth. I was also a fan of the Defiance Ridge Sweet Red because it tastes EXACTLY like a cherry cola! read more

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Excellent wine, food, service in a beautiful setting. Award winning wines from Missouri and a great selection from West coast also.

We went to Defiance Ridge to celebrate my sisters birthday. It was such a nice day even though we did not sit outside. We got there around 11:50 because we wanted to make sure we had a table big enough for 8 people. The Ed Callison trio was there and it was busy! They are a great trio with a big following. Everyone was up dancing to almost every song. I had the Smoked Trout sandwich and it was DELICIOUS! I ordered fries as my side and they were crispy with a good seasoning. Other people in our group ordered chicken wings, burgers, and the veggie wrap. No one had take home boxes. We also brought a cake and they let us cut it and serve at the table. I know this is something many restaurants don't allow, but they do! We love to listen to live music, so we will be back! read more

Loved the atmosphere. Food and service were great! It was a very relaxing afternoon for ladies time away!

Had absolutely wonderful time. The food was really good and the drinks were great also, they serve more than just wine. The view was breathtaking and the service was on point had a great waitress. Will definitely be back. read more

My niece recommended this place. I went today with my friend to celebrate my birthday. I didn't expect the food to be really delicious and the wine smells good and tastes delicious. read more

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Attended a friend's work event here and so glad I was able to attend. I am no stranger to a good winery trip and Defiance did not disappoint. The event was catered and let me tell you, the spread was delicious! I was so hungry that I forgot to take pictures but there was fresh fruit, charcuterie boards, Mac and cheese, house made potato chips, loaded potato salad, house salad, mini brisket sandwiches, chicken and honey sandwiches, and more, and of course dessert. Everything was delicious. One of the employees at my table even offered to buy us wings for the table - they were smoked and flavorful. Not only was our event happening, but you could see that the venue was prepping for a wedding while also catering to a second event and other patrons. It was impressive to see how the staff maintained balance with making sure everyone was being attended to. The wine tastings were very busy, but the staff worked really hard on making sure everyone was serviced in a timely manner. The owner could also be seen lending a helping hand everywhere which was great....it was also nice that he poured an extra sample within the sample lol!! My favorite sample was the Peach Mango Sparkling - purchased a bottle to go. The venue itself was cleanly, spacious, with a classy rustic feel, and overhanging a beautiful landscape. read more

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Went here for a late lunch on a Sunday with a group of 5. Had no trouble getting a table on the patio to enjoy a nice sunny day. The wine is amazing--as someone who doesn't drink much red wine, I was shocked that the defiance ridge sweet red was my favorite of the wines I tried! You can try 5 non reserve wines for $8, and the pours are heavy. You can even take your sample out onto the patio and come back to the bar when you're ready for the next. Only downsides were that the service was a bit slow but we weren't in any rush, and two of my friend's thought their pulled pork sandwiches were dry. Will definitely be going back! read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Tasting bar menu - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

Warm and inviting atmosphere, the best wine in the state, great food and beautiful views. The staff is friendly and efficient. If you want the best Missouri winery experience, go to Defiance Ridge Vineyards. read more

this winery was really gorgeous. Plenty of space for large parties, they only take reservations if you are in their $300 wine club. We sat outside but went inside to sample wines. our bartender was extremely helpful and patient with us although he was sweating profusely! We almost thought he was drunk but he said he sweats like that all the time lol. A few of the dry wines tasted the absolute same so he let us switch for a different one. We ordered two different charcuterie boards and they came out with our meals! We were super upset about that so our server took it off the bill for us. Way to go customer service! That burger was seriously one of the best I've ever had. It was so good. Will definitely be back. read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

First time here and we love this place! There was live music playing. They allowed us to try couple of wines. Norton was not my favourite but we really enjoyed a bottle ov their Cab. Also they have a nice view! read more

This venue is absolutely gorgeous. I went for the first time for Disney trivia night and we had such a great time. The staff was amazing and ensured everyone was enjoying themselves. My best friend and I split a salad and some beignets - both were to die for! My service dog was given water and treated well. As you can tell from my reviews, whenever someone is kind to my dog it just melts my mommy heart for him to be so included and accepted. It makes me want to come back again and again to places who welcome him (and write off any that are intolerant of him and my need to have him). read more

Defiance Ridge was one of the first wineries I ever visited in the St. Louis area, and was definitely impressed by the wines they served. I had never experienced a wine tasting where you stand at the bar for the duration of your flight and found it intriguing. Standing at the bar did allow us to talk to the woman pouring our wine which helped select the wines we were going to drink. Of the wines we tried the ones that really stood out to me were the rose and the sweet red blend. I'm not typically a sweet wine fan, so it was interesting that these were my favorite wines from Defiance Ridge. It was hilarious that the red blend was described as having a bubble gum flavor, that humor factor was what attracted me to it. I didn't necessarily get that flavor when I tried it though, but it was a nice wine for a warmer day in Missouri's wine country. The vineyards at Defiance Ridge are vast and picturesque. I would have loved sitting outside with a glass just taking it in and enjoying the chance to unplug from the busy city life. I really appreciated that this tasting room afforded us the luxury of slowing down and sipping in the amazing sights of the state. The quaint interior of Defiance Ridge would make it the PERFECT site for an event or party. While we didn't order any of the food at Defiance Ridge it smelled incredible and was very tempting. We also loved checking out all of the cute gifts and merchandise they offer inside the tasting room. Overall, they do a great job of providing an enjoyable afternoon getaway. read more

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We went here on a whim for my bachelorette party for wine and lunch. I was so pleasantly surprised! It's a huge place with a covered patio area and inside bar area. We got a few appetizers to share and the chicken salad was great. There was live music and couples dancing which was a fun add. It's also a wedding venue and looked like it had a great outdoor area! read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

My first trip to a winery and my husband and i loved it. ", the wine choices we picked for the tasting were yummy-we bought a bottle for the table, and our Party bought several. The food was delicious love love loved the smoked trout tray. The wings were . And the band was good. There were several other people there-everyone was friendly and the atmosphere was intoxicating, literally lol no pun intended . We will come again just the two of us maybe for our anniversary, and we will bring friends. read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Back patio - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

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Our first trip there- Mother's Day Weekend and they obviously had an engagement party and a wedding they were getting ready for. Not at all accommodating for our party with one disabled person. Tastings available at the standing only bar. No crackers or anything to cleanse your palate between tastes- they do offer pistachios for sale at $11/bag. Glasses are not rinsed between tastes. While waiting for our server to bring us our bill, a gentleman came to our table (Santa Clause) to remind us that they close at 5pm. Nothing special and we won't go back. read more

Byron was such a fun sommelier. On 3/23/24, I had so much fun! Great atmosphere, tasty wines, 5 tastings for $8- amazing!! If I lived here, I'd be in trouble. read more

We love wineries and have been to many in Mo. this location is beautiful the staff is very helpful and knowledgeable and the views are breathtaking! We arrived late in the afternoon and still had time for a bottle of wine before they hosted a wedding. We brought children and they were able to wander freely in the grassy area and in the front vineyard. It is for sure a girls day drinking spot. Next time I will bring my girl friends and plan to arrive earlier! We loved it and will be back for sure!! read more

Arrived around noon on a beautiful Tuesdayafternoon. Had a wonderful view and sat at a table on the front porch. All of our food was sooo tasty. I ordered the smoked trout with delicious cold slaw. It was more than enough. Ordered a bottle of Sun ray wine wine. Had a lovely bouquet. Service was the best and did not have to wait for our food. We'll definitely be back read more

Yes yes yes. I would love to just say: come here and you won't be disappointed but I need to add a bit more 411! Defiance Ridge was our last stop with our group and the absolute best. I honestly could have spent the entire day here. It is an extremely large property with amazing wine, the food looked great (we didn't eat) and live music! Honestly you couldn't ask for more... plus the staff was phenomenal. We did a tasting which they have 5 for $8 for the regular wine and 4 for $15 for the upgraded! We did splurge for the upgrades and it was well worth it. The pours were generous and the perfect amount. The bar staff was enjoyable to talk to which of course makes it more fun! They do have cocktails and other drinks as well for the non wine drinkers. We did not eat but the food looked delicious. They had a live band that we were enjoying! There is a TON of seating indoors and outside and ample parking. We did have kids with us so it is kid friendly! Most of the wineries are but there are a couple that are not. We absolutely loved coming here and our group cannot wait to return! read more

Service was good, even though they were pretty busy. The Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese was out'ta this world good! With the fried onions on top, it had so many different flavors and consistencies. My one complaint would be that their menu says that they have Select Cocktails under the Drink Special heading. When I asked, more than one person, I was told they don't have any specialty cocktails that they make. I was kind of bummed because I'm not a big wine drinker. read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Mosketto Rose - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

This is one of my favorite wineries! It's surrounded by beautiful greenery. There are plenty of seats! No need to bring a chair. The food not only looks good but tastes good. The employees are friendly! If Griffin and the Gargoyles are playing you will have an amazing time singing and dancing! Sit near the band and dance floor and be sure to get a table with an umbrella for shade. read more

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Buffalo chicken wrap with chips - Wineries Near Me - Defiance, Missouri

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It was not my cup of tea. Some were patient and others seemed to want to rush customers. Wasn't relaxing as I had expected.

I have to say that I had high hopes for this new spot, but I left with a rather mediocre feeling. Firstly, the term "winery" isn't appropriate in this case. They don't currently grow, process, or bottle anything on site. It is all bought elsewhere and re-labeled. So imagine my disappointment when I took a friend visiting from Oregon to try Missouri wines, only to see that half the menu were from Oregon down the street from her. Another less than ideal point was the fact that we couldn't order any food at the tasting bar to snack on with our flight. We either had to sit outside (in the balmy 40 degree weather) or in the big event room which was at the time completely booked by a set of birthday parties, leaving no where to sit. The upside was the staff, though. They were friendly and helpful and patient with pouring the wine. They were doing the best considering they were slammed with so many people. I think I'll wait until the grapes are actually grown and bottled there locally before giving it a return trip. read more

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Get there early if you're going on a Saturday! We got there around 11am, and it was practically empty. But within 30 minutes, the entire restaurant filled with people. By 1pm, it was a full Saturday afternoon dance party! There was live music, dancing, and beautiful cheese boards at every table. We got an array of items on the menu and we're happy with every dish! The portion sizes were very generous, and the food arrived pretty quickly. It was a perfect Saturday afternoon experience. My only issue was the pace of the service. We waited for almost 30 minutes to get our check. But the server was very nice and helpful. Just make sure you plan for a full afternoon when you're there! read more

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