On a rural road outside of Weston, Missouri is an old school building. It is over 70 years old. It is nondescript and unassuming. I almost drove by it. But the sign captured my interest: Riverwood Winery. A winery in a schoolhouse is a curious dichotomy. So, I pulled into the gravel driveway, and stood looking at the former school, surrounded by quiet fields. It exudes the sensation of the long-past laughter of children. I could feel the power of history around me. Close by, was a Lewis & Clark encampment. So, I was anticipant as I entered the front door of the school.
I stepped into a surprising ambiance of beauty. I could have just stayed in the entryway. But there are 2 other main rooms – the first being the tasting room/bar area for ordering.
Their drink offerings are vast and varied, They also have a menu of flatbread pizzas, charcuterie boards, and even homemade sweet pickled vegetables. I ordered the hummus board. The hummus was creamy, and rich with a depth of flavor.
As an extrovert, I didn’t hesitate to walk around and talk to other diners about their meals. They kindly allowed me to photograph their boards.
The other main room is the dining area. Notice the large stage, where Riverwood brings in local bands and acoustic musicians. I especially enjoyed the memory-evoking songs sung by Vaughn Cowden. I will go back soon to hear Daysia Reneau, who is a teenage high school student from nearby Leavenworth, Kansas. She was on the Voice, with Gwen Stefani as her coach. Out back is a large patio for larger bands during the warmer months. I am so appreciative of these venues which provide this gift of live music to enhance our dining and conversing experience.
Two things happened next that are considered serendipity for a researcher. A woman sitting at the next table started chatting with me. She is a full-time school teacher in Iowa, as well as a wine buyer, who is studying to be a sommelier! Oh happy day – a wine professional to give me her expert opinion! I asked her what she thought of the different Riverwood wines she was sampling. Her response…….”They are really good. The Chardonnay is my favorite”. And there you have it! That is an impressive review of the Riverwood wines. I was appreciative of her candid appraisal.
The second moment of serendipity was discovering that Andrew, the administrator, was available and could sit for an impromptu interview. Andrew is the son of the owners of Riverwood. He recounted the story of how his parents, both attorneys, bought a historic farm nearby, and randomly stumbled upon an old vineyard on the property. That suddenly ignited a desire to create a winery. David, Andrew’s father, became a self-taught vintner. In 2007, they brought their dream to life. The winery now makes its own wine, with three varieties of grapes grown on the family’s land, including the Norton grape (which is a Missouri state grape). They also have an orchard of Asian pears. I had a glass of the pear wine. The taste was exceptional. It is always inspiring to meet such accomplished producers. They have the magic! This family has made Riverwood a distinctive destination. It sure doesn’t feel like an old vacant school building. It feels like a rescued, re-enlivened place, where our voices of cheer combine with the happy laughter of the school children from the past.