In 1974, Curtis and Martha Bourgeois purchased 15 acres of blufftop property on the Missouri River near Rocheport. On the property was an old, rustic A-frame with no running water or indoor plumbing. After the addition of a well and minor renovations, the Bourgeois and their four children moved from Columbia into the tiny structure, where they lived for nearly two years while their new home was being built.
That year's five-ton harvest yielded nearly 500 gallons of red wine which was made at a small winery in Rolla. The following summer, the family renovated the abandoned A-frame, outfitting it with a sales counter, coolers and a small food preparation area. They placed some modest ads in the local newspapers announcing that "Les Bourgeois Winery" was open for business.
The A-frame is still open and has become a very popular outdoor destination for college students, travelers, and families looking for the perfect picnic spot.
Call the A-Frame Outdoor Winegarden at (573) 698-3401, if you have any questions.
