Taste of Belvoir Winery
- Vicky
- Jan 7, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 21, 2022
On the way to Belvoir Winery and Inn, as you reach the edge between residential subdivision and open countryside you may wonder if this winery is going to be someone's backyard or maybe a farmhouse. As you head down the road you first see a huge gate with a long driveway that must lead up to the winery, but large trees obscure the view of the winery. As you make your way up the driveway you start seeing grand red brick edifices. These are not farmhouses or hobby sheds. These buildings are old and stately. These buildings are an institution.
The building closest to the parking lot is the winery with the inn on the third floor. Above the large wooden double doors is a carved inscription reading, “Odd Fellows Home.” This winery doesn’t just have great wine, but an interesting history. Each building has a story. The three remaining buildings of the old Odd Fellows Home complex are the Administration building, Old-folks home, and Hospital. The Administration building was also used as a home for orphans and a school building. The Old Folks home is the massive building in the center. The building at the far end was the Hospital, which was the only medical facility in Liberty in the early-to-mid 1900s. Only the Administration building is now open to the public since it is the winery and inn. The other two, plus a bunker, are opened during their paranormal investigations.
However this post, isn’t about the spirits that still roam the halls and grounds, but about the spirits you can taste at this impressive winery. And lucky for you tastings come at the very affordable price of free. They have eight different wines. They are in no particular order Sorelle Dolci, Casanova, Lucky Pierre, Plumeria, Chardonnel, Boo's, Naked Pink, and Norton. The sweetest white wine is Sorelle Dolci, a blend of Symphony and Cayuga White grapes, it is comparable to a Moscato. A popular dry red is the Casanova, a blend of Missouri Chambourcin, California Syrah, and Missouri St. Vincent grapes. They also have a port called Boo’s (get it?) which is created with the Norton grape and Missouri brandy. From the tasting room you can view a small vineyard, which according to the bartender is used for 20% of their wines the rest of the grapes are grown in the Colombia, MO area.
Michael and I have visited this winery countless times with friends and family. We know what our favorites are, but sometimes doing a tasting helps us try the ones that we sometimes forget about. Michael tried their Chardonnel, which was nice and white dry but isn’t a standout for him compared to their other selections. After the tasting I got their Naked Pink, a semi-sweet rosé that is made from Catawba grapes. This isn’t my normal pick but felt right for the day. My normal pick is their Plumeria, a white wine that is a blend of Seyval, Traminette, and Vignole grapes that deliver a hint of sweetness but is also dry. Michael got a dry red made from Norton, which is Missouri’s state grape.
We walked around the building viewing the various rooms and admiring the photography of local high school students displayed throughout the building. One of the rooms we visited was the museum which showcases the history of Odd Fellows Home, various artifacts found at the site, as well as a skeleton called George, a member of the Odd Fellows. Beyond the winery is also a cemetery, which we did not see on this visit.
Belvoir Winery is a splendid winery for both its wines and history. To me and many of my friends Belvoir Winery feels like a home away from home. So maybe you'll catch us there if you ever decide to give this winery a visit.
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