Established in 1847, Stone Hill grew to be the second largest winery in the United States. The wines were world renowned, winning gold medals in eight world's fairs, including Vienna in 1873 and Philadelphia in 1876. By the turn of the century, the winery was shipping 1,250,000 gallons of wine per year."Unfortunately, the advent of Prohibition in 1920 destroyed the wine industry in Missouri, and the winery's spectacular arched, underground cellars (the largest series of vaulted cellars in America) were used for growing mushrooms."In 1965, with their four small children in tow, Jim and Betty Held bought the winery and began the long process of restoring its picturesque buildings and vaulted underground cellars, which had fallen into disrepair after Prohibition. Today, Stone Hill is Missouri's oldest and most awarded winery.Stone Hill's award-winning winemaking team produces wines that are receiving international acclaim, winning more than 3,700 awards since 1993, including eight Missouri Governor's Cups since 1994--continuously ranking Stone Hill among the nation's top award winners. Using French-American hybrid grapes such as Vidal, Chardonel and Vignoles, Stone Hill makes sophisticated wines that compare favorably to popular varietals such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Norton, the pride of Stone Hill, has been dominating national and international wine competitions, proving that Missouri can produce a big, full-bodied red of world-class stature.Next to the winery is the restored carriage house and horse barn, which houses the Vintage Restaurant, specializing in contemporary world cuisine, including German specialties.