ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Located in a repurposed elementary school building, Riverwood is a family-owned Winery north of Kansas City near historic Weston in scenic Missouri River Bluff wine country. Riverwood is unique in that we make and serve a wide variety of handcrafted wines while also having one of the largest Whiskey selections in northern Missouri. We offer tastings, gourmet foods, friendly hospitality, live music, and other entertaining events.
Open since 2007, Riverwood's history truly began in 1996 when the owners, David and Ginah, along with their son, Andrew, moved to the Weston, Missouri area and purchased an old 1800's estate that had promise but needed attention. As they began work on the property, they stumbled upon an abandoned vineyard, and this ultimately sparked the idea for Riverwood Winery. In 2004, they purchased a 1950's elementary school intent on renovating it for the Winery.
We at Riverwood are dedicated to using environmentally friendly, sustainable practices, both in the vineyard and in winemaking. We are personally committed to the quality of wines we produce and the hospitality we offer to all of our guests.
HISTORIC BUILDING
Riverwood Winery's Tasting Room and Giftshop is housed in a renovated school building (built in 1954) located along the east bank of the Missouri River. The building is an example of classic 1950’s style architecture –- single level, flat roof, lots of windows. The building was designed by Joseph Radotinsky, a noted architect in the Kansas City and western Kansas areas. Radotinsky designed several well known buildings, and served as the State Architect for the state of Kansas. Learn more about Joseph Radotinksy here and here.
From the 1950’s through the early 1980’s the building housed Lakeview Elementary School. After the school closed its doors in the early eighties, the building was purchased by a local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and used as the VFW meeting hall. An Atchison couple purchased the building from the VFW in the mid-1990’s and it was used as a consignment and antique shop.
In 2005 conversion of the building into Riverwood Winery began, and the Winery opened for business in 2007.
SCENERY
The Winery is set among agricultural fields and between the wooded bluffs which parallel the Missouri River. It is located approximately one mile due east of the July 3, 1804 camp site of the Lewis and Clark expedition along what was then the east shore of a large bend in the Missouri River (the bend in the river is now an oxbow lake called Bean Lake). The Winery's location offers visitors wonderful views of the surrounding river bluffs as they change from season to season and the adjacent agricultural fields as the crops grow, ripen and are harvested. The Missouri River bluffs were formed millions of years ago as glaciers moved into the area. As the glaciers slowly advanced, the ground was pushed aside, forming the hills along the river. Those hills contain fine soil which is ideal for tree-fruit production, as well as for establishing vineyards. Along the entire length of the Missouri River as it passes through the state can be found orchards, vineyards and wineries. Indeed, prior to Prohibition, Missouri was one of the largest wine producing states in the nation.
SEASONS AT RIVERWOOD
Late fall and winter visitors to the Winery have an opportunity to witness spectacular flights of thousands of snow geese as they fly from open water to their feeding areas, which, depending upon the crops planted the previous season, may be in the fields surrounding the Winery. Bald eagles cruising along the bluffs are a common winter sight.
In the spring and summer visitors can watch for bluebirds which nest in the boxes placed around the Winery property, or turkey vultures circling over the bluffs.
WESTON, MISSOURI
Weston, Missouri is a delightful town with numerous charming gift and antique shops, restaurants, and bed and breakfasts. Numerous ante-bellum homes that have been restored and decorated are available for tour. Many of the downtown Weston shops and restaurants are housed in original commercial buildings which date from the early to mid-1800s. Among other festivals and celebrations, Weston holds the “Apple Fest” in October and several Homes Tours during the year.
LOCATION
Our Tasting Room and Gift Shop is centrally located between Weston, Missouri and Atchison, Kansas on Highway 45, just 7.5 miles north of Weston, 8 miles south-east of Atchison, and 2.5 miles north of Snow Creek Ski Area.
