Bardenheier Wine Cellars

Bardenheier Wine Cellars
11386 State Hwy A
Richwoods, Missouri
USA 63071
Phone: (573) 678-2442
http://www.bardenheierwines.com/

Contact: Wayne Evans

HISTORY AND OVERVIEW
In 1865, John H. Bardenheier came to the United States from Oberlahnstein, Germany, where as an employee of a liquor distributor, he became versed in the distribution end of the wine & liquor business. In 1873, he founded The John Bardenheier Wine and Liquor Company, later known as Bardenheier Wine Cellars. The original Site of the company was 212 Market Street in St. Louis, MO, behind the Old Cathedral building, approximately under the south leg of the Gateway Arch.

Bardenheier’s participated in various wine competitions in State Fairs, including the 1904 World Fair. Located in the Mid West, it was ideally situated for distribution to the many States it serviced. Bardenheier Wine Cellars’ largest States were: Of course, Missouri; then Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Bardenheier was legislated out of business on Jan 16, 1919 by The Volstead Act (prohibition) and forced to close its doors Jan 16, 1920. On December 5th 1933, when the repeal of prohibition became effective, Joseph A Bardenheier Sr., son of the founder, reopened the doors for business. Bardenheier’s was reopened at 210 Market Street, across the street from the Old Cathedral, (The Basilica of St. Louis, King of France) In just a few years, the company expanded to 212 and 214 Market. This ground was leased from the St. Louis Archdiocese and was the first 99-year lease written, west of the Mississippi. It was later moved to 1435 North 2nd street in St. Louis.

Upon the death of Joseph in 1962, his sons, Joseph, John, George and Carl continued the family business. In 1955, the winery moved location to the Delmar Loop area, at 1019 Skinker Parkway. At this 3-½ acre, 100,000 sq. ft. facility, Bardenheier’s was able to centralize wine production away from the many different parts of the country, to independently produce wines locally.

At their peak, Bardenheier’s was one of the oldest and largest family owned and operated wineries in the United States, producing approximately 1.5 million gallons of wine per year (All wine export for the state of Missouri, combined currently is only approaching 1 million gallons of wine per year, making it the 4th largest wine producing state in the country). Bardenheier’s had about 150 prime distributors in 39 states, with a total sales force of nearly 1300 Representatives and Brokers. The very successful winery was sold in 1983 and continued to operate under new ownership until about 10 years later, when it was ultimately closed.

As a result of their many worldwide contacts, Joseph’s son, John Bardenheier and his son John Bardenheier Jr., continued to work in the industry, selling bulk wines and Sacramental wines.

In 2004, Wayne and Kim Bardenheier-Evans, daughter of John E Bardenheier Jr., reacquired the family name and opened a small winery in Richwoods, Missouri. Initially selling Sacramental Wines to a national church supplier as well as wine in barrels and tank trucks, to Food and Pharmaceutical companies as well as other wineries, in the Southwest, Midwest, Northern States and in the Southeast. Bardenheier Wine Cellars introduced their own production again at retail in 2006. Wayne Evans is the winemaker and has created a number of popular wines. “Old Fashion Concord Grape”, an old Bardenheier favorite, “Rosie O’Grady”, Strawberry Wine, two delightful Table Wines in Red and White, a unique soft red table wine under the banner “Sunset Serenade”, which has already won him a Bronze Medal in the International Wine Competition Circuit, a fresh sweet white wine called “Whispering Falls”, A unique sweet Blush called “Sommer Rose”, and a delightfully sweet “Blackberry Cabernet”

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