If you would like to toast the county’s 200th anniversary, the Jefferson County Bicentennial Committee has an event for you.
The Bicentennial Wine and Beer Showcase of Jefferson County will be held from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at the Lalumondiere Mill and Rivergardens, 4993 Old Byrnesville Road, in Byrnesville.
Seven wineries and breweries, all from Jefferson County, will participate. Tickets are $35 per person, plus a $1 handling fee. Each guest will receive a complimentary wine and beer glass with the engraved bicentennial logo. A ticket also entitles guests to three tastings from each winery and brewery.
The owners of the wineries and breweries will also bring wine and beer to sell, by the glass or the bottle. Guests must be 21 or older to attend the event and may arrive anytime during the four-hour period.
Bernard Laiben, head of the Jefferson County Bicentennial Committee, said the participating wineries include LaChance Vineyards in the De Soto area, Persimmon Ridge Winery in Barnhart, and Villa Antonio Winery and Wild Sun Winery, both in the Hillsboro area. The breweries will be Main and Mill Brewing Co. in Festus, Russell House Brewery in Hillsboro and Bastard Brothers Brewing Co. in High Ridge. He said guests will have a one-of-a-kind experience.
“This is the one chance to get all the Jefferson County wineries and breweries together under one roof,” Laiben said, “and also the Lalumondiere Mill and Rivergardens are absolutely beautiful.”
There will be cheese, crackers, grapes and other hors d’oeuvres available throughout the day.
Concession trucks will sell food, and a musical trio will perform.
The tasting event will be held on the patios, balconies and gardens of the Lalumondiere Mill. Tables and chairs will be set up, but guests may bring lawn chairs if they want to take advantage of the entire mill grounds. The event will be held rain or shine.
Once a grist mill owned by Patrick Byrne, the Byrnesville mill was the center of commerce for the young town from the mid-1800s and into the 20th century. In 1974 Jim and Jeannie Lalumondiere rescued the mill from decades of neglect and restored the home and gardens. The Lalumondieres now live in the home, Laiben said.
“Basically they’re opening their home and inviting us to sell 300 tickets to 300 of our friends,” he said.
To purchase tickets, go to https://jeffcomo200.org. The showcase is one of a series of events the Jefferson County Bicentennial Committee is sponsoring to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the county.