Amigoni Urban Winery Expands Space for Production and Tours

Michael and Kerry Amigoni, owners of Amigoni Urban Winery at 1505 Genessee St., have acquired the former Bill Brady Gallery space, located to the north of the Amigoni tasting room in the Livestock District of the West Bottoms. The Amigonis have consolidated their off-site production to make wine and age it in barrels in this newly converted space.

“The new space will be equipped with everything we need for producing wine,” said Michael. “Our grape crusher, wine press and filtration system are there, as well as our stainless steel tanks and more than 100 Missouri oak barrels for aging.”

“Everything will be there except a bottling line,” added Kerry. “We will still use a mobile bottler for that. This will take place at the production facility, but it is a mobile unit. He travels across the Midwest to bottle for regional wineries.”

In addition to production equipment, the Amigonis will soon open a “sensory room” for wine education and private tastings. The room will be in the front area of the production space with a view of the barrels and tanks.

Having all equipment in one place will streamline daily operations and save time and energy for the urban winery.

“We are really looking forward to our first bottling run and fall harvest in the new space,” said Michael. “Additionally, we will be able to share the production process in greater detail with our customers, as they will be able to see whatever exciting thing is happening in the cellar during their visit.”

The new space will enable the winery to offer on-site tours of its production space as well as tasting of wine flights. Guests will learn about the entire winemaking process with the actual equipment used on hand.

Amigoni Urban Winery produces about 3,500 cases annually, and expects to expand production in 2017. Several wines are made from 100-percent Missouri-grown vinifera, or European grape varietal, grapes from the Amigoni vineyard in Centerview, Missouri.

“At our vineyard, you’ll find Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre and Malbec,” said Michael. “We also bring in grapes from Lodi, California, to supplement for some of our blends and wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, which we don’t grow.”

Tour and tasting opportunities are available by appointment only, Tuesdays through Sunday.

Thinking Bigger hosts its second quarter Brew: 30 on Thursday, April 20, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Amigoni Urban Winery. The business Happy Hour features several up-and-coming businesses as the evening’s Companies on Tap: Apple Pie Painting, April and Joey Kramer; Compost Hero, Jeff Petersen; Liberty Candle Co., James and Emily Dressler; and The Sundry, Ryan White.