Heartland View

Media Credit: Misty Kucginski

Five-hour drives aren't everyone's forte. A closer to home experience awaits you at Weston, Mo., home of two locally owned wineries.

Up the hill from Main Street sits Pirtle winery, one of two locally owned wineries. With a family-owned feel, the tasting room is unassuming and homey. When assistant wine maker Kraig Keesaman works the tasting area, don't be fooled by his youthful appearance. Kraig has been brewing beer and more recently, wine, for nine years.

"I have a degree in public relations, but I love the land and farming-that's why I'm here," Keesaman said.

Keesaman's love of wine making is apparent as he discusses the process and 14 bottles of wine Pirtle has to offer. Stop in and let him help you find a wine to suit your taste and afterwards hop across the street for lunch or dinner at the Vineyard Restaurant.

If the winery isn't to your taste, the town is filled with many other unique localities, like 3 Squirrels and a Nut antique shop.

Wine enthusiast Michael Ladish of Fayetteville, Arkansas had this to say about Pirtle Winery, "I've traveled extensively through Washington, Oregon and California wine country and found that Pirtle wines easily stand up to California wines in taste and quality," wine enthusiast Michael Ladish said. "Their non-traditional wines are wonderful."

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