By Kathleen Swift
Photos by Artistic Expressions Photography
“I’ve always said that wine is bottled poetry,” remarked Tina Kennedy. “It creates atmosphere, a certain feeling, depending on who you are with and what you pair it with.”
Kennedy should know since she and her family own and operate Christine’s Vineyard in Webb City, Missouri. The dream for the business started in 2016 when Tina’s parents, Greg and Christine Edmund, bought land planted in grapes. Although it was a new venture for them, they began learning about tending a vineyard and making wine and opened the tasting room in May 2020.
After Greg’s unexpected death that fall, Tina and her husband, Christopher, continued the operation of the vineyard. Christine’s Vineyard continues to be a family-owned business deeply committed to the community and to giving their customers a relaxing, pleasant place to enjoy wine and time together.
Located at 25695 Mulberry Road, Webb City, Missouri, Christine’s Vineyard offers a family atmosphere where everyone is welcome, and a come-as-you-are atmosphere is encouraged.
“When you come to Christine’s Vineyard,” said Kennedy, “you are on a working farm. We create an immersive, engaging experience in our tasting room and on our outdoor patio. Our goal is to bring people together or to enjoy the group they are with.
“We say if you just got off the mower or just got off of work, come as you are and relax. There is no judgment here. Everyone sits together chatting and enjoying,”
That enjoyment includes sipping the fine wine grown and produced at Christine’s vineyard. Using grapes grown on the property and some produced by other Missouri growers, they begin the process by cutting the ripe grapes and running them through a de-stemming process that also crushes the grapes.
“There’s no stomping grapes Lucy-style here,” quipped Kennedy. “But my hands will be purple for a week. There’s just no way around that.”
Sugar and special yeast are added, and then the magic that is finished wine begins to happen.
In addition to the 4,000 gallons of wine produced at Christine’s Vineyard, the business has also partnered with St. James Winery to serve their exceptional sweet and fruit wines on tap. Kennedy reported the grape growers in the area work together and help each other.
“For instance, if someone needs corks, and we have them, we are happy to supply them. We talk to each other about what works and what doesn’t. It’s a great association of growers and wine producers,” said Kennedy.
The King High Straight wine produced at Christine’s Vineyard won the Missouri Wine Association silver medal in 2019 for the chambourcin grape, a French-American interspecific hybrid grape, variety wine. Kennedy noted that most of their grapes are of the Norton variety, a grape that is native to Missouri, and they age the wine in French and American oak.
Enjoying an afternoon or evening at Christine’s Vineyard includes much more than a glass of wine. The vineyard offers an amazing honey mead wine that has either blackberry, raspberry, strawberry or blueberry fruit added. With a piece of frozen fruit added, it’s reminiscent of a refreshing brandy.
In addition to the wines and mead, Christine’s Vineyard offers wine slushies. Kennedy said, “We have a separate slushie machine for our non-alcoholic slushies. We also have charcuterie boards to complement your beer or wine selection. Our cheeses are locally sourced from Edgewood Creamery in Purdy, Missouri. The milk they use comes from their Jersey cows and makes a fabulous cheese. Our meats come from Hatfield’s, and we have a selection of olives, crackers and grapes to help you enjoy your drink. Our cheese balls are delicious and are made fresh in-house.”
As Kennedy said, “People who drink wine like to have fun.” And there is plenty to do for fun at the vineyard. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there is live music along with area food trucks. Corn hole games are available and there is even a fishing pond for catch-and-release fishing fun. These are family-friendly evenings, and everyone young and old, children and pets are all welcome. And for special occasions, you can rent the small event center that is perfect for baby showers or parties.
When you need a place to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, let the family at Christine’s Vineyard share the poetry of their wine with you.
Upcoming Events
M= Music FT= Food Truck
06/04 M: Wilkie Jay, FT: Bearly Wrapped
06/05 M: Jason Garrison, FT: Fried Fancies
06/06 M: Jason Garrison, FT: SmackDabs
06/11 M: Lonnie Hulette, FT: Stuff Your Face
06/12 M: Corey Timmons, FT: SmackDabs
06/13 M: Wilkie Jay, FT: Costa’s Cuisine
06/18 M: Wilkie Jay, FT: Churros Colima
06/19 M: Jason Garrison, FT: Between the Buns
06/20 M: Jason Garrison, FT: SmackDabs
06/25 M: Dillon Leggett, FT: Driveway Diner BBQ
06/26 M: Corey Timmons, FT: SmackDabs
06/27 M: Jason Garrison, FT: Between the Buns