Built in 1859, the Mount Pleasant Estates campus is the oldest in Augusta, MO and is the historic signing place of America’s first AVA. In 1859, two brothers from Germany, George and Frederick Muench, established Mount Pleasant Winery as a commercial wine business. As the oldest winery in the Augusta Appellation, Mount Pleasant’s rich history is a testament to Missouri’s long-standing contribution to the global wine industry. The Muench brothers built the cellars in 1881, using the wood and limestone from the area. These cellars are still used today to age Mount Pleasant’s estate-bottled wines and internationally award-winning Augusta Ports. The Muench brothers shipped barrels of wine up the river to Chicago, to be enjoyed all over the world.