Wagyu gonna do?
Westphalia couple tends grapevines, fattens calves and waits for sons
By Marcia Vanderlip
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
In 1973, Terry and Mary Neuner fell in love with 400 acres of rich land and forest in the Maries River valley near Westphalia. The land had been worked by German immigrants who had built their farmhouse sometime in the 1840s. Terry Neuner watches his herd of Japanese wagyu cattle. The horned breed produces wagyu Kobe beef, named for the city where the wagyu cattle were first bred.
“We loved the natural beauty of this place,” Mary said. But it wasn’t for sale.
They moved on. Terry’s career with 3M Co. took the couple and their three children to other landscapes. They lived in Brussels, Singapore and Japan.
In 1991, while they were in Europe, Mary’s aunt called from Westphalia. That farm was for sale. Terry jetted back and bought the farm, and they have been restoring the land, buildings and mending lots of fences ever since. Both in their early 60s, they hold out hope that someday their two sons — who live in San Diego — will take over the farm, the winery/vineyard and the Japanese wagyu cattle business that began when Terry retired from 3M in 2003.
So far, retirement seems a euphemism for longer hours; the sons have not returned, except to visit and buy homes and land in the area. The Neuners see these gestures as promising.
In the meantime, Mary has spearheaded the restoration of their stone house and of an old hotel in town, which they transformed into a restaurant and a tasting room for their Westphalia Winery.
She runs the restaurant, which serves family-style pan-fried chicken and mashed potatoes, country ham and pot roast. In early June they served their first pot roast made with their wagyu beef. “We ran out,” Mary said. “People loved it.”
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 November, 2009
Westphalia Vineyards Cabernet Franc Recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as “Top Missouri Wine”
Westphalia Vineyard’s 2007 Cabernet Franc scored an 87 in Wine Enthusiast magazine, receiving the highest rating by any Missouri winery. Please visit their website www.winemag.com and search “Missouri wines” for a listing. According to Wine Enthusiast, “This wine has an elegant, refreshing character that offers complexity as well as approachability. The nose is a combination of red berry, spice and pepper, and on the palate, spicy, savory flavors give the wine a meaty complexity. Overall though, it offers good balance and minerality and a long, appealing finish. — S.K. (10/1/2009)”
What Makes Westphalia Vineyards Unique:
- Westphalia Vineyards adds no sulfites during the production process. We are the only sulfite-free winery in Missouri, and among only three in the entire US.
- Westphalia Vineyards uses exclusively Missouri white oak barrels, not only for aging but also for barrel fermentation of our red wines. This expensive and time-consuming method helps create fresh and vigorous varietals.
June 25, 2008
San Francisco, California
Missouri winery Westphalia Vineyards wins a coveted Silver Medal at San Francisco International Wine Competition
The San Francisco International Wine Competition, the largest, most influential international wine competition in America, is judged by a prestigious panel of 45 nationally recognized wine experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring that its rigor and integrity remain the nation’s most respected competition.
Westphalia Vineyards is one of only three Missouri wineries to medal in the entire competition (also medaling: Stone Hill, St. James). Over 1,150 wineries from 21 countries entered the competition. Westphalia Vineyards competed against Californian, French, Spanish, Italian, Australian, South American, and other internationally renowned wine regions in the Cabernet Franc category. It is the only 2007 Cabernet Franc vintage to medal. At $14 retail is the also the least expensive Cabernet Franc that medaled, with some wines retailing for as high as $96 in this category. Cabernet Franc is a smooth red wine, very popular in Bordeaux, France.
Westphalia Vineyards founder Terry Neuner, on this impressive recognition:
“We entered our 2007 Cabernet Franc only a few weeks after bottling. We expect it to be an outstanding wine, and thought it had a chance to compete with the big boys. The fact that we add no sulfites, ferment and age in only Missouri white oak barrels, and really try to make our wines in a European style certainly helps in making fresh and vigorous wines that are ready to drink almost immediately. Still, we are pleasantly surprised by the results.”
Click here to see who judged the 2008 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION |