Fence Stile Vineyards, Winery & Distillery

Fence Stile Vineyards, Winery & Distillery in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, gives Kansas City wine travelers a reason to head underground. Its wine caves serve as both a working aging cellar and a candlelit tasting space—the strongest reason to make the roughly 35-minute drive northeast of the city. With vineyard roots dating to preparations in 2006 and first plantings in 2007, the estate combines vineyard-grown wines with NYX Spirits, its distillery operation producing small-batch rums, estate brandies, and aged vodka. The name refers to steps that allow people to cross a fence without a gate: a fitting introduction to a property that welcomes families and dogs.

The owner- and winemaker-led cave tour is the visit to plan around. At $53 per person, the approximately 90-minute experience covers the estate, cave construction, and winemaking, with a tasting and keepsake glass. Reservations are required, and the consistently cool cave makes a light jacket useful in any season. For a simpler stop, the tasting room offers five wine pours for $10 or three spirit pours for $11. Outside, the patio overlooks vineyard rows, with the Cellar Garden and pond area providing more places to settle in. Regular visiting days run Thursday through Sunday; live music and seasonal firepit evenings add reasons to linger.