Summer weekends are made for taking our prized toys out of the garage and enjoying them the way Dr. Ferdinand Porsche intended. This being August in St. Louis and my favorite toy being a non-A/C coupe, I try to make my weekend treks early in the morning and plan to be back home before the sun has a chance to turn my 911 into a rolling sauna. Fortunately the weather has been a little different this year. If someone would have told me that the high temperature on August 7 in St. Louis would only be in the upper 70’s, I would have called them crazy. Well, we were fortunate to have just that for our drive to the Crown Valley Winery in Ste. Genevieve.

The group met in the parking lot of the Home Depot in Festus, MO. There were 23 participants with 12 cars including 911’s, 944’s & Boxster's. Even a Boxster S Anniversary Edition with matching hardtop joined us for the drive. The route to Crown Valley Winery took us through the beautiful country side that we are fortunate to have so close to this urban jungle where we spend most of our time. As we made our way over the hills and around the curves, we were treated to views of classic American farm houses, farm animals, golden fields, & beautiful vineyards. As we were enjoying the scenery, we too were being watched. A group of Porsches winding through the countryside in unison is a spectacular sight. Even a family of deer stopped to take in this beauty. As we pulled through the gates into the parking lot at Crown Valley, everyone was turning to look.

The hospitality of the winery staff was excellent. As we were parking, we were welcomed by the winery’s event coordinator Kathy Masters offering us group discounts on our purchases, tours and wine tasting. The winery staff eagerly provided us with information about their different wines and the winery itself.

Then it was off to the deck for lunch. A local caterer was on hand so that we could dine on BBQ Bison Burgers, Grilled Brat’s, or Pork Steak Diablo. The food was wonderful and it was a great day to sit on the deck and enjoy the company of our fellow Porschephiles. If you have not had the pleasure of visiting the wineries of Ste. Genevieve, take a Saturday or Sunday, drive south and experience the wonderful fruits of harvest we have so close to home.

Dan Hinkebein

The crowd is gathering before the drive:

At the Crown Valley Winery: