Welcome to Defiance
Rural beauty and ultimate seclusion define Missouri’s gorgeous wine country.
Situated in St. Charles County outside of St. Louis, Defiance is widely known as the passage to Missouri’s distinguished wine country. This quaint, picturesque region offers its residents the rare opportunity to enjoy the Show Me State’s compelling natural scenery. This gives the remote district a distinctly country feel, rendering it the perfect spot for those who appreciate, and want to relish, a life of tranquility and a direct, intimate connection with nature. A popular spot for weddings, retreats, and other special events — and famed for its distinction as the final home of folk hero and pioneer Daniel Boone — Defiance possesses an elegant, unbeatable feel to all who live in and visit the area.
What to Love
- Proximity to the historic town of St. Charles
- Less than 45 minutes away from St. Louis
- Beautiful architecture and spacious lots
- The “gateway” to the state’s finest wineries
- Immense expanses of untouched land
- Sprawling homes built on generous lots
Local Lifestyle
A tight-knit ethos characterizes life for the less than 200 people who call Defiance home. Given its rural nature, it’s a popular place for those who are employed in agriculture, remote workers who thrive on quiet, young families keen on raising their children in a stunning country setting, retirees who enjoy a calmer pace of life, and those who work within the wine industry. Life here is often relished outside, mainly because the land in and around Defiance is immaculately maintained by its inhabitants.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
If there is one word that would be used to describe Defiance, it would, of course, be wine. As Missouri’s equivalent of California’s Napa Valley, the pristine region boasts several world-class wineries and taprooms. At Defiance Ridge Vineyards, spellbinding views of rolling green hills, marvelous trees, and vast stretches of land spool out from its dining space and “event” area, rendering it a favorite place for weddings. Sugar Creek Winery is just as enticing, with its extraordinary vistas of the Missouri river valley and the cliffs of St. Alban. Home to The Distillery of Defiance, it has unforgettable wines and frequent live music performances.
Meanwhile, Defiance Roadhouse is a beloved local haunt. Presenting delicious American fare and an inviting outdoor seating area, it’s a first-rate spot for a casual, sumptuous lunch. When residents of this exclusive hamlet are on the prowl to replenish the plants in their homes and gardens, they head to Frisella Nursery, an extraordinary place featuring endemic Missouri plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Things to Do
Residents of this private, serene region round out their lives with a terrific mix of outdoor recreational activities and community events. Defiance’s annual Fourth of July parade at Chandler Hill Vineyards, for one, is punctuated with fireworks, live music, and ample camaraderie and is one of several fetes that make Defiance special. The town is also home to car shows, art festivals, winery events, and other holiday gatherings. The wineries that flourish in Defiance also feature live music on a rolling basis, allowing residents to soak up the summer and spring sun while taking in the legendary views of the Missouri countryside.
St. Charles is also a short drive away, giving Defiance residents the chance to explore its historic, 200-year-old downtown district and the bounty of bars, restaurants, and shops that line its gorgeously-appointed main street.
Defiance and its nearby environs also thrive with trails. Katy Trail, for one, offers an 8.5-mile trek through the wilderness and presents astounding river views. In sum, life in this enclave is sweet, nourishing, and peaceful.
Schools
