09/02/2026
This weekend, we had the incredible opportunity to share in the rediscovery of historic artifacts from our winery's pre-Prohibition days, and joined the current stewards of Herzog Mansion, Alexandria and Michael Morgan, as they hosted the descendants of William Herzog, a pre-Prohibition founder of Stone Hill Winery.
In 1871, William Herzog immigrated from Germany to America and joined Stone Hill as a traveling salesman, helping sell Hermann-grown wines across the nation. In 1874, he became a partner in the firm alongside Michael Poeschel, John Scherer, and George Stark. In 1883, George and William became sole owners and worked together to grow Stone Hill into the second-largest winery in the nation.
His efforts were successful, as by 1886, he moved his family out of the second floor of Stone Hill Winery and into Herzog Mansion. In 1893, William sold his shares in Stone Hill following personal tragedy and moved to St. Louis, where he remained for the rest of his life.
It was an honor getting to share in the history on display, examining photographs serving as a small window into a world we've so often imagined. Thank you to the Morgans for working to preserve the home and its history and to the Herzog descendants who have preserved William's artifacts for so long and shared them with us.
