Excelsior Springs, Mo. – Excelsior Springs’ Shamrock Hills Vineyard brought a taste of Ireland to Missouri with a vibrant St. Patrick’s Day celebration, blending rich Irish traditions with fine wine, live music, and festive camaraderie. Owned by Mike and Denise Riley, the vineyard honored Mike’s deep Irish heritage, offering guests a unique experience filled with authentic flavors, family-friendly festivities, and a welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of an Irish countryside gathering.
Mike’s family history, deeply intertwined with Shamrock Hills Vineyard, began in County Cavan, Ireland, in the 1700s. His ancestors resided on the border between northern and southern Ireland during a time of heightened religious persecution. It was then that his family began to migrate away from their homeland, following a traditional Western migration path.
Seven generations ago, Mike explained, his family consisted of 14 children, representing “thousands and thousands” of relations through time. As they migrated, they passed through Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana before eventually settling in Rolla, Missouri, in the 1800s, making a living off the land through farming. One of his ancestors, however, Joseph Green Riley, married a woman whose father was a minister. As a result, they planted churches in the area, and Mike recalled seeing records from as far back as the 1820s in Franklin County, Missouri.
Later, in the 1860s during the Civil War era, his family summit consisted of 12 children. One of them, his great-great-grandfather, Nathan Phineas Riley, served as a Confederate Army soldier in the first volunteer cavalry before settling down in Rolla to raise a family.
Nathan’s oldest son, Morgan Edward Lewis Riley, Mike’s great-grandfather, continued the family’s journey in the Midwest region as he married a woman in St. Louis. Later, Morgan settled in Illinois, working for the railroad and raising children. Among them was William Nathan Riley, Mike’s grandfather.
Mike recounted his family’s milestones, noting a sense of connection to his Irish roots. “It’s just neat to see what came through the Cumberland Gap at the same time that Daniel Boone was following the same path.”
As for Mike, he grew up in Columbia, Missouri, where he met Denise in high school before they ventured to college together in Warrensburg. Eventually marrying and raising their own family in Liberty, the couple kept tradition alive as their sons retained Mike’s lineage with Irish tradition in mind, named after Mike’s great- and great-great-grandparents, William and Nathan.
“Irish family names are very traditional, and you name your children after your uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents,” he said.
Moving forward, Mike’s deep Irish roots, paired with his passion for heritage, culture, and family lineage, ultimately paved the road for success as he and Denise intertwined Ireland’s culture within Excelsior Springs at Shamrock Hills Vineyard.
Their journey began when the couple searched for property in the area and found the perfect location for Shamrock Hills. They instantly fell in love with the land and transformed their 323-acre property into a thriving winery, vineyard, and event space.
The event space took shape first, hosting weddings for those seeking a countryside venue. Two years later, the vineyard and winery began to take shape.
The idea of turning the property into a vineyard started after they took a Trolley Wine Tour sponsored by the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce. Denise recalled the moment of inspiration, saying, “When we saw it, we fell in love, and it was too nice of a property not to share, so we decided to turn it into a business.”
She also emphasized that their venture became a reality as the couple transitioned into empty-nest life. “We always had a passion for wine and doing things together, especially when we were not so focused on children’s activities,” she added.
The vineyard was planted in 2023, boasting 3,000 grapevines across 11 acres, with an additional 600 vines planted in 2024. Since grapevines take five years of love and care to mature, Denise added, they sourced grapes from surrounding Midwestern vineyards to get a jump start on curating wine. Their first vintage, a 2023 Vignoles, landed them a Silver Medal at the Missouri Governor’s Cup, along with Bronze Medals for their Carbonated Moscato and Chardonel.
Beyond wine, Shamrock Hills offers three Irish beers crafted by Mike, including Riley’s Irish Stout, Finnegan’s Irish Red, and Niall’s of the Nine Hostages Irish Lager. Additionally, they provide Irish whiskey to offer a variety of Irish-themed drinks. Guests can also enjoy select traditional Irish cuisine, live music, and a welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of a local Irish pub.
Denise emphasized that Irish culture is more than just drinking; it’s about family, camaraderie, and enjoyment. The couple encourages guests to bring their loved ones and even a fishing pole when the weather permits so they can enjoy not just the drinks but also the property and amenities the vineyard offers.
“When you visit Ireland, you never meet a stranger,” Denise said. “Everyone is friendly, and we just wanted to create that same atmosphere.” The Rileys’ vision for Shamrock Hills was to provide a space where families could come together, enjoy each other’s company, and immerse themselves in Irish tradition.
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Shamrock Hills hosted a special event on March 15th, from Noon to 6 p.m., with VIP guests arriving at 10 a.m. to enjoy an authentic Irish breakfast.
During the event, guests enjoyed live music performed by Into the Sun, a bagpiper, and delicious offerings from the tasting room and kitchen, including Reuben sliders and Finnegan’s Irish Ale Cheese Dip with Pretzel Sticks, provided by Donnici’s Italian Market. As the event wound down, a traditional bag piper strolled among the guests and concluded with a heartfelt cheer from the crowd.
In addition to the vineyard’s St. Patrick’s weekend celebrations, Denise and Mike are also sponsoring and hosting the second annual Excelsior Springs Irish Festival at Shamrock Hills, which will take place on Saturday, October 4th, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, October 5th, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Denise added that there will be “two days of music, Irish dancers, bagpipes, and more during the festival.”
Shamrock Hills Vineyard is open on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from Noon to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more events and offerings, visitors can check their website at shamrockhillsvineyard.com.
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