Keltoi Winery

Relaxed and peaceful. That’s how I felt after escaping to the sunny cottage at Keltoi Winery last weekend.

It’s hard not to have fun there. After all, Keltoi Winery is an Irish winery, and Irish folks sure know how to live life to the fullest.

Just ask Erv Langan, the owner of this vineyard and self-proclaimed “chubby leprechaun.”  Each year Erv and his wife LeeAnn host a huge St. Paddy’s Day bash at Keltoi. Erv serves corned beef and cabbage and, of course, wine. What’s not to love about that?

Having retired from a career in higher education at Missouri Southern State University, Erv now devotes his time to his grapes and his guests.

Gregarious and witty, this Irishman gave us a tour of his winery, a thriving business that he playfully describes as a “hobby gotten out of hand.”

Erv is pretty darn good at his hobby, and people recognize that. Keltoi has come a long way since it was established in 1997; it now produces such a great volume of wine that Erv has had to hire a full-time winemaker: Andrew Pennington.

But it’s the spirit of the place that makes a visit to Keltoi a special treat. Warm and welcoming, there’s no pretention here.

Just goofy people.

Ignore the crazy lady by the crackling fire.

Instead, sink into the comfy sofa and chill out to mellow jazz music as you sip some of Keltoi’s wine, like Biddy Early.

Or visit with friends under the twinkling lights on the patio.

Definitely do the wine tasting if you’ve never been to Keltoi before. For $6, you can sample 8-10 different wines, depending on availability. Plus, you get a neat souvenir glass.

At $10-15 each, bottles of wine here are affordable, and there’s a variety for every palate.

The semi-sweet Irish Raindrops is Keltoi’s most popular white wine. Irish Moondrops, another white, offers a subtle Concord grape taste.

My husband Travis and I gravitate towards drier red wines, and we really enjoyed the Red Shamrock, a Chambourcin with a merlot-like taste. We also liked the Carleo, a semi-dry red from a blend of Baco Noir and Villard Noir (which tastes similar to a pinot noir).

Keltoi makes pear and apple wines, too. Pam, the sweet lady who poured our wine samples for us, told us about a recipe she makes for warm apple wine. She then wrote it down for us to take home with the apple wine that we bought (scroll down to see the recipe).

While we didn’t get to explore the winery’s mile-long walking trail, we plan on returning to do so. We’ll pack a picnic lunch and sit near the Little Northfork Creek while we savor some Keltoi wine.

With its cozy cottage, festive patio, and idyllic grounds, Keltoi is a great space for weddings and gatherings, both large and small.

Before we left the winery, Travis and I were already talking about inviting our friends to join us at Keltoi one night soon instead of meeting at a restaurant, which is what we typically do. After all, this Irish winery is only a half-hour drive from Joplin and it offers a totally unique experience.

Remember when I said that I felt relaxed and peaceful after visiting Keltoi?

Well, I imagine that I looked very much like Erv’s dog Kayga.

Now, that’s contentment.

Warm Apple Wine

1 bottle apple wine

1 c water

1/2 c brown sugar

3 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

Mix together, warm, and enjoy!

Keltoi Winery is located at 17705 County Road 260 in Oronogo.

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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.