[6] Described as a Rhineland village, the city is the commercial center of the Hermann American Viticultural Area, whose seven wineries produce about one-third of the state's wine.

The designation recognized the renaissance of an area of vineyards and wineries established by Rhinelanders during the mid-19th century.

[9] It was promoted by Gottfried Duden, who wrote about the area in his Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nord Amerikas (Report of a Journey to the Western States of Northern America).

In November 1837, an early group of settlers was led by George Bayer, who bought the land on the behalf of the society.

George was waylaid in Pittsburgh, though, due to illness and arrived in Hermann in the spring of 1838 leading another group of families.

The town was platted after the society sold shares in the 11,300 acres (4,600 ha) of Gasconade River valley land it had purchased.

The town is named after Hermann der Cherusker, a Germanic leader who defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD.

[11] Hermann was the nearest town to the Gasconade Bridge train disaster, November 1, 1855.

[14] Bias Vineyards is less than 8 miles (13 km) east near Berger on Missouri Highway 100.

The Katy Trail, a 225-mile (362 km)-long bike path, passes through McKittrick, a town on the northern side of the Missouri River across from Hermann.

[19] Hermann High School holds the state record for the most girls high-school volleyball championships in Missouri.