Wisconsin may be synonymous with beer, cheese and bratwurst, but our wineries are earning national and international awards. During the past decade, we’ve seen a number of vineyards and wineries setting up operations around the state, producing everything from ice wine to classic reds and whites.
Â
Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac was established before the Civil War and is a National Historic Site. The property was first cultivated by a Hungarian nobleman, over 150 years ago and you can still see the wine cave that he built in the 1800’s.
- Visitors can tour the winery almost every day of the year or get tickets to their tasting events.
- As an added bonus, guests can stop by the Wollersheim Distillery, which is located right next to the winery. They produce whiskey, absinthe, gin, vermouth and three kinds of brandy made from locally-sourced grains and Wisconsin-grown grapes.
- Every Friday, Wollersheim hosts Old Fashioned Fridays at the Distillery. For just $5, visitors can sip on a brandy Old Fashioned made with Wollersheim’s house brandy.
Â
Villa Bellezza is located in Pepin along the Great River Road. Because of its terrain and location right next to the river, the Mississippi Valley region is perfect for growing grapes.
- Villa Bellezza is built in a classic Mediterranean style with a tasting area, pavilion, a 300-person event center and central piazza, like you would find in a town square in Italy.
- Bonus: your four-legged friends are welcome to join you on the piazza, as long as they’re on a leash.
- The winery has already received several international awards for their red, white, rose and ice wines.
- The tasting room is open seven days a week, and they recently opened a new Italian restaurant on-site. Every Sunday you can enjoy a country brunch featuring authentic Italian specialties.
Â
In St. Croix Falls, visit the Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard. The winery was created in the image of a European estate, complete with vineyards, a carriage house, stables, formal gardens and a fishing pond.
- Visitors can explore the winery and enjoy wine samplings during a half-hour walk-in tour or a 1.5-hour private tour, which highlights each stage of the wine-making process while viewing the production, shipping and cellar areas.Â
- Chateau St. Croix hosts events throughout the year, including paint and sip classes, wine tastings and wine-themed festivals.
Â
Door County boasts eight wineries, each with their own tasting room. Use the Door County Wine Trail as a guide on your next visit. Â
- Door Peninsula Winery in Sturgeon Bay is located in a historic 1868 schoolhouse. Door Peninsula Winery is Door County's original winery and one of the largest producers of wine in Wisconsin.
- At Stone’s Throw Winery in Baileys Harbor, check out the Vino! Vino! Wine Bar featuring Italian tapas and a wine bar with over 300 wines from Italy, California and Stone's Throw Winery. The wine bar opens back up in the spring, but the Winery’s tasting room is still open on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.