Not many people would think of Wisconsin as a wine capital, and who could blame you? Beer and cheese typically first come to mind, but there are several great wineries in Wisconsin worth visiting.
But many varieties of wine grapes are actually perfectly suited to the state’s chilly climate, and there are over 100 wineries in Wisconsin where you can sip and sample some of the best wines in the state. In fact, the Von Stiehl Winery is the oldest winery in Wisconsin and has been in business since the 60s!
Wisconsin’s ‘wine country’ is found mostly in Door County, on the narrow peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Common wine grapes that grow here include Marquette, Frontenac gris, petite pearl, and Crescent, and there are many flavors and varieties of wine that can be made from their juice.
When you feel like visiting a winery in Wisconsin, there are so many to choose from, but we’ve narrowed it down to the best seven wineries in Wisconsin to help you sit back, sip away, and relax.
1. Baraboo Bluff Winery
The Baraboo Bluff Winery is located just outside the town of Excelsior and sits atop a lush green hillside overrun with neat rows of grapevines. There are beautiful panoramic views of the town below, which makes for beautiful scenery as you sample one (or more!) of their nine wine varieties.
This Wisconsin winery is open year-round, and daily wine tastings run all through the summer. Guests at the winery can sample three wines at no charge, and additional wines can be tasted for a fee. They even sometimes do food pairings to help bring out the flavors of the wines.
The grounds are perfect for picnics and wandering, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own food to be enjoyed at picnic tables, comfy grassy areas, or near the bluffs, which make for a great view.
When looking for things to do in Wisconsin Dells, we highly suggest adding the Baraboo Bluff Winery to your list! There also are a few other wineries near Wisconsin Dells to check out if you want to winery hopping. If you also like beer, check out these breweries in Wisconsin Dells.
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2. Cedar Creek Winery
Cedar Creek Winery is a family-run winery in the Cedarburg-Milwaukee area. It was originally a wool mill until the 70s, when it was sold and converted into a winery famous for its cherry wines. Not long after, it was sold to the Wollersheim family, who turned it into Cedar Creek Winery. But, the original limestone cellars remained and are still used today since they provide the perfect cool environment for wine grapes to ferment.
Visitors can take a tour, participate in wine tastings, and even peruse the gift shop. Cedar Creek makes traditional red, white, and blush wines, all of which can be sampled at a tasting or purchased by the bottle. You can get a sampling flight for just $10, which includes small glasses of 5 wines to try out. It is one of the best wineries in Wisconsin to visit if you ask us, and it is super easy to get to if you are in town visiting Milwaukee.
3. Wollersheim Winery
The picturesque Wollersheim Winery overlooks the Wisconsin River. It is the sister winery to Cedar Creek, owned by the same family. The original winery here was founded by European settler Agoston Haraszthy who later became a key founder of the California wine industry. Today, the winery is a registered historic landmark and pays homage to its roots by continuing to make traditional wines.
They grow six varieties of grapes which are used to make several wines. In the winter, they offer ice wine made from grapes left on the vine to freeze through the early winter.
Wollersheim Winery does tours and tastings and even self-guided sampling tours. Their bistro is open 12-3 pm daily and serves dishes made fresh with local, seasonal ingredients. Wollersheim is more than just a winery and has a distillery where homemade spirits can be sampled at daily cocktail tastings.
4. Door 44
Door 44 is a six-acre winery in Sturgeon Bay with many award-winning wines. Their brand-new facility is open daily from May to October for flights, glasses, and full bottles of wine (opening hours are reduced in the off-season, but tastings are still offered).
Planning a visit to Door 44? Be sure to add their snack-building experience to your roster. At this Door County winery, you can build your own artisan cheese board to go with whatever wine you choose, and their expert wine masters can recommend the best food and wine pairings to get the most out of the flavors. If you want more of a meal, make sure to check out our favorite restaurants in Door County.
Their outdoor patio is a great place to relax in the summer with a crisp glass of wine, especially when listening to the live music they often have playing. This is one of our favorites when looking for wineries in Wisconsin to visit during the summer!
5. Staller Estate Winery
Get a taste of rural Wisconsin at the Staller Estate Winery. This family-run winery specializes in wines from winter-hardy grape varieties, which are only found in this region. The beautiful winery does tastings, tours of the vineyard, and even a barrel cellar experience where you can see where the magic happens.
Visitors to the winery are greeted with a complimentary wine and cheese tasting. They only work with winter-hardy grapes, but this type produces a wide variety of flavors in the reds and white wines. Whether you want something light and dry, or juicy and full-bodied, you’ll find it at Staller Estate.
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6. Chateau St. Croix Winery
Located in the city of St Croix Falls, the Chateau St. Croix Winery is a must-visit. Their winery is based on a traditional French style, right down to the chateau-style architecture of their main building.
Chateau St. Croix makes a staggering 21 regular varieties of wine, some of which utilize the traditional oak barrel aging technique. Besides the classic red, white, and rosé, they offer three varieties of port, the perfect dessert wines.
They are child and dog-friendly, so this is something that the whole family can enjoy. Live music plays every Saturday and Sunday from May to October, and there’s no better way to relax in the sunshine and enjoy a crisp glass of your favorite wine.
7. Botham Vineyards
Often hailed as Wisconsin’s best wine, Botham Vineyards is a must-visit if you’re planning to be anywhere near Barneveld. This is a family-owned winery in operation since 1989, and many of its wines have achieved worldwide acclaim.
They grow red wine grapes that produce French-style wines, from grapes that can grow year-round and withstand the harsh Wisconsin winters. Their 2012 Uplands Reserve is one of their most popular and highest-rated wines, so be sure to try this one on your visit.
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Other Wineries in Wisconsin Worth Checking Out
- AEppelTreow Winery & Distillery – Burlington, Wisconsin
- Apple Works Winery – Germantown, Wisconsin
- Cambridge Winery – Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- Captain’s Walk Winery – Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Chiselled Grape Winery – Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- Drumlin Ridge Winery – Waunakee, Wisconsin
- Door Peninsula Winery – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Forgotten Fire Winery – Marinette, Wisconsin
- Edwin Brix Vineyard – Juneau, Wisconsin
- Northleaf Winery – Milton, Wisconsin
- LedgeStone Vineyard – Greenleaf, Wisconsin
- Lewis Station Winery – Lake Mills, Wisconsin
- Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery – Kewaunee, Wisconsin
- River Bend Vineyard & Winery – Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery – Cascade, Wisconsin
- Spirits of Norway Vineyard – Franksville, Wisconsin
- Stable Rock Winery & Distillery – Jefferson, Wisconsin
- Stone’s Throw Winery – Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin
- Studio Winery & Geneva Lake Distilling – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Lake Geneva attraction that is a must)
- Sunshine Winery – Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- Three Lakes Winery – Three Lakes, Wisconsin
- Timber Hill Winery – Milton, Wisconsin
- Trout Springs Winery – Greenleaf, Wisconsin
- Two Brothers’ Wines – Richfield, Wisconsin
- Vines to Cellar – Port Washington, Wisconsin
- Von Stiehl Winery – Algoma, Wisconsin