Minnesota’s Best Wineries: Where to Go and What to Try
Minnesota wineries offer more than a tasting flight: Think lakeside patios, vineyard tours, live music and wines made from cold-hardy grapes and locally grown fruit. From the North Shore to the rolling countryside near Minneapolis–St. Paul, these destinations make an inviting starting point for a day trip or weekend away.
The University of Minnesota helped shape the state’s wine industry through cold-hardy grape varieties such as Frontenac, Marquette, La Crescent and Itasca. Its breeding program focuses on grapes that combine winter hardiness, disease resistance and wine quality.
During my decades as a certified sommelier, I’ve traveled to wine-growing regions around the world. Minnesota remains one of my favorites for its inventive wines and welcoming wineries, where tasting experiences often come with live music, outdoor activities and opportunities to linger.
Here are some of my favorite places to experience Minnesota wine country, along with what to know before you visit.
Northern Minnesota
Forestedge Winery
Laporte
Forestedge Winery celebrates the flavors of the Northwoods through fruit wines rather than grape wines. Rhubarb is a particular specialty, while blueberry, chokecherry and black currant offer other directions to explore.
The wooded setting beside the Paul Bunyan State Forest is part of the appeal. Enjoy a flight on the cobblestone patio, wander the gardens and browse the gallery’s regional art and crafts. Snacks are available; check the website for seasonal hours.
North Shore Winery
Lutsen
North Shore Winery gives wine lovers another reason to spend time in Lutsen. Pair a Lake Superior getaway with wine and cider flights, local music and a relaxed tasting-room visit.
Regular flights don’t require reservations, and cheese and meat selections are available. Guided tours and tastings are arranged in advance. During the November–April season, separately booked private sauna sessions add another way to enjoy the setting, with forest and distant Lake Superior views between rounds of heat and cold.
Central & Western Minnesota
Carlos Creek Winery
Alexandria
Carlos Creek Winery brings wine, beer and food together on one expansive Alexandria property. Explore the winery’s flights, step into the Nordic-inspired 22 Northmen Brewing Co. taproom or settle in with a wood-fired pizza from STOKE.
Tasting-room seating is first-come, first-served, with no reservations accepted. Groups larger than 20 should contact the winery before visiting. Book a seasonal winery and vineyard tour for a closer look at how the wines move from vine to glass.
Crow River Winery
Hutchinson
Crow River Winery offers another opportunity to explore Minnesota’s cold-hardy wines, alongside hard ciders made from apples grown at Ashery Lane Farm. The winery welcomes visitors year-round, with a tasting room, courtyard and on-site bistro that make it easy to turn a flight into a longer visit.
Arriving by bicycle? A signed, half-mile gravel connection leads to the property from the Luce Line State Trail.
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery
Kimball
A festive atmosphere is part of the experience at Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery, where Minnesota wines and ciders come with a family’s enthusiasm for sharing them. Pair your tasting with charcuterie or a Hungarian-style pizza.
Groups of nine or more should call ahead for tastings. For a deeper introduction, arrange a winery tour or a riding vineyard tour, which travels between the vines aboard a tractor-pulled trolley. Tours are offered May–October by advance reservation, with a minimum of 10 participants.
Rolling Forks Vineyards
Glenwood
At Rolling Forks Vineyards, Lake Minnewaska views provide a beautiful backdrop for exploring the wine list. Leave time to browse the gift shop, then enjoy a pizza, sandwich, salad or appetizer from the on-site restaurant.
Tastings are available during business hours; groups larger than eight should arrange their visit in advance. For an afternoon built around the setting, reserve a Wine Country Picnic at least 72 hours ahead or book a private vineyard tour and tasting.
Wineries Near Minneapolis-St. Paul
Mousse Sparkling Wine Co.
Jordan
Sparkling-wine fans should make a stop at Mousse Sparkling Wine Co., where winemaker Josie Boyle puts bubbles at the center of the experience. Hard ciders and still wines round out the selection.
This is a downtown winery outing rather than a vineyard excursion: The tasting room is housed in a historic brick building in Jordan, with a patio for warmer days. Boyle sources grapes from growers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Check the tasting-room calendar for current hours and special events.
Parley Lake Winery
Waconia
One bartender at Parley Lake Winery described a familiar transformation: Visitors arrive skeptical that Minnesota wine can impress them, then depart with bottles to share. It’s a fitting introduction to a property that rewards an open mind — and time to look around.
Art is woven into the experience, with a gallery featuring regional artists and sculptures throughout the grounds. Sample wines in the tasting room, housed in an expanded historic barn and explore the relationship between the landscape, the artwork and what’s in your glass.
Walk-in visitors are welcome during business hours. Snacks and pizzas are available, with food trucks on selected dates. Check seasonal hours and contact the winery in advance for larger groups or organized transportation.
Schram Vineyards
Waconia
Schram Vineyards overlooks Reitz Lake, pairing vineyard scenery with wine, craft beer, live music and bocce. It’s the kind of place where a tasting can easily become an entire afternoon.
Extend your visit with a meal at Bonfire & Barrel, the winery’s full-service restaurant. Schram is open year-round, with general seating for groups smaller than 10. Restaurant reservations and booked tasting experiences are available online.
Southern Minnesota
Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery
Spring Valley
Near Minnesota’s southern border, Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery offers a spacious, modern setting for exploring wine and more. The property brings together a winery, cidery, distillery and restaurant, making it an inviting destination for a tasting followed by a meal.
Choose from wine, Loon Juice cider and Traditionalist bourbon flights, then explore the seasonal food menu. Groups smaller than 10 don’t need reservations; larger parties should call ahead. Book winemaker tours in advance for a behind-the-scenes introduction.
Eastern Minnesota and the Saint Croix Valley
7 Vines Vineyard
Dellwood
7 Vines Vineyard combines a striking winery setting with welcoming hospitality in Dellwood. Spend time in the wine bar or make the visit an opportunity to learn more about Minnesota winemaking.
Reservations are preferred, though walk-ins are welcome. Book a guided Tour & Taste experience for winery history, wine and small food pairings. Check the calendar before visiting, as private events can affect public availability.
Alexis Bailly Vineyard
Hastings
A Minnesota wine-country visit should include its pioneers. Alexis Bailly Vineyard planted its first vines in 1973, with the winery following in 1978. Today, the property offers a relaxed setting to explore its wines and spend time with family and friends.
Build a flight, pick up charcuterie or bring your own picnic, then choose a spot indoors or outside. Groups smaller than 12 can walk in; larger parties require reservations. The guided Vine to Wine tour is booked separately.
Rustic Roots Winery
Scandia
Rustic Roots Winery makes the most of its hillside setting in the Scandia stretch of the St. Croix River Valley. Wine flights, patio time and lawn games offer plenty of reasons to settle in, while the event calendar brings music and seasonal experiences into the mix.
The bistro serves flatbreads, salads and starters during tasting-room hours. Outdoor seating is first-come, first-served; groups larger than 12 should contact the winery in advance. Look for scheduled winter snowshoe outings when planning a cold-weather visit.
Saint Croix Vineyards
Stillwater
Saint Croix Vineyards offers cold-climate wines in a rustic barn tasting room on grounds shared with Aamodt’s Apple Farm. The setting invites visitors to take their time, whether that means a flight at the bar or a glass outdoors.
Cheese, crackers and other picnic provisions are available for purchase. Walk-in visits don’t require reservations, and seasonal public tours offer a closer look at the vineyard and winemaking facilities. Arrange private tours and tastings in advance, and check current hours before a winter visit.
Winehaven Winery
Chisago City
Winehaven Winery pairs hillside vineyard and lake views with a selection that reaches beyond grape wines. Its Stinger Honeywine, a mead, reflects the Peterson family’s longstanding beekeeping experience and offers another expression of the region’s flavors.
Wine flights are offered daily, with flatbread pizzas and cheese, fruit and nut boards available to round out your visit. Groups of eight or more require reservations; outside food isn’t permitted.
