Best Wineries In Minnesota
10020 Deer Garden Lane
Chisago City, MN 55013
(651) 257-1017
www.winehaven.com
With a name like WineHaven, you'd hope that some of the very best of Minnesota wine would be produced here. And so it is. With a long history of making honey, the Peterson family behind this winery is well-versed in palate-pleasing flavors. Be amazed at the varieties of reds and whites that use grapes developed both in Minnesota and beyond, the just-sweet-enough fruit wines, and don't miss out on their mead (honey wine) as well.
WineHaven is also located on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, a trail featuring five Minnesota wineries that are also worth checking out. Find out more information here.
731 County Road 30 S.E.
Delano, MN 55328
(763) 972-4000
www.woodlandhillwinery.com
Staying away from chemicals, and using only natural fertilizers, Woodland Hill shows its commitment to the land. That's something we're all about in Minnesota. But ethics aside, you can find some of the best wines in the state here. Want to try just a little? Head to their tasting room and for $6 you can sample a few from their selection, and if you make it on a weekend, you can enjoy live music as well.
6693 County Road 34 N.W.
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 846-5443
www.carloscreekwinery.com
This popular winery in Alexandria is known for making delicious wine and having fun doing it. No pretense, just really good wine. With wines like Hot Dish Red, an award-winning sweeter red with hints of blackberry, and Wobegon White, something like a Riesling, it's clear that this wine is both serious and seriously Minnesotan. Also looking to keep their wine drinkers informed, tours are offered of their vineyard, and you can take part in an annual Grape Stomp Festival that really lets you immerse yourself in the wide world of winemaking.
18200 Kirby Ave. S.
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 437-1413
www.abvwines.com
One of Minnesota's veteran wineries, Alexis Bailey opened a sampling room in 1978 to bring wine to a state where there was none. Wine in Minnesota, at the time, was almost laughable. But the commitment to local grapes and using our crazy climate as an advantage (their tagline is "where grapes go to suffer"), Alexis Bailey is now known as one of the best wineries in the Midwest. Whether you're looking for something a little more complex, or a sweet dessert wine, you can find it here.
32025 State Highway 15
Kimball, MN 55353
(320) 398-2081
www.millnerheritage.com
The German heritage means that, yes, there will be excellent Riesling. But there is also plenty of Eastern-European influence as well, and their less-sweet reds are also great. Working all summer long to have some of the finest grapes in Minnesota come fall harvest, you'll be hard-pressed to find a winery more dedicated to their fruit. As they'll tell you first, "You can't make good wine from bad grapes," and you'll taste the difference. After you've sampled their wines, give their cider a try as well.
Related: Best Wine Tasting In Minnesota
