Finer Points: Wine Tasting Wisconsin Dells
A Wisconsin Dells wine-tasting getaway is a great choice any time of year, but we especially recommend it in the fall, given how beautifully wine and fall colors pair. Learn about the six distinct wineries in the area and some Wisconsin Dells wine and cheese tasting options too.
For wine devotees, it’s time to get a Wisconsin Dells wine tasting on your fall calendar and we can give you six reasons why, namely the six distinct wineries near Wisconsin Dells. Learn more about each, including styles of wines, tasting opportunities, and seasonal events.
The location for this winery is absolutely picture-perfect, at the doorstep to Devil’s Lake State Park, with views that go for miles. It’s owned by husband and wife duo Matt and Kristin Boegner. As the vineyard gets established with cold-hardy grape varietals including St. Pepin, Frontenac, Petite Pearl, and Marquette, they source from other Wisconsin grape growers. Inside the winery, with its modern industrial design, you’ll find a spacious bar and tasting layout with unobstructed views to the rolling hillside. Tastings are offered daily for a fee. They also have a calendar of live music performances running through September, held outside on their patio. Customer favorites include the St. Pepin with floral bouquet and stone fruit finish and the Sunspot sweet red made with Frontenac grapes and with notes of cherry and plum. Pair your wine with one of their flatbread offerings from the kitchen or order their signature charcuterie board to share —A surprise, this winery has an onsite driving range. Ask the tasting room staff for tokens.
You’ll find Baraboo Bluff Winery situated high on the northwest range of the Baraboo bluffs. Family owned by Fred and Jill Quandt, this winery, established in 2015, quickly made a name for itself with wines made with cold hardy grapes grown on their scenic hillside vineyard. The couple encourages picnics and strolls through the grape vines, and they welcome pets too. Fall tastings are available Thursday through Monday – choose from a dry flight or sweet flight. What Started It All: The Girlfriend is their most popular wine, which is sweet with hints of mango. Ask about their raspberry and peach varieties of The Girlfriend too.
The family behind Baraboo Bluff Winery opened Broken Bottle Winery in 2019. This sister winery is notable for its two 28-foot tasting bars, spacious outdoor seating, and rustic small town aesthetic. All their wines are hand-crafted and bottled on site. Live music on weekend afternoons, on the outdoor stage in good weather and indoors in chilly weather, adds to the laid-back vibe, as do the seasonal wine slushies. Visit on the weekends and enjoy pizzas and charcuterie boards with your wine tasting. Pet-friendly so bring Fido if you like. Mix and Match: Ask about their Six Pack wine offering allowing you to create your own perfect combo of wines.
The owners of Fawn Creek Winery should really add “music venue,” “small plates bistro,” and “retail boutique” to their title. This family-owned winery opened in 2011, nestled in the forest of Dell Prairie on the outskirts of Wisconsin Dells. Today Fawn Creek includes six tasting bars spread out over three buildings and three decks. While they primarily source grapes from California, the wines on their menu are all fermented, created, and bottled on site. Their niche is fruit-flavored grape wines of a sweeter nature. Do ask about their seasonal wines including Black Bear-y, a blackberry-flavored Merlot available for on-site tastings during the fall and winter months. Along with being a winery destination, they are definitely a live music destination too, with bands performing on their outdoor stage through late fall and in their enclosed heated pavilion after that. Rent for Your Event: The pavilions are available for rent for family and business events.
This seasonal winery, open Thursday-Sunday through October, is a sweet location for red, white and fruit wines, wine cocktails and slushies, hard cider made with Wisconsin-grown apples (try with mulling spices in cool weather), and mead, a honey wine infused with lemon. All the wines are crafted in small batches and available by the glass, chilled bottle to enjoy on the patio, or bottle to take home. Return Trip: Prairie Hawk Winery has live music on summer weekends, so make a point to return then.
This historic winery that dates back to the mid-1800s is a lovely surprise for many and a longstanding fall tradition for many more. The list of awards for their wines is a mile long and includes impressive national honors. Their spectacular hillside vineyard overlooks the Wisconsin River Valley – no need to travel to the Napa Valley for fine wines. Reserve a guided wine tasting or guided winery walking tour. But there’s more. Wollersheim has a bistro too, where visitors can enjoy local and seasonal fare paired with their locally made wine and spirits from their distillery. Family History: Wollersheim is lovingly guided by the Coquard family, with Philippe Coquard coming from a long line of French vintners. He married the daughter of the winery’s namesake, Robert Wollersheim and together he and Julie and their children continue to make improvements while sharing this idyllic setting with visitors.
Even More Ways to Wine Down
Along with the dedicated wineries, there are more wine tasting Wisconsin Dells stops to consider. For example, there are the wine tour experiences from Wisconsin Dells Trolley Tours. The Full Winery Experience includes stops at three wineries and a complimentary lunch, while the Wine Tour Express has stops at two wineries plus lunch. In the heart of downtown Dells you’ll find Kilbourn Cork, a premium wine bar with selections by the glass or bottle. The serious wine enthusiast will want to look into club membership here which comes with wine lockers and exclusive perks.
Finally, don’t miss out on the 2022 Fall Wine Walk, set for Saturday, Oct. 1 from 2-6 PM in the downtown district. Retail establishments transform into wine tasting destinations, offering reds and whites paired with hors d’oeuvres. Tickets go fast so move quickly and click on this link to purchase tickets. You’ll pick up your wristband at the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau, 115 La Crosse Street, anytime between 9 AM and 4 PM the day of the event.
In closing, follow these recommendations and all that will be left to do is to raise a glass to your good taste.