Follow the Great River Road Wine Trail for spectacular vineyards & views

The Great River Road is an unforgettable trip, not just for the views of the Mississippi River, but also because of the numerous wineries along the way.

There are a few key items that help to turn any road trip into the best trip ever: great music, great company, and great places to stop along the way, like an abundance of wineries and vineyards. The Great River Road Wine Trail, which spans more than 138 miles, makes for an ideal road trip, with scenic views of the Mississippi River and frequent stops at wineries along the way. 

What is the Great River Road Wine Trail?

The Great River Road Wine Trail is a trail of wineries and vineyards with locally-produced wines that follows the Mississippi River through three states: Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The wine trail runs along the Great River Road, a collection of scenic state and local roads that run along and near the Mississippi River. There are 10 wineries along the trail, some of which are open seasonally, while others are available to visit year-round. 

Where is the Great River Road Wine Trail?

The trail mostly follows along the Great River Road, which traces the course of the Mississippi River. The Great River Road Wine Trail has stops in three different states: Minnesota, Iowa, and WIsconsin, starting at its northernmost point in Stockholm, Wisc., and culminating in Marquette, Iowa.

How long is the Great River Road Wine Trail?

The Great River Road itself stretches more than 2,000 miles along the Mississippi River, from Minnesota into the Gulf of Mexico, with the Wisconsin portion of the road making up 250 miles. The northernmost stop along the Great River Road Wine Trail is approximately 138 miles away from its southernmost point. 

Great River Road Wine Trail stops

1. Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery

W12266 King Lane, Stockholm, Wisc.

Sure, the Great River Road Wine Trail might make travelers think they’ll only be sampling vino all day, but that would be incorrect. Sure, Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery, in Stockholm, Wisc., makes three different varieties of wine—Royal Cider, Golden Russet, and Dolgo Crabapple. But those three wines are made from the winery’s homegrown apples from its orchard, which it also uses to make several types of cider. Visitors to Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery can sample hard ciders made from more than 50 different types of locally produced apples.

2. Villa Bellezza

1420 3rd St., Pepin, Wisc.

Villa Bellezza is located in Pepin, Wisc., but the winery is designed to make visitors feel like they’re in Italy. The Mediterranean-style winery is open year-round, and it features structures that look as if they’re straight out of Tuscany. Enjoy samples in Villa Bellezza’s tasting room, or bring a drink out to the winery’s piazza, which houses several porticos to block any bad weather, as well as a fountain. If you’re hungry, stop by the winery’s restaurant, Il Forno, which serves brick oven-made pizzas, as well as antipasti, baked pasta dishes, and panini.

Villa Bellezza is inspired by the architecture of Tuscany, and has a piazza where customers can enjoy samples. (Villa Bellezza)

3. Danzinger Vineyards

S2015 Grapeview Lane, Alma, Wisc.

Wisconsin is known primarily for its dairy production, but the state produces a large amount of produce as well, including the grapes at Danzinger Vineyards in Alma, Wisc. Open since 2003, the vineyard offers several varieties of estate wines, which were made with the grapes grown at the vineyard and were bottled there, too. The 18-acre vineyard, which is open year-round, sits on top of the bluffs in Alma and offers a view of the Mississippi River from its outdoor patio and indoor tasting area.

4. Seven Hawks Vineyards

17 North St., Fountain City, Wisc.

With nearly 17,000 grapevines, Seven Hawks Vineyards in Fountain City, Wisc., is one of the largest vineyards in the Upper Midwest. The vineyard grows its grapes atop the bluffs overlooking Fountain City, while visitors can sample Seven Hawks Vineyards’ wines in its tasting room, located in the small city. If you can’t get enough of the vineyard and want to stay even longer than just a stop at the tasting room, Seven Hawks Vineyards also operates several cottages, lodges, and suites for guests to stay overnight, with complimentary wine included in every stay.

5. Elmaro Vineyard

N14756 Delaney Road, Trempealeau, Wisc.

The most productive plant at Elmaro Vineyard in Trempealeau, Wisc., might be the vineyard’s grapevines, but the plant that its owners are most proud of is a white pine tree. The tree, which sits directly in front of the vineyard, is approximately 300 years old, serving as a symbol of stability and determination for the family-owned vineyard. Tastings at the vineyard run between $10 and $12 for a pre-set wine flight, with two-ounce miniature bottles, or $8 for a guided wine tasting. The vineyard also offers group take-away tastings, with Zoom talks about wine pairings, as well as picnic packages.

6. Garvin Heights Vineyards

2255 Garvin Heights Road, Winona, Minn.

While much of the Great River Road Wine Trail is in Wisconsin, there are a few outliers, including Garvin Heights Vineyards, located just over the border in Winona, Minn. The winery, owned by the Seppanen family, was first opened in 2007. It takes inspiration from the family’s many travels to wineries throughout the world, including France, Portugal, and New Zealand, as well as many wineries throughout the Midwest. The Seppanen family began growing grapes approximately 30 years ago, after ordering four varieties from a seed catalog. Now, Garvin Heights Vineyard produces more than 30 different types of wine, which can be sampled at the vineyard. Tastings are $8 (or free with the purchase of three bottles of wine).

7. DnA Vintners

1223 Caledonia St., La Crosse, Wisc.

Most wines are produced with grapes, but DnA Vintners in La Crosse, Wisc., is known for its more unique offering. The winery proudly proclaims itself as the home of the cranberry orange wine. In fact, most of DnA Vintners wines are made with cranberries, as well as other fruits that aren’t commonly found in most wine production, like rhubarb and pear. DnA Vintners handcrafts each of their wines in small batches, and only uses locally-sourced fruit throughout the wine’s production. The vineyard’s tasting room is open seasonally, from May through December, on the weekends. 

8. Branches Winery

E6796 Old Line Road, Westby, Wisc.

Of course, with more than 9,000 vines to harvest grapes from, the wine is the star product at Branches Winery, but it’s not the only culinary highlight when visiting Branches Winery. The Westby-based winery is also well-known for its wood-fired pizzas, which can be enjoyed in Branches Winery’s tasting room. The winery opens for its 13th year on April 5, and has more than 15 different wines to sample, as well, including the locally-themed Driftless, made with the vineyard’s St. Croix grapes, and the Coulee Crisp, which has pineapple flavors. 

Branches Winery produces more than 15 different wines, and has more than 9,000 vines that grow grapes. (Branches Winery)

9. Vernon Vineyards

S3426 Peterson Lane, Viroqua, Wisc.

John J Pedretti has been growing grapes in the Driftless Area near Viroqua for more than 20 years, and has been combining his love of grape growing with a vineyard business for more than a decade. In 2012, he bought the retail and winery business from the owners of Vernon Vineyards, a vineyard that opened in 2006 and served as Vernon County’s first-ever vineyard. It’s set in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, and sits on 75 acres. If you’ve fallen in love with the vineyard (and a significant other), check out Vernon Vineyards’ Pedretti’s Party Barn, an event venue that’s frequently used for weddings, which sits on the property and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

10. Eagles Landing Winery

127 North St., Marquette, Iowa

In 2000, Roger and Connie Halvorson were looking for a retirement hobby, so they picked up winemaking, and then picked up owning a winery. Eagles Landing Winery was owned by the Halvorson family until 2022, when it was sold to Scott and Sharon Patten, who also run it as a family business. The winery produces and sells more than 28 different varieties of wine, and offers daily tastings, with four samples for $5 or six samples for $7.50.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.