4 Wineries and Breweries Around St. Croix Falls
St. Croix Falls’ gorgeous backdrop draws visitors from around the globe to Northwest Wisconsin. Known as the “City of Trails,” this spot is widely recognized for its natural beauty—bluffs, dalles, and water in spades—but there’s another St. Croix standout travelers shouldn’t miss: the winery and brewery scene. Grab your crew and experience a different kind of idyllic at these four spots.
Chateau St. Croix Winery
Have you ever stepped foot inside a castle…in Wisconsin? The Chateau St. Croix Winery could be mistaken for 19th-century France, from the sculpture-lined front walk to the mansion’s stables, carriage house, and formal gardens. But it’s not France, and you and your crew are about to have a regal experience sipping award-winning wines like royalty, just a few minutes from downtown St. Croix Falls.
Nab a five-sample flight in the tasting room—the winery pours award-winning reds, whites, and rosés, but their ports (a dessert wine) are the crème de la crème here. In the warmer months, make yourselves at home in the courtyard, where it’s all about live music and good conversation, and the views are as vast as the lush vibes.
Dancing Dragonfly Winery
Another impressive facility, Dancing Dragonfly Winery comes surrounded by 15 acres of cold-climate grapes—your group can take in the view from the covered patio and tasting room, or you can venture out on a guided walking tour of the grounds (just book in advance). The folks at Dragonfly love to share their knowledge of the St. Croix terroir.
This one's a reservation-only affair—and since this spot is all about the experience, you can choose your ideal table and your desired food service. Small bites come complimentary with your flight of choice, though consider the desserts, wood-fired pizzas and flatbreads a tasty excuse to stay longer and enjoy those rolling views with friends.
Deer Lake Winery
Cheryl and Keith Johnson opened Deer Lake Winery in 2018; in fact, Keith built most of the winery’s facilities himself. But the couple’s not new to the scene: they’ve been growing cold-climate grapes for decades in addition to cabs, pinots, chardonnays and more. They’ve even pioneered their Tomato Chili, a must-try tomato wine.
If you and you crew are looking for a fearless spot that does things differently, put Deer Lake on the itinerary. You’ll also get to sit down to espresso drinks, charcuterie, soups, scones and more.
Trap Rock Brewing Company
Once you’ve explored Interstate State Park—Wisconsin's oldest state park, established to protect the gorgeous Dalles of the St. Croix—you’ll find the best brews in town just a few minutes away at Trap Rock Brewing Company. Using mostly locally sourced ingredients, they brew up pale ales, porters, reds, blondes and almost everything in between. But you don’t have to choose: six-sample flights mean the whole group can have a smorgasbord of experiences.
Your group can bring the bikes or lace up your walking shoes for this one, too—just a couple blocks away are the Wooly Trail and the Gandy Dancer Trail. Adventure in the wilds of St. Croix and an après brew with the crew? That sounds like an amazing getaway.
Still thirsty? Celebrate the flavors of fall at these Wisconsin beer and wine festivals throughout the state.
