The 5 Best Wineries in Wisconsin: Enjoy Local Wine at Its Best!

Here in Wisconsin, we’re more noted for our cheese than our wine! However, we have some awesome wineries here in the greater Milwaukee area. Wineries are popping up like crazy in recent years, especially as new grape varietals that can better withstand the cold Wisconsin winters are produced. So as your local wine expert, I’ve done tasted my way around Milwaukee and put together a list of five of the finest wineries in our area.

  1. Apple Works Winery 

    Apple-Works-Winery

    Apple Works Winery is a beautiful vineyard and winery located on a former apple orchard in Germantown, Wisconsin. The winery has been in business for over 20 years and the beautiful property has retained most of the original buildings.

    Apple Works offers a wide selection of red wines, including white, red, and sweet options. Their Jennlynn varietal is a semi dry-white that won bronze at the 2017 New York International Wine Competition. This delicate wine has aromas of fresh grapefruit and pineapple making it a perfect summer wine!

    The winery’s Barbera red is another fantastic wine that placed bronze at the 2018 New York International Wine Competition. This red is aged in French oak and is medium bodied with a smooth and velvety finish. It has notes of raspberry, vanilla, and smooth oak. You have to try it!

    You can visit Apple Works Winery to taste their wines our tour the property or attend one of their live music events. You can even order their delightful wines online!

  2. Cedar Creek Winery

    Cedar-Creek-Winery

    Cedar Creek Winery in Cedarburg, Wisconsin is a beautiful winery that sits on a former woolen mill. The winery was opened in 1972 and was originally known as the Newberry Winery. It was then later called the Stone Mill Winery before being re-opened as Cedar Creek Winery in 1990.

    The winery has stone cellars that are used to age their wines in oak barrels, which give the wines a distinctive flavor. One of their most popular wines is the Pearadise, a young, semi-sweet grape wine infused with crisp pear flavors. It’s an excellent wine to enjoy chilled in the summertime.

    Another favorite is the Marquette, an oak barrel-aged wine that’s made from local grapes. It’s a delicious medium bodied dry red that’s packed with flavor. A sip of this wine will offer berry and black cherry notes that pair well with so many dishes!

    In addition to the Cedar Creek’s affordable wine flights, they also offer private events and participate in public events, like Cedarburg’s 2022 Winter Festival! You can also order any of Cedar Creek’s delicious wines online!

  3. Two Brothers Wines

    Two Brothers Wines

    Two Brothers Wines is a Richfield, Wisconsin based winery that offers hand harvested and processed wine. It opened in 2009 by the Gutmann brothers who wished to offer a high-quality, affordable local winery and an art gallery. That’s right, Two Brothers is also an art gallery!

    This winery offers fruit wines in addition to their white and red wines. I recommend trying their local Wisconsin grown rhubarb wine! It’s a crisp, tart, and sweet wine that’s perfect for warmer weather days in Wisconsin.

    All the wines made at Two Brothers are made with local Wisconsin ingredients, by Wisconsin hands! The brothers pride themselves on creating local wines and celebrating local artists. It’s no wonder why this winery is a local favorite!

  4. Pieper Porch Winery

    Spirits of Norway Winery

    Pieper Porch is a family owned and operated winery in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. They are only open May through December, but they’re worth the wait! If you’re dying to try their fantastic wines, you can order online through their website. You can also purchase their wine at several local establishments, including Spring City Wine House in nearby Waukesha, Wisconsin.

    Pieper Porch is well-known for their River Road Red which is a Cabernet/Merlot blend. It’s a lightly oaked, dry red blend that pairs perfectly with savory meals. This wine won bronze at the 2013 Wisconsin State Fair and has been a local favorite since.

    Another great wine is their Mequanego blend, which uses local Wisconsin cherries and cranberries to flavor the red wine. It’s a Port style wine, which means it’s a sweet, high-alcohol dessert wine. I love dessert wines, so this is one of my favorites! This wine placed silver at the 2014 Wisconsin State Fair.

    Pieper Porch has a great tasting room, with $5 wine flights. They also offer “Bring Your Own Food,” so you can bring a picnic in the summer and have a great day at the winery!

  5. Spirits of Norway Winery

    Spirits of Norway Winery

    Spirits of Norway Vineyard and Winery is located in the historic town of Norway, Wisconsin. This boutique winery specializes in locally grown varietals and has won several gold medals for their wonderful wines.

    Their most popular wine is the Brianna white blend, which is a robust semi-sweet white that offers notes of tart, tropical fruit like pineapple, mango, and kiwi. This wine won gold at the 2017 New York World Wine & Spirits International Competition. With its delicious, easily drinkable flavor, there’s no wonder it’s so popular!

    Another delightful local varietal Spirits of Norway offers is their Marquette! It’s a dry red that’s an offshoot of Pinot Noir. This spicy red has notes of cherries, black pepper, and spice. The Marquette won a Double Gold medal at the 2018 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

    The wines at Spirits of Norway are not just amazing, they’re affordable too! They offer a local wine club, and online ordering that ships free to select Wisconsin areas. The winery offers a “Tour & Taste,” guided tasting tours of their vineyard at just $10 per person!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers some amazing wineries, but you just need to know where to look! These five amazing local Wisconsin wineries are here to show that Wisconsin wines can hold their own in the wine world. They offer unique, delicious wines, as well as fantastic winery areas that are the perfect way to get out for the day. If you’re local or visiting the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, try one of these excellent wineries and let me know what you think!