Why you should visit Egg Harbor wineries in Wisconsin
Egg Harbor wineries combine natural beauty, Midwestern charm, and award-winning wines.
Egg Harbor is one of the best small towns in America. It has a beautiful waterfront, lovely art galleries, quaint orchards, and two wonderful wineries.
The town of Egg Harbor is located in Door County, which is nicknamed the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
Door County occupies a long peninsula that stretches into Lake Michigan. This area is a playground full of charming villages, outdoor activities galore, and great food and drink. And by drink, I mean local wine!
This blog post covers seven top wineries located on the Door County Peninsula.
We’ll begin with two Egg Harbor wineries. Then we’ll visit two wineries that are located mere minutes by car from Egg Harbor. We’ll end the blog post in Sturgeon Bay. This small town is best known for bass fishing but it also has three lovely wineries.
Door County Peninsula is a little slice of heaven that’s often overlooked by non-Midwesterners. But the beauty of door county and door county’s unique beverage scene are not to be missed. Add it to your travel wishlist!
How to access Egg Harbor wineries in Door County, Wisconsin
Egg Harbor, Wisconsin is located within easy driving distance of several cities.
The drive from Chicago, Illinois to Egg Harbor should take about four hours. Which makes it good for a weekend trip.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a less than three hour drive from Egg Harbor. If traffic conditions are light, you could make the drive in less time.
Green Bay is the nearest city. It’s only an hour long drive from Green Bay to Egg Harbor.
If you live in the Midwest, you’re in luck! You could easily drive to Egg Harbor. But if you’re not a native Midwesterner then you could fly into one of these cities, rent a car, and drive from the airport to Egg Harbor.
Either way, you will need a car in order to reach the Door County Peninsula. The good news is that you won’t necessarily need a car once you reach your final destination.
Why? Because there’s a wonderful business called Door County Trolley. This tour company offers over seventeen themed tours all year long. And eight of those tours include wine. Amazing!
One tour focuses on wine, beer, and spirits and another has chocolate, cheese, and wine. There’s a “Premier Wine Tour,” a “Luxury Wine Tour,” and an “Uncorked Wine Tour,” which sounds a little more casual.
If you’d prefer not to drive (and truly, that’s safer) then you should book a guided trolley tour.
The best wineries in Door County, Wisconsin
The best wineries in Egg Harbor
Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery
Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery is a beautiful 38 acre property located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.
They source grapes from both Wisconsin and Washington State. Several of their delicious wines utilize cold climate grapes such as Frontenac Gris and LaCrescent.
Wines made from Washington grapes use Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling from the Yakima Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from the Columbia Valley. There’s even a Merlot made from grapes grown in the Horse Heaven Hills.
A wine tasting at Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery costs $10 for five pours. The tasting fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle of wine, which is always nice. All tastings are conducted inside at the wine bar. If you’d like to find a table and sip your wine at a leisurely pace, then it’s best to order a wine flight or a glass of wine.
Business hours differ depending on the season, so be sure to double check the tasting room hours before you head over. The patio is dog friendly. However they do not allow outside food or drink since they sell cheese, charcuterie, and sweets.
Oh and if you’d like to learn more about wine production then book a winery tour led by winemaker Eric Gale.
Harbor Ridge Winery
According to Harbor Ridge Winery, they’re making delicious wines and “Solving the world’s problems, one sip at a time.” That’s a lofty goal, but I like it.
And they’ve got a good setup. Harbor Ridge Winery offers live music, a beautiful patio, and wine slushies. What’s not to like? It’s the perfect place to relax with one or two glasses of wine.
Harbor Ridge crafts wine from California grapes grown in the Napa Valley, the Central Coast, and San Joaquin. Most of their Wisconsin wines are comprised of cold resistant Marquette grapes.
The Harbor Ridge Winery tasting room in Egg Harbor is open year round but the hours are seasonal. So be sure to double check the Harbor Ridge Winery website before you show up.
The best wineries in other small towns on the Door County Peninsula
Stone’s Throw Winery (Baileys Harbor)
Stone’s Throw Winery has been crafting fine wines from California grapes since 1997. Their beautiful property in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin boasts a restaurant, marketplace, garden, and bocce ball court.
It’s one of the best places to visit in Door County.
Stone’s Throw Winery produces a range of recognizable wines such as Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.
They also work with some unique grapes such as Malvasia Bianca, which is grown by a small number of people in Napa.
The Stone’s Throw Winery tasting room in Baileys Harbor is located about a 10 minute drive from the center of Egg Harbor. The tasting room is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
And if you get hungry while tasting, never fear! They have a restaurant open from 12-6 PM every day except for Tuesdays. The Vino!Vino! restaurant and wine bar dishes up Italian-inspired food made with organic vegetables from their garden plus local Wisconsin producers (think cheese, lots of cheese).
Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market (Fish Creek)
Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market has been producing award-winning fruit products since 1955.
Their property in Fish Creek is located about a 10 minute drive from the center of Egg Harbor.
Lautenbach’s offers a lot. Their market sells gifts and food (hello Door County cherries!). Their bakery whips up classics like pie and strudel. They host live music and seasonal activities that are family friendly. And they make hard cider and wine. They’re certainly busy!
The cider and wine bar located inside the market opens at 9:30 AM daily. You can create your own tasting flight to enjoy inside or outside on the patio.
Flights are available in either the “sample size” or “regular” size. You can choose from over 50 wines and hard ciders.
And, since you’re already in the market, you can easily buy a charcuterie board to enjoy alongside your wine flight. Wine plus meat? I can’t think of a better place or a better way to spend an afternoon! (I say this unironically)
The best wineries near Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is a former hub for industrial shipbuilding. Today it’s a well known destination for bass fishing. The town has cute shops (books, candy, home decor) and several upscale guest houses.
But not many people associate wine with Sturgeon Bay, and I think that’s unfair. This small town situated in the middle of the peninsula is home to three lovely wineries.
Sturgeon Bay is located 17.5 miles from Egg Harbor. It should take about 25 minutes to drive from one town to the next.
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery (Sturgeon Bay)
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery hosts over 60,000 visitors per year. This popular destination is not a hidden gem. It’s best for people who appreciate the tried and true things in life.
Simon Creek Winery crafts a mix of white wines, fruit wines, and red wines. Traditionalists will like the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Tempranillo. Sweet wine enthusiasts will appreciate the Sweet Muscat, Door County Cherry wine, and Jackson Port style wine.
During the summer they offer live music on Sundays and select Saturdays. So grab a glass or a bottle and enjoy an afternoon of wine on their spacious deck that overlooks Simon Creek.
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery in Sturgeon Bay is located about 11 miles from the center of Egg Harbor; it’s a roughly 15 minute drive. Their Sturgeon Bay tasting room is typically open from 11 AM to 4 PM daily.
Door 44 Winery (Sturgeon Bay)
Door 44 Winery has a modern tasting room in Sturgeon Bay. Guests can tour the winery, explore the 6 acre vineyard, or relax on the patio with a glass of wine.
If you’re interested in the winemaking process you should definitely book a winery tour. You’ll be able to tour the vineyard and production facility, sample six wines, and learn about wine and food pairings. At the end you’ll receive a glass of wine (your choice) and a discount coupon. For $23 per person I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.
If you’d prefer something less involved, try a wine tasting. Wine flights cost $10 for 4 samples.
Door 44 Winery in Sturgeon Bay is located about 12 miles from the center of Egg Harbor; it’s a roughly 16 minute drive. Their tasting room hours change seasonally, so be sure to double check the Door 44 Winery website before you head over.
P.S. They have a second location near Green Bay called Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery.
Door Peninsula Winery (Sturgeon Bay)
Door Peninsula Winery in Sturgeon Bay is the ultimate Door County destination if you love sweet wines.
They produce a large variety of grape wines, fruit wines, and ciders. Bestsellers range from a Blackberry Merlot to a Cherry Mimosa (cherries plus cider) to the “Sunset Splash” wine.
Sunset Splash is fashioned after a white sangria, which has notes of pineapple, mango, and citrus. It’s the perfect patio sipper on a hot summer day.
Door Peninsula Winery is located just under 8 miles from the center of Egg Harbor; it’s about an 11 minute drive. Their Sturgeon Bay tasting room is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. On Friday and Saturday they’re open until 7 PM.
Similar wine regions to explore
If you love the idea of a beautiful little lake town dotted with wineries then you’re in luck. We’ve got some suggestions for you! These five towns are among the best Midwestern wine destinations.
Across Lake Michigan lies the town of Petoskey. Our blog post covers ten amazing Petoskey wineries that combine the best things in life: lake days and wine.
If you appreciate lakes and wineries then perhaps Madison, Ohio will also float your boat (harhar). Madison is located about 40 minutes east of downtown Cleveland. These seven wonderful wineries in Madison, Ohio are perfect for a weekend road trip.
Waconia, Minnesota is another Midwestern lake town that more people should visit. Keep in mind that Lake Waconia is much, much smaller than Lake Michigan. Despite this lake town’s miniscule size, Waconia wineries still have gobs of Midwestern charm. And gobs of good wine too, of course.
The following two towns have waterfalls, not lakes. But they do have wine, which is the important part.
St. Croix Falls is another Wisconsin gem. This small town lies one hour northeast of Minneapolis. These six St. Croix Falls wineries are easy, accessible, and perfect for a weekend getaway from the city.
The Hocking Hills of Ohio are a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. And the best way to end a long hike is with a glass of wine at one of these beautiful wineries in the Hocking Hills.
