For as long as people have lived along the Upper Mississippi River, grapes have been grown there. But it’s really only in the past few years that the area has blossomed as a wine-growing region and vineyard destination.

Sure, the grape and vines have to be hardy enough to survive the cold winters, but with all the bluffs and hills, there’s plenty of opportunity to get the vines maximum exposure to the sun. The soil of the clay and limestone bluffs lends unique flavor to the grapes, and vineyards just have to make small adaptations to protect their vines in the winter.

The Great River Road stretches along both sides of the Mississippi in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Over a stretch of just more than 200 miles there are 11 different vineyards making 100 different wines. Plan a day or a weekend or a full week out west along the Great River Road to take in all the great views and spectacular wines.

Every bit of information you could want about the Great River Road Wine Trail can be found on their website. Check out distances, suggested stops along the way and learn more about each vineyard.

Folks don’t think of Wisconsin or the Mississippi River Valley when they think of wine, but once you’ve tasted all the delicious wines made there, you’ll never make that mistake again!

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Looking for more Wisconsin wine? Check out 13 Picture Perfect Wisconsin Wineries You’ll Want To Visit.

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