Red River Wine Trek
Curious about North Dakota-made wines, ciders, and meads? Grab a Red River Winery Trek passport and visit each of the locations to earn a prize!
Here’s how we would tackle the Red River Winery trek, keep in mind this may take a couple of days, and to always have a sober driver:
Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center
We recommend starting and ending at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center, that way you can grab the passport and hit the road!
2001 44th St S, Fargo | (701) 282-3653
Cottonwood Cider House
45 Minutes North West of the Visitors Center.
Although not a traditional winery, the Cottonwood Cider House serves up some great North Dakota-grown ciders. This is a great stop to start your tour because their ciders are light and easy to drink.
> Must try
Their Ayr Mule is a wonderful take on the Moscow Mule.
14481 25th St SE, Ayr, ND | (701) 866-9913
Red Trail Vineyard
20 minutes South of Cottonwood.
Next up is this charming red barn within the vineyards which is a great spot for tasting some North Dakota wine!
> Must try
Red Trail hosts Friday Night suppers throughout the summer, make a reservation for one and enjoy some local wines alongside NDSU Beef Tenderloins, steak dinners, and even Lobster Boils.
3510 142nd Ave SE, Buffalo, ND | (701) 238-3337
Rookery Rock Winery
Just 10 minutes from Red Trail.
This penguin-themed winery is on an enormous amount of land, hop into the tasting room to taste their varieties, if you’re lucky, the owner might take you on a walk through the crops and vines to show you where your beverages came from.
> Must try
Frontenac Gris is a very North Dakota wine, Rookery Rock does a great job with this grape. Give it a try!
3660 147th Ave SE, Wheatland, ND | (701) 280-2470
Maple River Winery
12 minutes East from Rookery Rock Winery
One of the first wineries in the area, Maple River Winery is located in Downtown Casselton. They have mostly fruit-based wines along with many North Dakota-made products.
> Must try
Their Strawberry Rhubarb wine is a sweet, fruit variety.
630 Front St, Casselton, ND | (701) 347-5900
4e Winery
Just over a 5-minute drive from Maple River Winery
Located just West of Fargo in Mapleton, ND, 4e winery has a beautiful tasting room overlooking the vineyard. Enjoy a high-quality wine while you sit back and enjoy the views.
> Must try
The folks at 4e make a mean Sangria, try the red or white options made with their own wines. They even have a winter variety that’s warm and perfect for a chilly day.
3766 156th Ave SE, Mapleton, ND | (701) 936-9693
Prairie Rose Meadery
Just over 20 minutes East from 4e Winery will get you back into Fargo to Prairie Rose.
Prairie Rose makes Mead which is honey wine, they make a whole bunch of flavors to choose from ranging from super sweet to really spicy or sour.
> Must try
The Chokecherry mead is made from North Dakota’s state fruit. It has a cherry flavor that finishes semi-sweet.
3101 39th St S, Fargo | (701) 371-3690
Bear Creek Winery
Head South for a little over 10 minutes and it will bring you to Bear Creek!
Expansive vineyards and incredible views await at Bear Creek Winery. This experimental winery has fantastic wines that range from sweet to very dry. They have mastered the art of using the cold climate, hardy grapes to create one heck of a bottle of wine.
> Must try
Their Petite Pearl variety is a wonderfully dry red wine for even the biggest wine connoisseur.
8800 25th St S, Fargo | (701) 306-4709
Dakota Vines Winery
Go South for another 20 minutes to find Dakota Vines Vineyard.
This beautiful, modern farmhouse is perfect for tasting some of North Dakota’s best wines.
> Must try
Their wine tasting flight is only $6 so you’re able to try six different wines. New in 2020, they have a rosé called Sundown which is perfect for a hot day.
17355 Co Rd 4, Colfax, ND | (701) 553-8807
Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center
You’ve completed the trek! Turn in your passport to the Travel Ambassadors at the Visitors Center for a free t-shirt to commemorate the trip. While you’re there, grab some information about the city or a Crafts and Drafts passport to do the same thing, just in the breweries.
2001 44th St S, Fargo | (701) 282-3653
For the map of the whole Red River Winery Trek tour, follow this link to Google Maps.