You came for the waterparks, or the kids did. At some point on a Wisconsin Dells trip, usually around the third day, one of the adults starts looking for somewhere with a patio and a glass of wine. The good news is that Wisconsin Dells wineries are close by, seven of them within 25 miles, and a few are worth the trip on their own.
They fall into three groups: three on the edge of town, three more south toward Baraboo and Devil's Lake, and Wollersheim, the most historic winery in the state, a little farther down the road in Prairie du Sac. This guide takes them in that order, with straight-line distances from downtown. The Dells also sits near the middle of the Wisconsin wine map, a day's drive or less from every other wine region in the state.
On the edge of town
Three wineries sit within about 7 miles of downtown Wisconsin Dells, close enough to slip away for an afternoon while the rest of the family is still in the wave pool.
Prairie Hawk Winery, about 5 miles northeast, is the small, seasonal one. It opens on weekend afternoons through the warm months, with a patio made for sitting and a list that runs from barrel-aged Chardonnay and Merlot to fruit wines, hard cider from Wisconsin apples, a lemon mead and wine slushies. A wine called Glugg is the one people remember, if only for the name. Everything is made in small batches, the owners are usually behind the bar, and live music turns up on summer weekends. Bring a picnic, since the kitchen is limited, and check the days before you go.
Toward Baraboo and Devil's Lake
South of the Dells, the land rises into the Baraboo Range, an old ridge of quartzite bluffs around Devil's Lake State Park. Three wineries sit along the way, each with a view.
Sognefjord Winery is the newest, open since late 2024 on County Road A between the Dells and Baraboo, about 2 miles from downtown. The family behind it named the winery after a Norwegian fjord and gives the wines Norwegian names: Inger, Freya and Petra, a port-style wine made with honey that is worth tasting on a day you would normally skip dessert wine.
It is still small, with a short list, a tasting room and plans for a bigger one, and the flights are inexpensive. The winemaker, Fritz, is often around to talk. It opens Thursday through Sunday, and it is worth watching as it grows.
Worth the extra miles: Wollersheim
Wollersheim sits roughly halfway between the Dells and Madison, so it is also the natural bridge between the two. The wineries around Madison continue the trip south if you have another day.
A half-day plan from the Dells
The simplest afternoon heads south. Start at Sognefjord, a couple of miles out of town, while it is quiet. Drive on to Baraboo Bluff for the view and a dry flight, then finish at Balanced Rock, where you can eat properly and hit a bucket of balls. That is three wineries and about 15 miles of driving, and it puts you right at the edge of Devil's Lake if anyone wants a walk before dinner.
A Saturday in summer works better north of town. Fawn Creek and Prairie Hawk are both open, both have music, and both are only a few miles out, so you can do the two and be back at the hotel for the evening. Add Broken Bottle on the way home.
Save Wollersheim for a separate trip of its own. It deserves a couple of hours, and with the cellars, the distillery and the bistro, it can fill a whole afternoon.
What to order where
At Fawn Creek, order whatever fruit wine is in season and a pretzel, and stay for the band. At Broken Bottle, build a six-pack of the wines you liked best. At Prairie Hawk, try the hard cider and the lemon mead alongside the wine.
At Baraboo Bluff, taste The Girlfriend to see what the fuss is about, then order a dry flight for comparison. At Balanced Rock, the St. Pepin is the white to try and Sunspot the red, with a flatbread on the side. At Sognefjord, ask for Petra. At Wollersheim, taste the Prairie Fumé, then walk next door for a brandy.
Pairing a winery with Baraboo
Baraboo, the small city south of the Dells, has more to do than most people realize, and two of its attractions pair well with the wineries nearby.
Circus World, a museum on the site where the Ringling Brothers wintered their circus, runs live shows in summer and makes a good morning with children before an afternoon at Balanced Rock or Baraboo Bluff. The International Crane Foundation, north of town, has the only collection of all fifteen crane species in the world and is a quieter stop for the adults.
Devil's Lake State Park, just south of Baraboo, is the big one. Its bluff trails climb 500 feet above a clear glacial lake, and the swimming beaches fill up on hot days. Balanced Rock Winery sits right at the park's doorstep.
Sweet, dry or somewhere in between
The Dells wineries lean sweet, and that is by design. Many of their visitors are on vacation, it is summer, and a cold glass of fruit wine on a patio is what the afternoon wants. If that is you, Fawn Creek, Prairie Hawk and Broken Bottle will make you happy.
If you prefer drier wine, head south. Balanced Rock and Baraboo Bluff both make dry flights from cold-hardy grapes, and Wollersheim's dry whites and reds are among the most awarded in the state. Tell the person pouring what you like. At every one of these wineries, they will steer you toward something that fits.
Wine tours and wine walks
If nobody wants to drive, a trolley tour is the easy answer. Wisconsin Dells Trolley Tours has run winery tours that stop at two or three wineries with lunch included. Book ahead in summer and on fall weekends.
Downtown Wisconsin Dells also holds a fall wine walk, when shops on Broadway turn into tasting stops for an afternoon. It is a different thing from a winery visit, more social and more of a stroll, and tickets go fast.
Planning around the kids
Tastings are for 21 and over, but most of these wineries are relaxed about families coming along. A few make it easier.
Balanced Rock has the driving range, which buys you a flight's worth of time. Baraboo Bluff has room to run on the hillside and welcomes picnics. Fawn Creek has lawns, live music and food. Wollersheim has the cellars to explore and a bistro for lunch.
The best trick is timing. Go in the late morning or early afternoon, before the waterpark fatigue sets in, and pair a winery with Devil's Lake State Park, which is next door to Balanced Rock and has trails, beaches and some of the best views in southern Wisconsin.
When to go
Summer is the busiest season, with bands on the stages and full patios every weekend. September and October are better. The harvest is in, the bluffs around Devil's Lake turn color and the waterpark crowds are gone.
In winter, most of the Dells wineries keep going with shorter hours, and Fawn Creek moves its music into the heated pavilion. Prairie Hawk is the exception, since it closes for the season after October. Check hours for each one before you set out, since the schedules change through the year.
Frequently asked questions
Published September 21, 2026
