Sip your way through the peninsula at our favorite wine destinations
Wine may not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about Door County, but the peninsula has quietly developed one of the Midwest’s most distinctive wine scenes. Today, visitors can explore the best wineries in Door County, where locally grown fruit, cold-climate grapes, and decades of experimentation have created a wine culture that feels uniquely tied to the region.
Door County’s wine story begins in the late 1960s, when local physician Dr. Charles “Doc” Stiehl began experimenting with wine made from Door County cherries. In 1967, he opened what became Wisconsin’s first licensed winery in nearby Algoma. At a time when traditional grape varieties were difficult to grow in northern climates, fruit wines — especially cherry wines — offered a creative way to turn the peninsula’s agricultural abundance into something entirely new.
As the idea caught on, other winemakers began to follow. Today, visitors can experience that legacy firsthand while exploring the best wineries in Door County, many of which continue to highlight the peninsula’s agricultural roots while experimenting with new styles and flavors.
Whether you’re looking for Door County’s traditional fruit wines or grape varietals, here are just a few of our favorite places on the peninsula to sip and savor. Even better news: many of these are open year-round and they’re close to us at Ephraim Shores Resort!
Our favorites among the best wineries of Door County
Door 44 Winery (Sturgeon Bay)
Located just north of Sturgeon Bay on Highway 42, Door 44 is the kind of winery where you can easily spend a day — whether you’re walking along the six-acre vineyard, listening to music outside on their patio, or tasting indoors at their state-of-the-art facility. Door 44 specializes in locally grown grape wines that you can enjoy through wine flights, wines by the glass, or by purchasing a bottle or two to enjoy there or take home.
Harbor Ridge Winery (Egg Harbor)
With a motto of “Solving the world’s problems, one sip at a time,” Harbor Ridge Winery believes that wine can be both educational and fun — and that’s exactly how they run their tasting room. The winery is known for playful wine names (Knockin’ Heads Red and Gimme One Good Riesling being just two examples!), and offers more than 20 wines for tasting, ranging from sweet fruit wines to barrel-aged reds.
Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market (Fish Creek)
Located on a family orchard property, Lautenbach’s is famous for its cherry wines and fruit blends made from locally grown produce on site. The winery and cider mill is in a restored dairy barn, and visitors can expect to have 50+ wines and ciders to choose from — dry to sweet, sparkling to spiced, and red to white.
Helioterra Wines (Fish Creek)
Located at the Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek, Heiloterra Wines is one of the newest additions to the peninsula’s winery scene and brings a unique perspective to the best wineries in Door County. Founder Anne Ebenreiter Hubatch, a Wisconsin native who built her winemaking career in Oregon, produces small-batch wines using premium grapes sourced from vineyards across the Pacific Northwest. The tasting room offers Door County visitors the rare opportunity to sample handcrafted Oregon wines while exploring the peninsula.
Lake Fire Winery (Baileys Harbor)
With the distinction of being the only waterfront winery among the best wineries in Door County, Lake Fire is a hidden gem. Visitors can sample award-winning wines ranging from dry reds and whites to fruit wines, sparkling wines, and port-style selections. The lakeside patio is a favorite spot to enjoy a tasting flight while overlooking Lake Michigan, often accompanied by live music on Friday evenings.
Of course, these are just a handful of the best wineries in Door County! The peninsula is also home to several others that make up the Door County Wine Trail, a collection of 10 wineries spread throughout the region that invite visitors to explore everything from fruit wines and ciders to estate-grown cold-climate grapes.
If you’re planning a summer visit, the annual Door County Wine Fest in Baileys Harbor — held this year on Saturday, June 27 — is another great way to sample the best wineries in Door County all in one place. The festival brings together local wineries for tastings, live music, and food from some of the peninsula’s favorite places to eat in Door County.
Whether you follow the Wine Trail for a day or simply stop at a few tasting rooms along the way, exploring the best wineries in Door County is one more memorable way to experience the flavors of the peninsula.
Ephraim Shores Resort — a waterfront Door County resort for the whole family
Located in downtown Ephraim, Ephraim Shores is a family-friendly resort for groups of all sizes. From our private sundeck overlooking Eagle Harbor and our many room types to our beautiful waterfront location, Ephraim Shores has everything your family needs for the perfect vacation. Some of our amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, an exercise room and game room, and bikes for our guests to use. To make your reservation, contact us at 877-854-2371 or visit our website at ephraimshores.com.