Wineries in Door County: 2026 Wine Tasting Guide
Door County may be famous for cherries, fish boils, lighthouses and shoreline sunsets, but the peninsula has quietly developed one of Wisconsin's most interesting wine scenes.
And no, it's not all sweet cherry wine.
A Door County wine weekend can include estate-grown cold-climate grapes, dry reds made from California fruit, sparkling wines, cider, mead, vineyard patios, Lake Michigan views and, yes, plenty of cherry wine.
If you're visiting for the first time, don't try to hit every tasting room. Pick two or three that match your style, mix them into a day of sightseeing and food, and you'll have a much better Door County experience.
For the bigger picture before you go, start with our complete Door County family travel guide or our Door County first-timer's guide.
What makes Door County wine different?
Door County wine reflects the peninsula itself.
The area's fruit-growing history means cherry, apple and other fruit wines remain a major part of the experience. But wineries have increasingly added cold-hardy Wisconsin grape varieties capable of handling northern winters, while others bring grapes from major growing regions elsewhere in the United States and make the wine here.
The result is that two wineries only a few miles apart can offer completely different experiences.
You can taste a sweet Door County cherry wine in the morning, an estate-grown Wisconsin red in the afternoon and a Napa- or Sonoma-style Cabernet before dinner.
The Door County Wine Trail ties many of these producers together, although its membership and branding have evolved during 2026. In particular, the former Door 44 operation has been consolidated with Parallel 44 at the Sturgeon Bay-area location and is now operating as Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery.
🍷 Explore Door County Wineries
Find vineyards, cherry wines, cider, waterfront tasting rooms and boutique wine experiences throughout Door County.
Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery
Best for: Wisconsin-grown wine and your first stop on the drive north
Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery sits north of Sturgeon Bay, making it one of the easiest wineries to visit as you enter the peninsula.
This is the location longtime Door County visitors may remember as Door 44. In 2026, the owners consolidated their Parallel 44 and Door 44 operations here under the Parallel 44 name. The focus remains on wines made from grapes grown in Wisconsin, including vines right outside the tasting room.
It's a good stop for anyone curious about what Wisconsin wine can be beyond fruit wine. The vineyard, patio and modern tasting room also make it more of a place to linger than simply a retail tasting counter.
Why we'd stop: It's a great introduction to the Wisconsin-grown side of Door County wine.
Door Peninsula Winery
Best for: First-time visitors, variety and an easy introduction to Door County wine
Door Peninsula Winery is one of the iconic Door County wine stops.
Located in a historic former schoolhouse in Carlsville, the winery dates to 1974 and offers an enormous lineup ranging from traditional grape wines to cherry and other fruit wines, ciders and meads.
For 2026, the Door County Wine Trail lists complimentary tastings and free tours hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., although schedules can always change.
It's also attached to Door County Distillery, making this an especially useful stop when not everyone in your group wants the same thing.
This isn't a quiet boutique vineyard experience. It's larger, busier and more tourist-friendly — which is exactly why it works so well for a first visit.
Why we'd stop: If you've never tried Door County wine, this is probably the easiest place to figure out what you like.
Lautenbach's Winery & Cider Co.
Best for: The complete Door County orchard experience
If you want your wine tasting to actually feel like Door County, Lautenbach's Market, Winery & Cider Co belongs near the top of the list.
Lautenbach's is much more than a tasting room. It's an orchard, farm market, winery and cidery south of Fish Creek, with Door County cherries at the center of the experience.
Depending on the season, you can combine wine or cider tasting with orchard walks, fruit picking, baked goods and a stop at the market. The current Wine Trail information lists tasting flights and a self-guided orchard and vineyard walk rather than guided winery tours.
This is also one of the easiest winery-related stops to incorporate into a broader family Door County day because the property offers more to do than sit at a tasting bar.
Planning a summer trip? Pair it with our Door County cherry picking guide.
Why we'd stop: This is the best intersection of Door County wine, cherries, orchards and farm-market culture.
Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery
Best for: Vineyard scenery and a more elevated wine experience
Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery is one of the newer additions to Door County's wine scene and one of the prettiest.
The family-owned Egg Harbor winery has a striking timber-frame tasting room overlooking a six-acre vineyard. Its wines combine traditional vinifera selections with cold-hardy varieties suited to Wisconsin's climate.
This feels more like the classic "spend an afternoon at a vineyard" experience than many of Door County's older retail-oriented wineries.
Get a tasting, find a seat looking across the vines and don't rush off to the next attraction.
Why we'd stop: If scenery matters as much as the wine, Anchored Roots is one of our top choices.
Stone's Throw Winery
Best for: Dry-wine drinkers
Visitors who hear "Door County wine" and immediately picture something sugary should go to Stone's Throw Winery.
Stone's Throw takes a very different approach. The winery sources premium grapes from California regions including Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino, then makes its wine in Door County using small-lot winemaking techniques.
That means Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other traditional styles rather than a lineup built around local fruit wines.
The grounds between Egg Harbor and Baileys Harbor add to the experience, and tours are offered as well.
Why we'd stop: This is the Door County winery we'd point dry-red and traditional wine drinkers toward first.
Lake Fire Winery
Best for: The view
It's hard to beat drinking a glass of wine next to Lake Michigan.
Lake Fire Winery sits right in Baileys Harbor and brings a much more casual waterfront feel to the winery experience.
Flights can include wines and ciders, and the property frequently adds live music and outdoor hanging-out time to the equation. Current Wine Trail information lists four-pour tasting flights, with private and group tastings available by reservation.
This isn't where we'd go for a formal wine education. We'd go because it's a beautiful place to relax after exploring the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula.
Why we'd stop: Wine plus a Baileys Harbor waterfront view is a very good combination.
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery
Best for: A quieter vineyard stop
Tucked away from the busiest Highway 42 corridor, Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery feels more secluded than many Door County wineries.
The property includes a sizable vineyard and outdoor space, making it a good choice when you'd rather escape the crowds than add another busy tourist stop.
Its lineup includes both traditional wines and Door County fruit wines, including its popular Door County Cherry.
Why we'd stop: Simon Creek works especially well as part of a quieter Lake Michigan-side day.
Harbor Ridge Winery
Best for: Casual wine tasting near Egg Harbor
Harbor Ridge Winery has one of the more relaxed personalities on the peninsula.
The Egg Harbor winery operates from a log-cabin-style tasting room and offers everything from drier wines to sweet and fruit-forward selections.
It's particularly convenient because you can pair it with Anchored Roots and other Egg Harbor attractions without spending half your afternoon in the car.
Why we'd stop: An easygoing tasting stop for groups whose wine preferences are all over the map.
Mixed Meadia
Best for: Trying something completely different
Not every stop needs to be Cabernet versus Chardonnay.
Mixed Meadia in Egg Harbor specializes in mead — wine fermented with honey — along with cider, wine and creative co-ferments.
You'll find sparkling meads, apple-and-honey combinations and other experiments that make this one of Door County's more unusual tasting experiences.
Mixed Meadia shares its location with Hatch Distilling Co., so this is another useful destination for a group with different tastes.
Why we'd stop: It's probably the most interesting wild card on the list.
Red Oak Winery & Bourbon Bar
Best for: Mixed groups who want more than wine
Red Oak Winery and Bourbon Bar remains an active Carlsville-area tasting stop even though it isn't currently featured among the main wineries on the 2026 Wine Trail navigation.
In addition to wine, the location offers a bourbon-bar component and food, making it a practical stop when your group isn't composed entirely of wine drinkers.
Why we'd stop: Variety. It can work better than a traditional tasting room for a mixed group.
Helioterra Wines Door County
Best for: Wine enthusiasts looking for a boutique tasting
Helioterra Wines Door County is worth knowing about, with one important distinction: this is a Door County tasting-room location rather than a winery built around Door County-grown grapes.
Located at the Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek, Helioterra pours small-batch wines made from Pacific Northwest grapes, including Pinot Noir and other cool-climate varietals.
It offers a more intimate, host-led wine experience than the larger traditional Door County tasting rooms.
Why we'd stop: It's a good option for serious wine drinkers staying in or around Fish Creek.
What about von Stiehl?
You may see Von Stiehl • Winery • Distillery • Cidery – Near Door County in Algoma, WI listed as part of the Door County Wine Trail.
That's correct — but the winery itself is in Algoma, south of the Door County line.
It makes an excellent bonus stop on the drive to or from the peninsula, particularly if you're coming from Milwaukee or Green Bay, but we wouldn't build it into a Northern Door County tasting day unless you're specifically planning a longer route.
Our picks: Which Door County winery should you choose?
If you only have time for one winery on your first Door County trip, we'd choose Door Peninsula Winery. It's approachable, offers tremendous variety and makes it easy to understand the history of wine on the peninsula.
If you want the prettiest vineyard experience, go to Anchored Roots.
If you want local orchard character and cherry wine, choose Lautenbach's.
If you prefer dry, traditional wines, go to Stone's Throw.
If you want Wisconsin-grown grape wines, try Parallel 44.
If you want wine with the best waterfront setting, head to Lake Fire.
And if you want something completely different, try Mixed Meadia.
A simple Door County winery itinerary
One mistake is turning a relaxing Door County day into a tasting-room scavenger hunt.
Two or three winery stops is plenty.
Southern route
Start at Parallel 44 as you enter Door County.
Continue north to Door Peninsula Winery in Carlsville.
Then choose Anchored Roots or Harbor Ridge around Egg Harbor.
From there, stop tasting and go enjoy dinner, the shoreline or a sunset.
Lake Michigan-side route
Start with Simon Creek.
Continue to Stone's Throw.
Finish at Lake Fire in Baileys Harbor, where you can stay for the waterfront atmosphere.
Classic Door County route
Visit Lautenbach's for the orchard-and-winery experience.
Head south to Anchored Roots for a vineyard setting.
Then finish with Door Peninsula Winery on your way back toward Sturgeon Bay.
Whichever route you choose, plan a designated driver whenever your group will be drinking. The Door County Wine Trail itself does not operate transportation between the wineries.
Can you visit Door County wineries with kids?
Sometimes — but choose the stop carefully.
Wine tastings are obviously for adults 21 and older, and a winery shouldn't become the centerpiece of a kids' vacation. That said, some Door County wineries are easier to incorporate into a family trip than others.
Lautenbach's is our easiest recommendation because the orchard, market and seasonal fruit activities give kids something beyond waiting for adults to finish a tasting.
Door Peninsula Winery is another relatively easy stop because it's large, casual and combines tours, shopping and food products with the tasting area.
With kids, we'd make the winery one short component of the day and pair it with a beach, hike, orchard, playground, mini golf or ice cream.
Our Door County with kids guide has plenty of ideas for building the rest of that day.
Door County Wine Passport
If you're planning multiple visits rather than one afternoon, look at the 2026 Door County Wine Passport.
The official Wine Trail currently lists the passport at $65, with offers such as buy-one-get-one flights and discounts on wine purchases. It's valid through December 31, 2026, and participants must be 21 or older.
One useful 2026 note: older Door County winery lists may no longer exactly match the current trail. The official Wine Trail's own pages have been evolving as winery membership and branding change, so check its current map before planning your route rather than relying on an older "10 wineries" list.
What about Door County Wine Fest?
The 2026 Door County Wine Fest was held June 27 at About Thyme Farm in Baileys Harbor, bringing wineries together for tastings, food and live music.
Since that event has already passed for 2026, keep an eye out for information about the 2027 festival if you're planning next summer's trip.
When is the best time for a Door County winery trip?
Summer gives you the fullest experience: vineyards are green, patios are open and most wineries keep their longest hours.
September and October may be even better. You get fall color, harvest-season atmosphere and cooler temperatures for exploring the peninsula.
Winter is underrated for a wine weekend. Several tasting rooms remain open year-round, crowds disappear and wineries pair naturally with a cozy Door County getaway. Our Door County winter guide covers what stays open during the quieter months.
Always check same-day hours before making a special trip. Door County businesses frequently adjust schedules between peak season and winter.
Make a weekend out of it
A winery afternoon works particularly well when you're staying around Egg Harbor, Fish Creek or Baileys Harbor, since several tasting rooms are clustered in the middle of the peninsula.
If you're still deciding where to base your trip, our Door County lodging guide covers hotels, resorts, cottages and other options across the peninsula, while our Door County cabins and cottages guide is useful if you'd rather have a little more space.
The bottom line
Door County isn't trying to be Napa — and that's part of what makes visiting its wineries fun.
You can spend one afternoon tasting Wisconsin-grown wine beside a vineyard, another sipping cherry wine at an orchard and another drinking a dry California-style red only a few miles from Lake Michigan.
For a first trip, we'd build around Door Peninsula Winery, Anchored Roots and either Lautenbach's or Stone's Throw, depending on whether your tastes run more toward classic Door County fruit-and-orchard flavors or traditional dry wines.
Then leave some room in the itinerary for everything else that makes Door County worth the drive.
Because the best Door County wine tour is probably the one that doesn't feel like a wine tour at all.
A Door County wine weekend can include estate-grown cold-climate grapes, dry reds made from California fruit, sparkling wines, cider, mead, vineyard patios, Lake Michigan views and, yes, plenty of cherry wine.