Despite Montana’s harsh winters and exposure to nature, special vintners in Montana have introduced a blossoming wine scene to an unlikely territory. On top of that, the development of Native North American Hybrid grapes has changed the game for Montana winemakers. Unlike most fruits, this strange type of grape can withstand the freezing temperatures and still produce fruit in the shortened Montana summers. The best part? These grapes produce wine that is actually very good.
The improbable wine country seems to be a great development for both winemakers and Montanans in the surrounding areas. If you’re searching for a local winery to sip and support, here are a few Montana wineries to check in the new year:
Hidden Legend Winery
Teaming up with Allen’s Vineyard just a few miles down the road, Victor’s Hidden Legend Winery serves premium wines and world-class meads. Despite Montana’s winters and wildlife, the grapes used at this winery survive all obstacles and are well worth the trouble of growing and protecting.
The story of Hidden Legend Winery is definitely one to be told. When founder Ken Schultz was a child he watched as his grandfather, who was a chemist, turned juice into wine. Soon, he tried his hand at winemaking, even taking on a fermentation science project in eighth grade. As he grew older, he moved to Montana with his wife in 1979. The two lived together in a tipi, and Ken would practice and store his wine beneath the tipi in a wine cellar. In 1989, Ken’s neighbor delivered him a 5-gallon crystallized bucket of honey since there was a local shortage of grapes. These few gallons of honey helped produce perhaps what Hidden Legendary is best known for — honey wine.
After winning multiple awards for a selection of wines, Hidden Legend Winery states that they are “proof that man’s desire for great wine can happen even in the most challenging natural environments!”
White Raven Winery
Owned and operated by proud Montanans, the White Raven Winery is located just minutes away from Glacier National Park. This special winery makes all of its wines on-site, some even using Montana-grown grapes. If you’re willing to brave the cold, White Raven Winery is opened year-round.
Similar to Hidden Legend Winery, White Raven Winery has a tale that’s a bit non-conventional. The white raven is typically perceived as mysterious and rare, and sparks an air of curiosity. Due to their rarity, legend says the white raven parents kill off their young prior to adulthood because they are less likely to blend in with their surroundings. White Raven Winery brings this story to life, claiming to be “a winery as rare as a white raven.”
Mission Mountain Winery
Known as Montana’s very first winery, Mission Montana Winery is a family-owned winery. Mission Mountain Winery is located on the West Shore of Flathead lake, which is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Currently, the winery produces over 6500 cases of wine each year. Like previous wineries mentioned, Mission Mountain Winery tends to use Montana-grown grapes in their wines. In addition to that, the winery also uses grapes grown in the Rattlesnake Hills of Washington state.
Though it is Montana’s first winery, it was only started in 1980 and released its first vintage in 1984. Over the last 40+ years, Mission Mountain Winery has gone on to win over a hundred accolades and international medals.
Tongue River Winery
Owned by a pair of college sweethearts from 1966, Tongue River Winery offers exotic fruit wines and has won over 75 medals and awards. Tongue River Winery is Southeast Montana’s only vineyard and winery, but they make sure to deliver a taste that’s worth traveling for. As recent as late 2021, Tongue River Winery won Gold for Cherry Pie & 2020 La Crescent.
Perhaps an experience unlike any winery in Montana, Tongue Rivery Winery offers a BnB on AirBnB for wine lovers to travel, stay, sip, and enjoy.
