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Raise A Glass: Wine Fest Moves to Baileys Harbor in 2022

Picture this. You’re sitting on a sun-drenched patio, looking at a vineyard with lush, green vines in the distance. The stem of a glass rests between your fingers as you swirl the wine inside. You take a sip, and for a moment, you think you’re in Napa Valley or Sonoma. But you’re not. This is Door County. 

The Door County Wine Fest is back June 25 to celebrate the success of Door County’s wine scene. Over the past few decades, Door County and wineries have developed a fruitful relationship, driven in part by the peninsula’s location along the 45th parallel and the ideal growing conditions that this location provides. And although Door County wineries are known for fruit wines that showcase the region’s best apples, cherries and more, an increasing number of estate-grown grape wines have entered the scene. 

“There are some really good wines and solid wineries here,” said event organizer Brian Fitzgerald.

Wine Fest will showcase eight of the establishments along the Door County Wine Trail, offering unlimited tastings of more than 80 wines.

“What people have liked about the fest in the past is you’re able to come in, try different wines all in one place, and then find something you have an interest in, whether that’s a specific wine or a winery,” Fitzgerald said.

Fest-goers will enjoy a new location this year. Fitzgerald said moving the event to Maxwelton Braes Lodge in Baileys Harbor was an easy decision after the success organizers experienced hosting Beer Fest there last year. The change in venue also allows Wine Fest to become a more niche event, giving everyone in attendance a VIP-like experience. 

“The decision to make it a capped event provides more of an opportunity for people to interact with the wineries,” Fitzgerald said.

Although the day promises a full menu of wine-focused fun, complete with shuttles available for safe rides afterward, guests can easily extend their independent enology the rest of the weekend.

“That’s the cool thing about Wine Fest,” Fitzgerald said. “All of the wineries are local to Door County, so you have the opportunity to venture out afterward and actually go to them. You get to see the grounds, meet some of the owners and maybe purchase a bottle of the wine that you liked at the fest.”

DETAILS

Door County Wine Festival

June 25, 2022

Maxwelton Braes, Baileys Harbor

Description: Enjoy live music, food vendors, and sample wines from the following peninsula wineries: Door 44 Winery, Door Peninsula Winery, Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery, Harbor Ridge Winery, Stone’s Throw Winery, Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market, Red Oak Winery, von Stiehl Winery.

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