North Dakota is a state on the United States border with Canada and was the last state in the United States after Prohibition to license a commercial winery. The first commercial Winery in North Dakota, Pointe of View Winery, was established on April 17, 2002.
Although it shares the same latitudes stretching between (45N and 49N) with some of the best wine-growing regions in Europe, the climatic extremes experienced in North Dakota make most areas in this state unsuitable for large-scale wine growing.
The wine industry is growing; by 2011, there were nine wineries and forty vineyards. North Dakota now has 14 wineries registered with the Grape & Wine Association, with the wines being based on cold-hardy hybrid varieties such as Frontenac, La Cresent, and Saint-Croix.
A program at North Dakota State University focuses on developing cold-hardy grape varieties to diversify wine output.
Various wine festivals in North Dakota showcase the wines produced in the state, allowing you to sample wines from the wineries in North Dakota with fellow wine enthusiasts while at the same time being treated to great-tasting food and live music.
If you intend on visiting The Peace Garden State, the following wine festivals in North Dakota are well worth considering:
The Top Wine Festivals in North Dakota
- North Dakota Wine Festival
- Fargo Festival of Wines
- Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Grape Stomp
- North Dakota Wine & Grape Harvest Festival
1. North Dakota Wine Festival
- Venue: AmericInn by Wyndham
- Address: 370 Pacific Avenue, Medora ND 58645
- Ticket Packages: All-inclusive for One $229 – All-inclusive for Two $389 includes;
- Welcome Reception/Dinner/Show&
- Night Lodging at Americinn
- Main Festival
- Special Discounts at Medora Uncork’d
- Access to Welcome Reception/Dinner and Main Festival (no lodging) – $169
- Welcome Reception/Dinner – $119
- Main Festival (Saturday) – $49
The 3rd Annual North Dakota Wine Festival, held at Americinn Medora in March 2022, featured wines from the wine industry in the Dakotas and Eastern Montana, which has grown substantially over the last few years.
The Festival started on Friday evening, March 11, at the AmericInn by Wyndham Medora with a Welcome Reception which included an appetizer and a paired North Dakota wine. A three-course dinner followed, with each course paired with North Dakota wines.
Dinner was followed by a Magic/Comedy Show featuring Nathan “Tricky’ Allen.
The Main Festival on Saturday featured tastings from wineries of North Dakota as part of the entry fee. In addition, Wild Vines Market from Beach, ND, provided a cheese and light hors-d’oeuvre table. The cheeses featured were supplied by Dimock Dairy in Dimock, SD.
Singer/songwriter Connie Gjermundson provided live music
2. Fargo Festival of Wines
- Venue: Sanctuary Events Center
- Address: 670 4th Avenue N, Fargo ND 58102
- Event Date: October 20, 2022
- Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
- Tickets: $66
A collection of the finest wines assembled in this area will be available for sampling at the Festival of Wines on Thursday, October 20, from 6-8 pm at the Sanctuary Event Center in Fargo.
For $66, you can sample over 100 premium wines worldwide. A wide variety of wines to suit all palates will be available, ranging from mild and subtle to bold and robust.
This Festival is an enjoyable and informative evening giving you the excellent opportunity to expand your wine knowledge while trying new wines or to learn how to do more with your current favorites.
3. Grape Stomp
- Venue: Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery
- Address: 17355 Country Road 4, Colfax ND 58018
Dakota Vines Vineyard and Winery is located about 30 miles south of the Fargo-Moorhead area and offers wine enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about wine and winemaking a unique and rural experience.
Dakota Vines opened in 2018. Visitors can learn about new varieties of grapes that can survive in cold climates and sample/buy wine in a rural North Dakota setting.
The 3rd Annual Grape Stomp was held at Dakota Vines Vineyard and Winery on Saturday, August 13. Tickets included a commemorative Dakotas Vines Vineyard and Winery and Crooked Lane Farm stemless wine glass.
Teams of two members that must be of legal drinking age participate in the wine stomping competition. Four teams stomp at a time, and prizes are given to the winning team from each heat.
The team that produced the most juice by volume was crowned Grape Stomp Champions and received six bottles of wine.
Food trucks and wine, beer, and soda were available to purchase.
4. North Dakota Wine and Grape Harvest Festival.
- Venue: Red Trail Vineyard
- Address: 3510 142nd Avenue SE, Buffalo ND 58011
Red Trail Vineyards was established in 2003 and is located just west of Fargo. The Winery is set at Buffalo Creek and named after the Old Red Trail in the Dakota Territories days.
Red Trail Vineyard has combined the fertile soils of the Red River Valley and traditional winemaking techniques to draw out the flavors and aromas of native hybrid grapes.
Every August, Red Trail Vineyards hosts the Annual North Dakota Grape Harvest Festival and Grape Stomp for a fun-filled day of great wine, food, and music.
