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Schram Vineyards Wins Minnesota’s Best Winery 2026 for the Third Year in a Row: Here’s Why We Keep Winning
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
We are honored to share that Schram Vineyards has been named Minnesota's Best Winery 2026 by readers of the Star Tribune — marking our fourth time earning the title and our third consecutive win. In 2022, 2024, 2025, and now 2026, Minnesota wine lovers voted with their hearts, and all of us at Schram could not be more grateful.
Schram Vineyards is the best winery in Minnesota because we offer more than a tasting room. We bring together award-winning estate wine, house-brewed craft beer, lake views, chef-driven dining, and a true destination experience in Waconia.
This award means so much to us — not just because of the title itself, but because it is voted on by the people who have visited us in Waconia, spent a Saturday afternoon on the patio overlooking Reitz Lake, and made memories here. It is our Wine Club members who have been with us for years. It is the groups celebrating birthdays, bachelorette parties, anniversaries, and special events in the Barrel Room. It is the first-time visitors who heard about us, stopped by, and ended up staying much longer than they planned.
Thank you for voting. Thank you for coming back. And thank you for making Schram what it is.
From First Vines to Best Winery
When Aaron and Ashley Schram planted their first vines on this 32-acre property in Waconia back in 2008, they envisioned a winery built on a south-facing hillside overlooking a lake — a place where people could gather, celebrate, and enjoy something genuinely handcrafted. We opened to the public in 2013 and have not stopped building since.
In 2014, we became the first singly owned winery and brewery in Minnesota. Today, that original vision has grown into one of the most complete winery destinations in the state, with estate wines made from cold-hardy grapes grown right here on-site, house-brewed craft beer from Schram Haus Brewery, signature cocktails, and the brand-new Bonfire & Barrel restaurant — a modern wine-country dining experience that opened in 2026.
Four "Best Winery" wins in the last five years is not luck. It is what happens when we pour everything into creating the best possible experience for our guests.
Why Minnesota Keeps Voting for Us
Award-Winning Wines Made Right Here in Minnesota
We grow 10 acres of estate grapes on-site, selected specifically for Minnesota's climate, and craft every bottle in the same winery our guests visit when they come to Waconia. Our wines have earned Gold Medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the International Cold Climate Wine Competition — proof that Minnesota-grown grapes can hold their own anywhere.
Whether you are booking a guided tasting, ordering a flight, or joining our Wine Club for quarterly curated releases, you are drinking some of the best wine Minnesota has to offer.
A True Minnesota Destination
We have grown into much more than a winery. Schram Vineyards is one of Waconia's most complete places to eat, drink, gather, and spend the day — all in one place. Guests can enjoy wine, beer, cocktails, dining, live music, private events, bocce, and lake views without ever leaving the property.
We offer house-brewed craft beer, signature cocktails, chef-driven dining, live music every weekend, bocce ball leagues, gazebo rentals, private event spaces, and views of Reitz Lake that earned their own "Best View" recognition from Star Tribune readers two years running, in 2025 and 2026.
Whether you are a wine enthusiast, a craft beer fan, a foodie, or someone who simply wants to get out of the city, there is something here for you.
The Best Day Trip from Minneapolis That Isn't Far at All
If you have been looking for the best day trip from the Twin Cities, a scenic date night near Minneapolis, or simply a beautiful place to spend a Saturday, we hope Schram is exactly what you are looking for.
Located in Waconia, about 35 miles west of Minneapolis, we are close enough for a spontaneous weeknight dinner or an easy weekend group outing — yet far enough to feel like you have escaped the city.
A perfect day with us looks like this: a wine flight on the patio, views of Reitz Lake, a guided tasting, live music as the afternoon winds down, a few rounds of bocce with friends, and dinner at Bonfire & Barrel to finish. It is the "just far enough" getaway.
A Wine Club People Actually Love
One of the most common things we hear from Wine Club members is that they joined expecting a typical bottle subscription and stayed because of the community.
Between quarterly curated releases, member-only pricing, priority access to limited and reserve wines, complimentary tastings, and exclusive club events, our Wine Club is designed for how people actually want to enjoy wine — not as a transaction, but as an experience that fits into their lifestyle.
Our Social Club is built for the regulars, with monthly perks, discounts on food and experiences, and early access to what is happening at the vineyard.
The Best Is Still Ahead
Four-time Best Winery — and we are just getting started.
The year 2026 marks one of the biggest chapters in our history with the opening of Bonfire & Barrel: our brand-new restaurant, gift shop, and tasting room. With wood-fired cuisine, brick-oven pizzas, chef-inspired shareables, brunch, and dinner, Bonfire & Barrel was designed around the wines and beers we make right here on-site. It is the dining experience we have been building toward, and reservations are open now.
Schram Haus Brewery is not going anywhere either. Our house-brewed craft beer and signature cocktails are front and center at Bonfire & Barrel, right alongside our award-winning estate wines.
Wine. Beer. Cocktails. Dining. Live music. All year long. The best version of Schram Vineyards is the one you are about to walk into.
Plan Your Visit to Minnesota's Best Winery
Minnesota's Best Winery, three years in a row. Four wins total. We do not take that lightly.
People come here for the wine — but they come back for the full experience: the views, the food, the events, the community, and the feeling of being somewhere special. If you have been here before, you know why. If you have not, now is a great time to find out.
Visit us at 8785 Airport Road, Waconia, MN. Book a tasting, make a dinner reservation at Bonfire & Barrel, or stop by for a glass on a Friday evening with a view of the lake. We will be here pouring, plating, and celebrating with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best winery in Minnesota? Schram Vineyards in Waconia is voted Minnesota's Best Winery. It was named Best Winery 2026 by Star Tribune readers — its fourth win (2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026) and third year in a row.
Does Schram Vineyards have a restaurant? Yes. Bonfire & Barrel, Schram's restaurant in Waconia, opened in 2026 with wood-fired cuisine, brick-oven pizzas, shareable plates, weekend brunch, dinner, and a full bar. Reservations are open now.
What's the best winery day trip from Minneapolis? Schram Vineyards is about 35 miles west of Minneapolis — close enough for an easy outing, far enough to feel like a true escape. Spend the day with a wine flight on the patio, Reitz Lake views, live music, bocce, and dinner at Bonfire & Barrel.
What is there to do at Schram besides wine tasting? Plenty. Schram offers house-brewed craft beer, signature cocktails, chef-driven dining, live music every weekend, bocce leagues, gazebo rentals, private event spaces, and lake views recognized as Minnesota's Best View in 2025 and 2026.
Is Schram Vineyards good for groups and private events? Yes. Schram hosts birthdays, bachelorette parties, anniversaries, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of all sizes, with indoor and outdoor spaces including the Barrel Room and gazebo rentals.
