The 8 Best Wineries in Arkansas
Some of the best wineries in Arkansas include Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery, Mount Bethel Winery, The Winery of Hot Springs, and Post Winery.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Some of the best wineries in
Arkansas
include Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery, Mount Bethel Winery, The Winery of Hot Springs, and Post Winery. Arkansas isn’t everyone’s first choice when they’re coming up with great wine destinations, but the state’s vineyards have a lot to offer. You’ll find many of Arkansas’s wineries in the Arkansas River Valley in the central area of the state and among the Ozark Mountains to the northwest, with some of the oldest wineries having roots dating back to the late 1800s.
It’s not just the wine—many Arkansas wineries have picturesque views, unique events, and luxurious lodging options if you’re looking to get away for the weekend.
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Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery
Hours: Tues-Wed 11am-8pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-9:30pm, Sun 11am-7pm
Fees: Starts at $12 per person
Pet friendly? Yes
Family friendly? Yes
Sassafras Springs Vineyard
and Winery is an award-winning winery and wedding venue in northwest Arkansas, not far from Fayetteville
. It’s amassed a heap of awards over the last several years, including best wines and best winery from the Best of Northwest Arkansas. A $12 wine tasting lets you sample four wines and gets you a souvenir wine glass to take home with you. It’s especially popular for its signature varietals, including:
- Blend 5: Incorporates flavors like blueberry, plum, violets, and vanilla
- Sassy Rose: Has notes of apple and strawberries, slightly effervescent
- Sassy Syrah: Notes of blueberries, rhubarb, and cherries
Sassafras Springs hosts live music featuring local artists on weekends, and you can pair your wines with their specialty pizzas and customizable charcuterie boards. You can also schedule a VIP tour of the scenic grounds, including its gorgeous structures used for weddings and events, like the Chapel Ruins.
Can’t bring yourself to leave? Sassafras Springs also takes reservations for its luxurious lodge that’s perfect for a weekend getaway.
Nearby: Watch a game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, explore the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, or enjoy what nearby Fayetteville has to offer.
Mount Bethel Winery
Address: 5014 Mount Bethel Drive, Altus, AR 72821
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Fees: $5/person for groups larger than 10
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
At Mount Bethel, wine-making runs in the family.
Mount Bethel Winery
’s tasting room was originally a hand-dug cellar that was the location for Mrs. Joseph Post Winery, named for the grandmother of Mount Bethel Winery’s founder. The Post family brought their wine-making skills to Arkansas in the 1880s, and they’ve continued growing grapes ever since.Today, Mount Bethel Winery has a little bit of everything: muscadine, fruit wines, port wines, and a variety of red and white wines. The winery also shares recipes that use their wines on their website.
Additionally, if you have a green thumb yourself, Mount Bethel occasionally sells plants and cuttings.
If you plan on bringing out a group of more than 10 people during your visit to Mount Bethel, they ask that you call at least a week in advance.
Nearby: The area has several campgrounds and RV parks as well as plenty of opportunities for whitewater canoeing or kayaking on the Mulberry River if you’re hoping to get outdoors. You can also make a wine tour of your visit to Altus by sampling spirits at Post Winery, Chateau Aux Arc Winery, and Dionysus Wine and Brew.
Movie House Winery
Hours: Thurs-Sat 12pm-6pm
Fees: Starts at $9.95/bottle
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
Founded in 2011,
Movie House Winery
was first housed in a former movie theater. One of its co-owners is also a chiropractor who has his office located in the same building, which has led to some nicknaming it “The Wine and Spine Guilding.” And their business motto? “If one of us can’t fix you, the other one can!”In 2017, Movie House Winery moved to the owners’ farm and also started a small apiary, where you can still sample their wines and enjoy picturesque views of their Sandtown Vineyard.
Nearby: Explore Petit Jean State Park, Cedar Falls Trail, or Bear Cave Trail, or cruise through
classic car exhibits
at the Museum of Automobiles
.Tontitown Winery
Address: 335 N Barrington Rd, Tontitown, AR 72762
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-8:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Fees: Starts at $6/glass
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
Operating
Tontitown Winery
has been a family tradition for the winery’s owners since 1923. Today, the winery, where they offer their wines made from locally-grown grapes, is housed in the “Taldo House,” which was built in 1917.Wines on offer include an assortment of red and white wines, including sweet muscadines, a dry cabernet sauvignon, a semi-dry Italian red, and a sweet Niagara with notes of tropical fruit. At Tontitown Winery, $12 will get you a wine flight that lets you try five two-ounce pours of whatever wines you please.
There’s plenty of fun to be had on the Tontitown Winery grounds. They regularly host live music on their outdoor patio, and you can even try your hand at a game of bocce ball. Plus, Tontitown Winery is family-friendly and has an outdoor playset for kids to let loose while you relax.
Nearby: Browse for obscure gems at the local antique mall, grab a bite at
Guido’s Pizza
, or venture to nearby Fayetteville.The Winery of Hot Springs
Hours: Daily 10am-8pm
Fees: Tastings free
Pet friendly? Yes
Family friendly? Yes
Hot Springs, Arkansas, is known for its natural thermal springs and its historic bathhouses. With good wine and hot springs on hand, it’s hard to imagine a more ideal relaxation destination.
The Winery of Hot Springs
’ specialties include muscadine and strawberry wines, and they have a number of additional varieties on offer. If you’re bringing the whole family along, ask for their kid-friendly Ozark Mountain Grape Juice.While the winery’s vineyard is private and not open to tours, one major plus about The Winery of Hot Springs is that wine tastings are free! Not only that—you’ll get to sample a total of nine different wines.
The Winery of Hot Springs also has a second location in Hot Springs: Bathhouse Row Winery.
Nearby: There’s no shortage of things to enjoy in Hot Springs. Visit
Hot Springs National Park
, tour the town’s Bathhouse Row, visit the family-friendly Mid-America Science Museum
, or explore Ouachita National Forest
.MORE: How to check for Arkansas road closures
Post Winery
Address: 1700 St. Mary’s Mountain Rd., Altus, AR 72821
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
Fees: $5/person
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
Post Winery
prides itself on its locally-made wines grown from grapes raised in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley since the 1870s. Over the years, the winery says it’s carefully selected varietals with a good level of productivity and disease resistance that would grow well in Aransas conditions.Among the wine selections offered by Post Winery are red, white, and pink muscadine wines, as well as wines made from Niagara, Enchantment, and Seyval grapes. They also offer non-alcoholic muscadine and concord grape juices.
You can enjoy your wine with lunch in the winery’s restaurant, the Trellis Room, which offers seasonal, made-from-scratch menu items with as many local and organic ingredients as possible.
Nearby: If you’re a fan of architecture, venture up the road to take a look at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which was constructed in 1901 using locally-quarried sandstone.
Railway Winery and Vineyards
Address: 4937 Hwy 187, Eureka Springs, AR 72631
Hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-5pm
Fees: Starts at $4/person
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
Railway Winery and Vineyards
, which playfully calls itself “that weird little place out by Beaver,” is found among the Ozark Mountains along the historic M&NA Railroad route. They offer a number of wine selections made from a variety of grapes and other fruits, like strawberries and peaches. Past customers have raved about their great tastes, as well as vineyard sightings of hummingbirds and Ginger, the winery cat.
Looking for more than just wine? Next door, they craft other spirits and serve up cocktails at Butler Creek Distilling.
Nearby: Visit the famous Beaver Bridge, nicknamed the “Little Golden Gate.” In Eureka Springs, you can also tour the historic downtown, settle in for a show at the popular
Intrigue Theater
, or enjoy an afternoon on Beaver Lake.An Enchanting Evening
Address: 29300 AR-300, Roland, AR 72135
Hours: Fri 5-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5-pm
Fees: Starts at $4/glass
Pet friendly? No
Family friendly? N/A
An
Enchanting Evening’s
functions are threefold: it serves as a winery, a wedding venue, and a luxury log cabin that’s available for rent. You’ll find it near Roland, just 20 minutes west of Little Rock
, and the secluded rural setting with mountain and woodland views makes it a great option for a quick weekend getaway.Sample Enchanting Evening’s wines in their wine-tasting yurt, where you can try your choice of four different wines. For $50, you can make your visit even more enchanting by embarking on a tour of the winery and getting a more in-depth look at the wine-making process—and afterward, you can bottle and seal your own blend of wine.
Nearby: Tour garden designer and TV host
P. Allen Smith’s home
, or head to Little Rock to explore places like Pinnacle Mountain State Park
, the Arkansas River Trail
, or the family-friendly Museum of Discovery
.Drive safe with affordable car insurance
Responsible drinking and responsible driving make a great pair—in other words, be sure to do them separately. If you’re planning a wine-tasting excursion in Arkansas, be sure to know your limits and arrange for a designated driver if you need to.
Another way to keep you and your vehicle safe is by making sure you have
the right car insurance
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FAQs
Does Arkansas have good wineries?
Arkansas has a great selection of wineries throughout the state that offer what’s arguably some of the best wine in the county, including muscadine wines, which are native to the southeastern United States.
What part of Arkansas has the most wineries?
You’ll find many Arkansas wineries are concentrated in the central portion of the state in the Arkansas River Valley, as well as among the Ozark Mountains in the northwest.
