The 9 Best Wineries in Kentucky
Some of Kentucky's most popular wineries include Atwood Hill Winery, Brooks Hill Winery, and Wildside Winery. Learn more about them here.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The majority of
Kentucky’s
wineries are in the northern portion of the state where the soil has similar qualities to some of the world’s top wine-producing regions, like France and Italy. Some of Kentucky's most popular wineries include Atwood Hill Winery, Brooks Hill Winery, Wildside Winery, and Lovers Leap Winery. Kentucky might be known for its bourbon, but it’s also the place where the United States’ commercial wine industry got its start—despite extensive crop damage following the Civil War, by the 1870s, Kentucky’s Bracken County became the country’s top wine producer.
However, the Prohibition era forced the majority of Kentucky’s wineries to close up shop, and it wasn’t until new legislation was passed in the 1970s that wineries were legally able to operate in the state again.
Decades later, Kentucky wine has made a comeback. Here to take you on a virtual tour of all Kentucky’s “Wine Country” has to offer is
Jerry
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Read on to pick what Kentucky wineries you want to visit, and let Jerry make sure you have the right coverage before you head out!RECOMMENDED
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Wildside Winery
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-7pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Fees: $12/person
Pet friendly? Yes
Family friendly? Yes
Wildside Winery
has plenty to boast about. It’s the two-time winner of the Commissioners Cup award for the best red wine in Kentucky, the recipient of a double gold medal for its Cabernet Franc, plus a gold medal for its dry red “Quartet” blend.Wildside Winery, which sits on 30 acres, offers a little bit of everything, from dry reds to semi-sweet and sweet fruit wines, along with a sampling of unique and unexpected varieties.
Nearby: Kentucky’s known for its bourbon and its horses, and you can get a sense of both in
Versailles
. Tour the world-famous Woodford Reserve Distillery
or visit Sun Valley Farms
to learn more about the process of raising thoroughbred horses.Brooks Hill Winery
Address: 2746 Brooks Hill Road, Brooks, Kentucky 40109
Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-5pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 1pm-6pm
Fees: Starts at $13.95/bottle
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
The family-owned
Brooks Hill Winery
, also known as “the little winery up the hill,” is located just south of the Louisville
Metro area. Spending summers on his family’s Kentucky farm as a child followed by being stationed in France during his time in the army gave owner Mike Hatzell the desire to start his own vineyard, which came to fruition in 2007 with the opening of Brooks Hill.Brooks Hill Winery hosts a free summer concert series, to which they say you’re more than welcome to bring your own chair and picnic basket.
Atwood Hill Winery
Address: 1616 Spillman Rd, Morning View, KY 41063
Hours: Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat 1pm-9pm, Sun 1pm-6pm
Fees: $5/person
Pet friendly? No
Family friendly? Yes
Atwood Hill Winery
is part of a sixth-generation, family-owned farm. Established in 1918, the farm started out growing primarily tobacco, but in recent years, as Atwood Hill Winery puts it, they’ve since “turned a new leaf.” Now, the farm consists of a vineyard, a tasting room, a charming outdoor pergola, and rentable spaces for private events, like The Farmstead, a renovated 1930s farmhouse.Throughout the summer, Atwood Hill regularly hosts live music in the Event Barn.
Nearby: If you’re looking to sample wineries across the region, Atwood Hill Winery’s website conveniently lists sites you could make stops at on a
Northern Kentucky Backroads winery tour
.Forest Edge Winery
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-6pm, Fri-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
Fees: $5/person
Pet friendly? Yes
Family friendly? Yes
As the name suggests, you’ll find
Forest Edge Winery
at the edge of Bernheim Forest in Shepherdsville. Forest Edge Winery hosts different events throughout the month, so depending on when you visit, you might be able to join in on a painting class or enjoy your glass of wine with some live music.Just $5 lets you sample six of Forest Edge Winery’s award-winning wines. Tastings are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, but it’s recommended to call at least 24 hours in advance if you’re planning to bring a group of eight or more. Private group tastings are available for groups of 15 to 40 people, and reservations are required at least a week in advance.
Nearby: Take a stroll through the trails of
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
, make another wine-tasting stop at Wight-Meyer Vineyard & Winery, or browse the local flea market and antique shops. Or, if you’re looking for some family-friendly recreation, visit Kart Kountry
, home to the world’s largest go-kart track, plus mini golf, batting cages, and more.Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery
Hours: Tues-Sat 11am-6pm
Fees: Starts at $12/person
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? N/A
Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery
consists of 25 acres of eight different varieties of grapes, including Cayuga White, Aromella, Crimson Cabernet, and Petite Pearl, to name just a few.The vineyard’s location atop limestone gives the area’s soil similar qualities to those found in France’s Bordeaux region. Lovers Leap winemakers say they prefer “wines that are dry, balanced and that express the true essences of the fruit from our vineyard.”
A tour of Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery can give you an inside look at the wine-making process, and it makes a great place for a picnic, as well as the occasional festival or concert.
Nearby: Get crafty at
Elements Clay Studio
, visit the nearby Wild Turkey
and Four Roses
distilleries, or try your hand at the local disc golf course.MORE:
Kentucky DUI laws
Purple Toad Winery
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am-6pm12pm, Sun 1pm-6pm
Fees: Free
Pet friendly? Yes
Family friendly? Yes
Purple Toad Winery
officially opened in 2009, something the family-owned winery had been planning for since the 1990s. Owner and head winemaker Allen Dossey learned about winemaking techniques from books and perfected those strategies over the years. Their area of specialization is high-quality sweet wines, and they say they enjoy making unique wines for people who want to request them. At any given time, Purple Toad Winery offers a selection of about43 different wines.
Another plus? Wine tastings at Purple Toad Winery are free. Reservations aren’t required, but it’s recommended to call ahead if you’re bringing a party of five or more. They’re currently not offering tours due to COVID-19, but they’ll be back in the future.
Nearby: Take in scenic views on the Paducah Riverwalk, tour the
National Quilt Museum
, or browse Paducah’s numerous antique shops and art galleries.Baker-Bird Winery and Distillery
Hours: Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm
Fees: Starts at $10/person
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
Get a taste of wine and classic Kentucky bourbon in one place.
Baker-Bird Winery and Distillery
is one of the country’s most historic spirits sites. The Baker-Bird’s wine cellar, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, was originally built in the 1850s, making it the largest and oldest wine cellar in the country—and, according to Baker-Bird, the only one to have survived a Civil War battle. Its original vineyard is still intact and is separately listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Enjoy samplings of bourbon and/or wine here, plus cheeses and other tasty pairings designed to match your drink of choice. Guided tours and presentations start at $10 per person.
Nearby: Augusta has a lot to offer for history and outdoors enthusiasts. Embark on a cruise on the American Countess Steamboat, explore the Bracken Creek Horse and Hiking Trails, tour several local farms, or visit the 1811 Augusta Jail.
Pro Tip Baker-Bird Winery and Distillery advises you not to rely on GPS to find the site, as it might lead you to the wrong destination due to a street renaming. For the best directions, visit theBaker-Bird website.
Up the Creek Winery
Hours: Fri-Sat 10am-6pm
Fees: Starts at $18/bottle
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
The
Up the Creek Winery
became Cumberland County’s first winery after planting the first grapes in its vineyards in 2003 and bottling its first commercially-available wine in 2010. In addition to its locally-grown grapes, blackberries, and raspberries, it sources additional grapes and fruits from all over Kentucky, and it gets its blueberries from right up the street at Brush Creek.You’ll find Up the Creek just outside Burkesville at the end of Norris Branch Road. Past visitors say that despite the somewhat remote location, the wine, plus the in-depth knowledge shared by staff, is well worth the trek.
Nearby: Take to the Cumberland River with a canoe or kayak or try for a hole-in-one at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Course.
McIntyre’s Winery
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 1pm-10pm
Fees: Call for reservations and pricing
Pet friendly? N/A
Family friendly? Yes
McIntryre’s Winery
lies six miles east of Bardstown and offers blueberry and blackberry wines with a range of options from dry and crisp to sweet that are grown on-site at the farm.McIntrye Winery hosts many events throughout the year, which you can keep tabs on via its Facebook page. There, you’ll find the phone number you can call for information about tours and tastings.
Nearby: Bardstown has several distilleries, including the historic
Barton 1972 Distillery
. If you’re looking for a history fix, visit Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum
and Spalding Hall
, or walk Bardstown’s Historic Cobblestone Path.Drive safe with affordable car insurance
If you’re embarking on a Kentucky wine tour, know your limits and arrange for someone else to do the driving. Never get behind the wheel after a day of wine tasting.
It’s also worth noting that some of Kentucky’s best wineries are found on remote country backroads, which makes having the right
car insurance
coverage before your wine country trip all the more important. If you’re looking to update your coverage, Jerry
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FAQs
Does Kentucky have good wineries?
Absolutely! Kentucky’s “Wine Country” has similar soil qualities that are comparable to some of the world’s top wine-producing regions like France, Spain, and Italy. Kentucky vineyards definitely benefit from this, and plenty of Kentucky wineries have the award-winning wines to prove it.
What part of Kentucky has the most wineries?
You’ll find most of Kentucky’s wineries concentrated in the north central portion of the state, between Lexington and Louisville.
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