Welcome to the Western Iowa Wine Trail!

Embark on a journey to one of the Heartland’s newest tourist destinations featuring fine wine, great food, cultural events, antiques, gaming, camping, fishing, skiing, museums, and much, much more!

Seven wineries currently dot the wine trail stretching from Elk Horn to Thurman and back to Crescent, and that number will soon be growing as more new wineries are scheduled to open in the upcoming months. All of the wineries along the trail offer free tasting (often poured by the winemakers themselves), local art works, and retail wine sales. Many offer sales of wine by the glass and food items to be enjoyed on their decks or in their tasting rooms.

The Western Iowa Wine Trail wineries are producing award-winning wines from “cold climate” grape varieties and locally produced fruits. The winemakers are always ready to visit about their unique wines and love to show off their wineries and vineyards. Click on the EVENTS tab to check out our upcoming events. You’ll find that the wine and hospitality at our small wineries is excellent!

As you’re traveling our wine trail, enjoy the region’s designated scenic byways and their awesome hilltop views amidst Western Iowa’s Loess Hills. The Western Iowa Wine Trail is a mix of interstate highways, state highways, and country roads winding through Iowa’s small farming communities. A watchful eye may spot an occasional deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, and maybe even a mountain lion roaming about in the fields and timber!

While visiting all of our wineries in one day is probably “doable” for some, we recommend taking a couple of days or more to fully enjoy the diversity of the region. Each of our wineries offers something different from the others – from age-old barns to the panoramic views and family traditions. There are many Bed & Breakfast’s, motels, and hotels in the area as well as a wide variety of dining ranging from all of your fast food favorites to “home-town” cafes and full service restaurant elegance. Check with the wineries for popular lodging and/or dining suggestions.

Other area attractions in close proximity include county parks with camping and fishing, Lake Manawa’s water sports, the Council Bluffs casinos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, the Danish attractions at Elk Horn, the Bass Pro Shop in Council Bluffs, the Loess Hills visitors centers, Lewis & Clark historical sites, the Squirrel Cage Jail, and much, much more. As you plan your visit, check out the Western Iowa Tourism Region web site for more events and attractions.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on the Western Iowa Wine Trail soon!