Unearth The Voyage
Kansas may be famous for wheat fields and wide-open skies, but the state has quietly built an impressive lineup of wineries and vineyards that are absolutely worth your time. From the rolling hills south of Kansas City to the sweeping Flint Hills landscape, local winemakers have turned Kansas soil into something genuinely special. Some of these spots have been crafting award-winning bottles for decades, while others have added fun twists like sunflower festivals, volunteer harvest days, and even overnight stays. Whether you are planning a weekend road trip or just looking for a relaxing afternoon close to home, Kansas has more grape-fueled adventures waiting than most people realize.
The eleven wineries on this list each bring something distinct to the table, from rich family histories and scenic vineyard views to lively events and creative flavor lineups. Read on to find your next favorite Kansas destination, one glass at a time.
1. Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery, Basehor, Kansas
Kansas winemaking has a starting point, and it runs right through this family-run property in Basehor. Holy-Field Vineyard and Winery has been growing grapes since 1986 and officially opened in 1994, making it the oldest continuously operating winery in both Kansas and the greater Kansas City area.
The 30-acre estate, which includes a 17-acre vineyard, produces around 7,000 gallons of wine annually across 19 different varieties. The lineup covers everything from dry reds and crisp whites to fruit wines and fortified bottles, some aged for over two decades.
More than 600 international awards line the winery’s history, including 19 prestigious Jefferson Cup trophies. Beyond tastings, visitors can browse specialty gifts, relax on the wine deck overlooking the vineyard, and attend events ranging from Murder Mystery Dinner Theaters to the popular Summertime Music Series. During harvest season, the winery invites volunteers to pick grapes on Picking Sundays, rewarding helpers with a farm lunch and a commemorative t-shirt.
2. Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery, Paola, Kansas
Miami County went without a winery for over a century after statewide prohibition hit in 1881, and Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery changed that in 2001. Founded by Dennis and Cindy Reynolds, the estate began with its first vineyard planting in 1998 and has grown into one of the most respected names in Kansas winemaking.
Over 9,000 grapevines now cover the property, representing twelve distinct varieties. The winery crafts its premium wines exclusively from Kansas-grown grapes using sustainable farming practices and careful hand-picking. The selection is broad, covering dry whites like Chardonel and Traminette, bold reds including Chambourcin and Norton, and dessert wines like the award-winning Ambrosia made from late-harvest Traminette grapes.
The tasting room opens Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., where guests can enjoy charcuterie alongside their selections indoors or on the outdoor patio. Live music plays every weekend, and vineyard tours are available for those curious about the winemaking process. The property also hosts private events in its charming Vineyard House.
3. Prairie Fire Winery, Paxico, Kansas
Few wineries in Kansas can claim views that stretch 25 to 30 miles in every direction, but Prairie Fire Winery in Paxico pulls that off with ease. Set on 60 acres in the heart of the Flint Hills, this operation runs on a strict Dirt to Glass philosophy, meaning every step from planting to pouring happens right on the property.
Founded in 2005 and officially established in January 2008, the winery produced its first vintage in 2011. Thirty-three rows of grapevines supply the grapes for 15 to 17 distinct wines, all grown from Kansas soil. Prairie Fire also holds the distinction of being the first and only Kansas winery to produce Methode Champenoise sparkling wine, a process typically associated with French Champagne production.
Visits are typically by appointment or during scheduled events, keeping the experience personal and unhurried. The tasting room features local meats, cheeses, and snacks for building your own charcuterie spread. Walking trails wind through the vineyard to benches with panoramic Flint Hills views, and leashed pets are welcome to tag along.
4. Liquid Art Winery and Estate, Manhattan, Kansas
Perched atop one of the oldest mountain ranges in the Flint Hills, Liquid Art Winery and Estate in Manhattan offers views that regularly catch first-time visitors completely off guard. Kansas natives David and Danielle Tegtmeier launched the project in 2014 after recognizing that the local soil and topography shared qualities with well-known wine regions in France and California.
The estate vineyard now covers 16 acres, with satellite properties pushing the total to over 100 acres dedicated to viticulture across Kansas. The focus is on Vitis Vinifera grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, grown using sustainable methods. The wine list includes more than 15 varieties, and the tasting room also serves craft cider, wine slushies, and soft-serve margaritas.
No reservations are needed Wednesday through Sunday, and complimentary winery tours launched in December 2023 give guests a behind-the-scenes look at production. The outdoor patio and amphitheater host live music, comedy nights, and seasonal events. The Event Center accommodates up to 375 guests and remains a popular choice for weddings and corporate gatherings.
5. Grace Hill Winery, Whitewater, Kansas
North of Wichita and a world away from the usual weekend routine, Grace Hill Winery sits on 11 acres of Kansas prairie with a story rooted in genuine family passion. Dr. David and Natalie Sollo founded the winery in 2004, and their sons Jeff and Brian remain actively involved in daily operations today.
The vineyard grows varieties including Chambourcin, Norton, Seyval, Chardonel, Muscat, and Crimson Cabernet, producing between 15 and 20 distinct wines each year. Some fan favorites carry names like Peckerhead Red, named after a former winery rooster, and Dodging Tornados. The Cellar Series offers small-batch exclusives available only on-site, and some wines are aged in whiskey or rum barrels for added character.
Tastings are complimentary for groups under eight, and staff-led tours walk visitors through the vineyard, winery, and cellar. The patio hosts live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons from April through October. Volunteer grape harvests take place every Saturday in August and September, with lunch and a tour included as a thank-you.
6. Davenport Orchards & Winery, Eudora, Kansas
A winery with a 70-year family backstory is rare anywhere, and Davenport Orchards and Winery in Eudora earns that distinction honestly. The Davenport family began farming west of Lawrence in 1949, eventually planting 74 acres of peaches and 6 acres of apples on new land. The road to that farm became known locally as Peach Orchard Road, a name that still sticks today.
Grape planting began in 1990 after a family member thought the vines looked pretty, and commercial winemaking launched in August 1997, making Davenport the first licensed winery in Douglas County. The estate now features a 24-acre vineyard with 13 grape varieties alongside 5 acres of apples, producing over 40 distinct wines from 100% Kansas-grown fruit.
The tasting room showcases art from local artists and offers complimentary tastings at both the Eudora and Topeka locations. Events throughout the year include live music, yoga sessions, open mic nights, and the annual Apple Blossom Festival. The Orchard Room accommodates up to 99 guests for private events, complete with a catering kitchen and full bar.
7. BlueJacket Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Eudora, Kansas
The name BlueJacket Crossing carries a genuine piece of Kansas history, referencing Charles Bluejacket, a mixed-blood Shawnee who operated an inn at a river crossing along the Wakarusa in the 1850s. That historical thread runs through everything at this family-owned vineyard just five miles east of Lawrence.
The first Norton grapevines went into the ground in 2002, and the tasting room officially opened in May 2008. Today the approximately 8-acre vineyard grows Norton, St. Vincent, Seyval, Chambourcin, Fredonia, Vignoles, and Traminette. The winery has earned gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, plus a prestigious Jefferson Cup award for its Seyval.
The tasting room features a fireplace and vineyard views, while the outdoor patio provides a comfortable spot for relaxed afternoons. Visitors can bring their own picnic or pick up cheese, crackers, or sausage on-site. For a truly immersive stay, the on-site guesthouse offers a king bedroom, kitchenette, vineyard deck, a complimentary tasting flight, and a 10% discount on wine purchases.
8. KC Wine Co., Olathe, Kansas
KC Wine Co. started as a pumpkin patch in 2004 and somehow turned into one of the most entertaining agritourism destinations in the Kansas City area. When the original Gardner location was redeveloped in 2015, the Berggren family moved to Olathe and discovered their new land came with a small surprise: a vineyard already in the ground.
That happy accident launched a boutique winery operation that now produces wines, hard ciders, slushies, cocktails, and seasonal concoctions, all crafted from Kansas-grown grapes. The wine list covers white varieties like Moscato and Riesling alongside reds including Norton and Chambourcin. The property’s signature Black Barn hosts weekend events, while the heated Cidery Barn keeps the fun going through winter.
Local food trucks provide dining options on event days, and complimentary yard games like bocce and cornhole are always available. Seasonal festivals include Cider Fest, Oktoberfest, and the Sunflower Festival. A unique add-on at select events is the Highland Cow Cuddling experience featuring resident fluffy icons Ollie and Ruby, which requires timed tickets purchased in advance.
9. Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery, Salina, Kansas
Central Kansas is not the first place most people picture when they think of serious winemaking, but Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery has been quietly changing that assumption since 1991. Founders Steven Jennings and Kay Bloom hand-planted the first vines on a single acre in Salina, and by 2009 the operation had grown into the largest grape-producing farm winery in the state.
Current owners George Plante, his daughter Nicki, and son-in-law Brock Ebert now oversee 20 acres across three vineyards in the Salina area. The winery crafts over 20 different wines, ranging from the sweet top-seller Sweet Lady, a Catawba white with tropical notes, to the oak-aged Norton with its deep berry character. All wines are produced, bottled, and labeled right in Salina.
The main tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with $8 flights of five wines available. Additional tasting outlets operate in downtown Lindsborg and at the Kansas Originals Market in Wilson. Annual events include a Blessing of the Grapes, a Harvest Wine Festival, and a festive Holiday Open House featuring live jazz guitar.
10. Wyldewood Cellars, Peck, Kansas
Wyldewood Cellars started with wild elderberries growing on a family farm and turned that humble beginning into one of the most decorated winery stories in the Midwest. Dr. John Brewer, his wife Beth, and sister Merry Bauman began commercializing those elderberries in 1988, officially opening the winery in 1995 after years of careful plant selection and product development.
A fire destroyed the original Mulvane location in 1999, but the family rebuilt and reopened in Peck on Black Friday of that same year. Today the winery produces over 40 varieties, with elderberry wines as the flagship. Their portfolio also includes grape wines, fruit wines, meads, sangrias, a pure jalapeno wine called Green Devil, and a 100% pure elderberry concentrate with no added sugars. Their spiced wine was even served at the 2002 Winter Olympic Village.
Complimentary tastings are available every day during regular business hours with no appointment needed. The outdoor gazebo and picnic tables offer a relaxing spot to enjoy selections while taking in the vineyard surroundings. Wyldewood also maintains tasting rooms in Wichita and Paxico, and overnight stays are available for Harvest Hosts members.
11. Aubrey Vineyards, Overland Park, Kansas
A 200-acre property just outside the Kansas City metro area might sound like a long drive, but Aubrey Vineyards in Overland Park is closer to the city than most visitors expect. Established in 2012 by a local Johnson County family, the 35-acre vineyard and winery estate was designed from the start to feel like a secluded retreat without requiring a plane ticket.
The wine list covers more than 15 varieties organized across five series: Premier, Varietal, Spritzed, Fruit, and Dessert. Highlights include an unoaked Chardonnay with melon and pear notes, a Peach-scato, a Caramel Apple Wine, and The Ghost, a distinctive white port-style blend that serves as the flagship offering.
The tasting room features cedar beams, natural materials, and full vineyard views, with three- or five-wine flights available alongside gourmet charcuterie, flatbreads, and seasonal bites. The outdoor amphitheater and Event Center with floor-to-ceiling windows make it a top choice for weddings and private events. A second tasting location inside Vinyl Renaissance and Audio in North Overland Park offers complimentary tastings of five to six wines, often paired with chocolates and crackers.
