SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery is nestled in the hills of Kettle Moraine in a very pleasant location between Dundee and Cascade in Washington County. SoLu, a portmanteau of names from the owner’s kids (or dogs, we can’t remember which but they told us) is designed to be a destination not just for wine and mead, but for food, live entertainment, and private events. It balances lively with laid-back in impressive fashion.
SoLu was born of a desire by The Highlands Sportsmen’s Club, which surrounds the area, to do something new and productive with some of their underutilized acreage. And did they ever: SoLu’s vineyards were planted in 2003 and nurtured for 11 years before the doors of the winery first opened. Today, 26 acres of vineyards surround SoLu. Grapes grown both on the premises and within the region include Marquette, St. Pepin, Frontenac Gris, Brianna, St. Croix and other grapes designed to thrive in colder weather (the owner attended the University of Minnesota, where they closely study these kinds of things.) These grapes, along with some imported varieties from Washington state, Oregon, and California, are combined for a variety of wines that can be enjoyed in tastings when you visit or, of course, for bottle purchases either at their winery or online.
The SoLu Estate also produces mead, one of the few drinks older for humanity than wine, using honey harvested on their acres and hand-blended into a variety of flavor profiles. Their Tasting Room offers samples of both wine and mead, and you can mix-n-match any way you wish.
SoLu’s Tasting Room is pretty large, with lots of bar space for tastings, a gift shop, retail store, and views of the production facility. It is open year ’round for tastings. The Summer Patio offers a beautiful setting for enjoying your libations outside, often with live music entertainment under the sun – or an umbrella if you prefer. Food trucks often accompany these events, with flatbread pizzas frequently on the menu along with a variety of other offerings that may include everything from mozzarella sticks to ahi tuna nachos and an almond-crusted duck strip salad. It all depends on what fresh ingredients are available. SoLu also hosts farmers’ markets, seasonal tasting events, and more.
You’ll find SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery along County Highway F about halfway between Highways 67 and 28 and the towns of Dundee and Cascade, sitting amidst the rolling hills in southeastern Wisconsin’s beautiful Kettle Moraine region.
SoLu Estate & Winery Hours:
Friday 2pm – 6pm
Saturday 11am – 8pm
Sunday 11am – 6pm
Closed Monday-Thursday
SoLu Estate & Winery Address:
W8269 County Road F
Cascade, WI 53011
(920) 528-1550
Website
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