Fruit wine is a native Wisconsin product and is typically made from raspberries, blueberries and cranberries which are abundant in the area. Fruit wines are especially suited to mixing with club soda for a wine cooler effect, or for enjoying on local vanilla ice cream as a dessert. There are two nearby wineries that specialize in fruit and other wines that you’ll want to visit while you’re in the Minocqua area.

Brigadoon Winery in nearby Tripoli began with a small vineyard and apple orchard which resulted in the production of homemade jams and wine jelly. Brigadoon has expanded its vineyard to thirteen winemaking varieties and offers red, white, fruit and dessert wines. Tours are available twice daily or by appointment, and free wine tasting is available year-round.

An Open House is held each Memorial Day weekend and a Christmas Wreath Giveaway takes place October through December every year. The Brigadoon Winery Gift shop offers locally crafted items including 100% beeswax candles and honey, maple syrup, pottery, crystal glassware, gift baskets & boxes, homemade jam, wine jelly and much more.

Three Lakes Winery, located in the town of Three Lakes, is nestled against the Nicolet National Forest and surrounded by the world's largest chain of inland lakes. It is the home of Wisconsin's Original Cranberry Wine, made by the McCain family since 1972. Cranberry wine accounts for nearly 50% of the company's production, and several cranberry blends such as cranberry-raspberry, cranberry-apple, and cranberry-rhubarb, are also good sellers. The winery offers blackberry, red raspberry, strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb, rhubarb, granny smith apple, apricot, wild plum, Italian plum, kiwifruit and elderberry and blueberry wines.

Free wine tastings are offered every day year-round, and tours are offered from mid-May to mid-October daily. Three Lakes Winery also offers custom gift baskets, which can be packaged and shipped directly from the winery. The retail shop is located in a turn-of-the-century train depot and you'll find many unique gourmet food and gift items.

No visit to the north woods is complete without a trip to one of the local wineries to sample the Wisconsin tradition of fruit wines.