Winery Review – Wild Hills Winery

Let’s talk wine. I’m not much of a wino. I’m a beer guy. A rum/scotch/bourbon/Irish whiskey guy. I don’t hate wine though, and I know a lot of people do like wine. But this is Wisconsin. We’re not known for wine, we’re famous for cheese and beer. I would love it if we COULD get famous for wine, but I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon. In the meantime, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the wine we do make. And although I may not be able to target what makes a good wine, I think we need to shift the focus of a winery visit. Instead of the quality of the wine, I think we should be focusing on the overall atmosphere and views the wineries provide.

Yes, you heard that right. I’m calling for a change in priority for why you should go to a winery. This isn’t Napa, this isn’t Italy, this isn’t France. We have some of the greatest nature in this state, and it should be maximized if you can’t compete with whatever/whoever the pro’s are. And I’m not trying to take anything away from the wine itself. I enjoy quite a few Wisconsin wines, but you have to have a hook to get people to drink your wine. If you’re unable to compare it to a Napa wine, or from some odd region in France, then make it the views from your vineyard. Get the views down, make your winery experience a memorable one, and the people will come back. So with my opinion on Wisconsin wines out there, let’s get into our first winery review – Wild Hills Winery in Muscoda.

Wild Hills Winery is located in Muscoda, Wisconsin. This relatively unknown town sits about an hour and a half west of Madison which means… yup, you guessed it! Driftless Region! If you’re in this part of the state, your views are going to be some of the best around. We ordered two wine flights, and the quality and variety were awesome. From your standard fruit wines to some of the drier reds, and every white in between, we didn’t really find a wine we didn’t like.

Wild Hills is off the beaten path, and I mean it. It’s not located off the highway, but rather nestled right in between a few valleys, sitting atop a ridge. And just when you think the drive TO the winery is the best, you’re greeted by their phenomenal location, with views to several valleys down below. We enjoyed our wine flights on their patio before grabbing another glass and walking around the property. The day couldn’t have been better, from the clear skies to the warm weather and a nice breeze. This place in fall must be incredible to see. After soaking in the views we headed back down for a sandwich from their food truck they keep on site.

Before leaving though we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to purchase some more wine. In addition to the various wines they sell (we ended up buying 6), they have quite a few wine gifts and trinkets, we were able to get a few upcoming Christmas gifts out of the way as well. Now for those of you that ARE wine connoisseurs, I apologize as I can’t sit here and describe the wine any better. Was it earthy? Oakey? I cannot describe wines like I can beer. All I know was the wine was good. The views were spectacular. If you enjoy wine, this place is worth the visit. If you enjoy great views while relaxing with a glass or two of an adult beverage, this place is worth the visit. If you’re in the middle of nowhere (let’s say perhaps, somewhere within the boundaries of Soldiers Grove, Fennimore, Dodgeville, and Richland Center) and you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend an hour, this place is worth the visit.

In summary, I haven’t been to many wineries yet, and although I can’t accurately describe wine, this place is probably my favorite winery.
Winery Checklist:
– Good wine? Yes – there are wines I don’t like, but this place didn’t have any that I didn’t enjoy
– Good views? YES – top tier ranking
– Good atmosphere? Yes – peaceful, calming, relaxing
– Overall vibes? – Great views with some good wine… what’s not to like?
What winery should I visit next? Let me know and I’ll make it happen!