Some Montana winemakers make wine from local fruit like huckleberries and Flathead cherries, with wineries from Flathead Lake in the west to Miles City in the southeast. Find the tasting rooms on Cruv's map and check who is open.
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Montana has no federally designated American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Glacier Country tourism office for western Montana lists wineries in towns such as Polson and Bigfork on Flathead Lake, plus Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Missoula. Southeast Montana's tourism office lists wineries in Miles City and Billings. The growing season is too short for the best-known European wine grapes, so Montana State University researchers study cold-hardy hybrids, crosses of hardy native grapes and traditional varieties. Some wines are made from local fruit such as huckleberries and Flathead cherries, and some wineries bring in grapes from the West Coast. Plan a designated driver, a rideshare or a tour for each tasting day.
Cruv groups places by wine region where a state has established ones, and Montana has none in its list yet. Open the app to see every place Cruv lists here on the map, with what is open now and upcoming events.
Montana growers rely on cold-hardy hybrid grapes, because the better-known European wine grapes need longer growing seasons than the state offers. Montana State University's research center in the Bitterroot Valley names Marquette, Frontenac, Maréchal Foch and Petite Pearl among the state's most popular reds.
Red
Marquette is a cold-hardy red that the university's research center counts among Montana's most popular. In its Bitterroot Valley vineyard Marquette has had higher vine mortality, as in other Montana vineyards, though the center says it makes quality juice.
Red
Frontenac is a cold-hardy red among the research center's popular Montana reds. In its Bitterroot Valley vineyard it has been very vigorous and productive, with larger clusters than Marquette or Petite Pearl.
Red
Maréchal Foch is a cold-hardy red the research center lists as popular in Montana. The university's experimental vineyard near Bozeman names it one of four varieties that appear hardiest and most productive in the Gallatin Valley, and it ripens quickly.
Red
Petite Pearl is a cold-hardy red on the research center's popular list. In its Bitterroot Valley vineyard the fruit has lower sugar and acidity than Frontenac or Marquette. It was also in an extension hybrid trial across western Montana.
White
Prairie Star is a cold-hardy white that two university research pages place among the more commonly planted whites in Montana. Flathead County Extension also includes it in its list of recommended wine grapes for western Montana.
White
Frontenac Gris is a cold-hardy white that the research center's variety guide counts among Montana's more commonly planted whites. It is one of three whites in the center's 2014 Bitterroot Valley planting, and all three have been hardy and productive.
