It's a well-known fact that Montana's craft beer scene is second to none. But did you know we can also hold our own when it comes to wine? There are around a dozen wineries in the Treasure State, and they're all fantastic.
That being said, it isn't every day you'll find a winery that serves vino made from grapes crushed, fermented, aged, and monitored in its own cellars. But that's exactly what you'll find at White Raven Winery, Montana's newest spot for wine tasting.
White Raven Winery is located in a former auction house on U.S. Highway 2 in Columbia Falls.
The winery, which officially opened in October of 2020, was founded by Dan and Rebecca Murphy, high school sweethearts who have been together since they graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1988. The couple spent some time in California while Dan was in the Marine Corps, and that's where their interest in wine began.
The Montana grapes were initially bred in Wisconsin and Minnesota to ensure they can handle cold temperatures.
These grapes can survive in Montana, but unfortunately, not every varietal can. Dan and Rebecca do source some grapes from other states, but they'll use more Montana-grown grapes in the future. The winery is new, and cultivating good wine grapes takes years.
White Raven currently produces 12 wines, four of which are entirely Montana made "from grape to glass."
Those four Montana wines, which are two reds, a rosé, and a white, are made with three different kinds of grapes grown in vineyards in places like Thompson Falls, the Bitterroot Valley, and the Flathead Lake area.
The best way to experience this delightful vino is to stop by the tasting room in Columbia Falls.
It's warm, inviting, and cozy, decked out in custom-made furniture and Montana decor.
Cozy up by the fire with a friend or two and split a bottle.
You might even want to try some wines you've never heard of, like Marquette and Petit Pearl.
The White Raven tasting room is open Thursday - Sunday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
If you're a wine lover, you'll adore this place... and if you aren't now, you might be when you leave.
Have you visited White Raven Winery yet?
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