Best Outdoor Winter Tasting Experiences

Forget about hibernating this winter. Our Southwest Michigan wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries along our Makers Trail offer warm, indoor places to taste craft beverages, each with a unique ambiance. But what sets several stops along this Trail apart is tasting delicious hot and cold drinks in Mother Nature’s picturesque outdoors! 

It’s magical sitting inside a private, heated igloo surrounded by soft, glowing lights as you sip your favorite drinks, listen to music or play games as snowflakes dance overhead. Or laughing and talking around a crackling fire pit or gathering with friends in enclosed, heated patios looking out on vineyards or cheery lights.

This time of year is also perfect for taking on the Makers Trail Passport Challenge. Taste your way through more than 50 locations, checking in along the way to earn exclusive prizes. Getting started is simple. Download the free Visit Southwest Michigan app, make a purchase at a participating location and scan the QR code to check in. Each stop moves you closer to rewards and entry into the grand prize drawing. Below, explore outdoor tasting destinations along the Trail and discover a few outdoor dining spots that make winter visits a favorite tradition. We hope to see you in our sparkling wonderland soon.

Igloos, Fire Pits & Games

Dablon Winery & Vineyard | Baroda

Enjoy frosty vineyard views from one of the private igloos, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Three igloos are offered, each seating six to eight people. On Thursdays, the tasting room hosts Music Box Films Movie Nights, while select Sundays feature snowshoeing or hiking in the vineyard along with live music performed by regional talent.

Haymarket Taproom | Bridgman

When you are traveling along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, be sure to stop by this taproom housed in a former Michigan State Police post. Its beers are legendary in Chicago and you and your friends will have no problem finishing a six-pack and one of their much-loved wood-fired pizzas in their outdoor beer garden. The uncovered garden has multiple fire pits. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you around the fire. 

Hickory Creek Winery | Buchanan

You are welcome to bundle up and gather around one of two fire pits with ample seating, weather permitting. Enjoy mulled wine, a glass of wine or a wine flight while relaxing by the fire on a winter day.

Round Barn Winery & Estate | Baroda

Round Barn Winery & Estate is a great place to bundle up and enjoy mulled wine or hot cocoa mixed with one of Round Barn’s popular creams, or sip Lake Michigan Shore wines, sangrias, craft beers and cocktails made with Round Barn spirits. Tasting flights featuring wine, beer or spirits are also available, with food delivery from the Round Barn Brewery & Public House.

Reserve an Igloo

Spend time outdoors in a premium igloo for a relaxing way to enjoy the season at Round Barn Winery & Estate. These heated igloos include a private server and accommodate up to eight guests per reservation. A daily menu is available, and food can also be ordered from Round Barn Brewery & Public House. Note that food and drinks are not included in the reservation cost.

Fire pits available

Blazing fire pits offer another inviting way to enjoy the season. Bring your blankets, bundle up and sip your favorite drinks while staying warm by the fire. S’more kits are available for purchase to enjoy during your visit.

Mt. Tabor Trails

Hike through picturesque vineyards and woods to Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant

Within feet of Round Barn’s Winter Village are Mt. Tabor Trails. You can hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski for up to 3.5 miles in a winter wonderland to Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant. Pick up your favorite beverage at Round Barn and enjoy it along the way. Then taste more wines at Tabor Hill, where you can enjoy delicious indoor dining overlooking the snowy vineyards.

River St. Joe | Buchanan

This farmhouse brewery on the beautiful Flatwater Farms embraces winter, so you can, too! They focus on organic and locally sourced ingredients (including growing their own hops) when making their beers and taproom menu selections. Outdoor seating around toasty fire pits is a great alternative to indoor seating and you will love the frosty hop field and farm views. But what makes this a standout winter destination is its one-of-a-kind River Rocks rink, where you can play shuffleboard on ice. Visit their website to see how it’s played and to reserve your time on the rink.

The Livery | Benton Harbor Arts District

Order your favorite hand-forged brew inside and take it and your pizza, sandwich or chicken wings outside to enjoy by the beer garden’s fire pit. Then stroll around the Benton Harbor Arts District and discover the amazing talent at our local art studios and galleries. On select weekdays and weekends, this favorite local brewery features great live music, trivia and open-stage performances as well. 

Watermark Brewing Company | Stevensville

The spacious outdoor beer garden features inviting fire pits that make it easy to linger with a pint on crisp days and cold nights. A rotating lineup of house-made beers keeps things interesting, with cider, wine and soda also available so everyone in your group can find something to enjoy. Leashed dogs are welcome in the front yard and outdoor patio.

Makers Trail + Winter Outdoor Activities

Not all Makers Trail destinations offer outdoor seating in the winter, but many are just minutes from well-maintained, year-round trails you can enjoy before or after tasting experiences indoors. Many of these nearby routes are part of the Southwest Michigan Trails Challenge, offering an energizing way to spend time outside, explore different trail systems, earn a prize and pair outdoor experiences with indoor tastings throughout the year.

Bring home your favorite craft beverages

Tasting indoors or outdoors along the Makers Trail will brighten any winter’s day, but don’t leave the good cheer at your destination. Be sure to bring home your favorite wines, beer, cider and spirits to enjoy and share when you return home!

Social Districts

Seven Southwest Michigan social districts make outdoor winter tasting experiences even better.

Have you ever visited a town with several restaurants and drinking establishments, but didn’t want to narrow your choice to one? That’s not a dilemma in Southwest Michigan! Within the social districts, you can purchase food and alcoholic drinks from participating businesses and consume them in outdoor common areas.

Think of these designated areas as one big food court. You can grab a drink while you wait for your seat at a restaurant, or come with a group and let each person choose their favorite, then reconvene to enjoy them outdoors. It’s a great way to sip, window shop, enjoy an outdoor event or just share laughs and conversation.

Plan Your Visit

Turn a winter tasting outing into a full getaway by booking a hotel nearby and giving yourself time to explore more of the region. While planning, check the events calendar for seasonal happenings and consider participating in additional challenges like Creative Connections and the Murals Challenge.