Hey there Crookston locals! Are you looking for a nearby winery or brewery to visit with your sweetheart or a group of friends this weekend? Come over to our neck of the woods in the Grand Forks area!
Beautiful Winery Near Crookston
The Grape Mill Vineyard and Winery grows six hardy grape varieties on more than 2,000 vines that produce flavors unique to our region in the Upper Midwest. Grape Mill is a family business founded by the Halverson family in 2006 with 200 vines. Since then, community journalists have featured the winery in The Grand Forks Herald and The Exponent in East Grand Forks.
In 2016, the Grape Mill Vineyard and Winery won a Gold Medal at the International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC) for their white wine made from the Brianna varietal. According to the Wine-Searcher.com grape varieties database, wines made from Brianna can be either dry or sweet, and the flavors can range from grapefruit to pineapple. Grape Mill’s Brianna wine is on the sweeter side with pineapple, mango, and other tropical fruit flavors.
Their Huntsville Red wine, a blend made from the Frontenac and Marquette grape varietals, also won a Bronze Medal in 2017. Their menu describes this wine as a semi-dry wine, light in tannings and rich in cherry flavor, with hints of American oak.
The winery menu features eight other wines, including a semi-sweet Rosé called “Zeus,” named after and dedicated to a loyal canine companion who’s been at the vineyard and winery since 2006, when the business began. “Summer Breeze,” another Rosé, is on the dryer side, and the Sommelier recommends this Brianna, Frontenac, and Frontenac Blanc blend for holidays, due to its cherry and cranberry notes.
If you enjoy dry wines, try the Marquette, Frontenac, or Frontenac Blanc. Even if you prefer dry wine, we recommend you order a wine tasting for $5 and try the semi-sweet Bygland, a blend of the Brianna and Frontenac Blanc with a hint of La Crescent, which adds a little acidity to balance the mix.
In the fall, volunteers help pick grapes from the vineyard on a Sunday, and the Halverson family provides complimentary food and wine for all volunteers immediately following a two-hour harvest. Doesn’t that sound like a great date idea? The winery also offers live music events and periodically hosts partner eateries that pair their items nicely with the wines.
Follow them on Facebook for details, and if you want to see beautiful photography of the winery and Zeus, make sure you check out their website and Instagram account. Grape Mill is located just 30 minutes away from Crookston, at 18696 430th Ave. S.W. in East Grand Forks. They are open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brewing Companies Near Crookston
Rhombus Guys Brewing Company
The first of two very successful breweries in the Grand Forks area, Rhombus Guys Brewing Company, was co-founded by Matt Winjum and Arron Hendricks. After 13 years of operating a booming pizza business with multiple North Dakota locations, where they initially began serving craft beer, Winjum and Hendricks decided to take the leap and open up their own brewery in the historic Metropolitan Opera House in downtown Grand Forks.
The two friends met in high school and dreamed of opening up a brewery even back then. When choosing craft beers to serve at their pizza restaurants, they purposefully chose draft beers that weren’t readily available in the region because they wanted to introduce the community to unique products. They eventually joined the craft beer brewery boom happening around the country in 2015.
The name Rhombus Guys comes from back when they were 18 and had begun their first business. They had named the business Smoothie Rhombus—an inside joke that poked fun at the homemade construction of the smoothie stand, which wasn’t square. People started calling them the Rhombus Guys. It’s stuck for more than 20 years now.
The historic location had sat vacant for over 15 years after a flood in 1997. The Historical Society gave the Rhombus Guys an award for the work they put into remodeling the space.
Taking a tour of the facility is worth the trip from Crookston. Once you come out to Grand Forks and try the craft beer, you won’t regret it. We’ve heard so many people say they like every beer they try from the Rhombus Guys! We recommend the Peace Garden IPA if you like hoppy beer and the Nut Job if you’re into dark and malty brews. Check out the beer menu, hours of operation, and contact information on the Rhombus Guys Brewing website.
Half Brothers Brewing Company
Founded in 2017 by the former Rhombus Guys Head Brewer, Chad Gunderson, Half Brothers Brewing Company in downtown Grand Forks is another must-visit weekend location for Crookston locals. With “Welcome to the Family” as their slogan, it’s no wonder that Half Brothers Brewing Company’s concept is built around community, family, and friends.
The brewery makes it their mission to promote art and culture in the community. Whether it’s collaborating with the North Dakota Museum of Art to create interesting packaging for the Western Pilsner or hosting live musicians in the Taproom, you’re sure to find something uniquely inspiring to see at this brewery.
The Half Brothers Brewing website places emphasis on explaining why hiring friendly and knowledgeable staff matters. Their “Foodtenders” make sure you are served with amazing food, and the “Beertenders” can answer any questions about the dozens of beers available to consume on-premise or purchase to take home. The brewery is open Tuesday through Sunday until 10 p.m. every night. Follow their social media accounts to learn more about events and collaborations.
Well, Crookston, these are our recommendations for a creative weekend to share with your significant other or group of friends in the area. If you come up to Grand Forks to try any of these out, we’d love to hear what you think! Please contact us to let us know.
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