Beautiful Kentucky Wineries For Your Next Girl’s Trip

I know Kentucky is most known for bourbon. Distillery tours along the bourbon trail are a must whether you're a native or visiting the Bluegrass State. However, it is also home to a plethora of beautiful and historic wineries that are perfect for all of you wine lovers out there or if you're planning a girl's trip.

Kentucky Wine History

According to Kentucky Tourism, "America's commercial wine industry was born right here in Kentucky more than 200 years ago. Today, winemaking is a robust and growing industry, with about 100,000 cases (or 200,000 gallons) of wine coming out of Kentucky each year." With over 65 wineries, more than half of the wines produced in the state are made from fruit other than grapes making them typically sweeter than wines made in say, California.

Farmer & Frenchman

This small farm vineyard in Henderson County is just hop away from Owensboro. I've been to some beautiful weddings there and it is a popular spot for special dinners in their cafe. They add creative flare to local ingredients to offer unique and delicious dishes. Their website says "One of the owners was born and raised in Henderson County and the other is from Paris, France. Come on out for a visit and see if you can guess who is who!" You can reserve the wine cellar for a private group to enjoy tastings. They even have guest cabins for an overnight stay. https://farmerandfrenchman.com/

Traveler's Cellar Winery

Derrick and Deserea began growing their vineyard in 2018 after Derrick retired from the Marines. Traveler is a boutique winery named after the couple's love to explore the world and incorporate what they learn in the wines they produce. Using juice and grapes from New York, Australia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky your tasting of award-winning wines can range from sweet to semi-sweet, and off-dry to dry.  They also have adorable AirBnB overlooking rows of grapes. https://travelerscellarwinery.com/

Purple Toad Winery

The largest winery in Kentucky located in Paducah, chances are you've seen rows of Purple Toad bottles with tons of flavors as you browse the wine aisle of your favorite store. They're also the most-awarded wine in the state and you can see why as you enjoy a wine and cheese tasting overlooking the vineyard. Named after the purple toes of grape stompers, the creativity goes beyond the name when it comes to variety of wines. From Cotton Candy to Strawberry Jalapeño, you can test your tastebuds or go for classic styles as well. https://purpletoadwinery.com/

First Vineyard Winery

If you are a history buff, this winery in Nicholasville, KY is must-visit. The first commercial winery in the United States, they have been making delicious wines since it was first planted in 1799. With presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as some of their first taste-testers. Enjoy First Vineyard's tasting room, lodging for groups, event venue, and some amazing views of Kentucky's beautiful nature scenes. https://firstvineyard.net/

Elk Creek Vineyards

Located in the "Heart of the Golden Triangle" Elk Creek is considered a premier destination for wine enthusiasts. Just one look at the photos on their Facebook page explains why. The tasting room, cafe, and event space are lovely and the whole area is surrounded by some beautiful views. They offer various tour options including the Elk Creek Experience, nearby lodgings and live music and themed parties throughout the year. https://www.elkcreekvineyards.com/

Equus Run Vineyards

Just in the middle between Frankfort and Lexington is wine country in the middle of horse country. Named a Must-See Hidden Gem of the U.S. by CNN and winning accolades from Yelp, Trip Advisor, its easy to see why. They are so much more than wine although that is of course their specialty. Offering live music, murder mystery dinners, and of course tastings overlooking rolling green horse farms and countryside. https://equusrunvineyards.com/

Have you ever been to any of these vineyards? Are there any you would add to the list?

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