Sovereign Estate Wine

Address:	9950 N Shore Rd, Waconia, MN 55387, USA
Phone:	+1 952-446-9957
Site:	sovereignestatewine.com
Rating:	4
Working:	Closed Closed Closed 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Amy Tripp

I would like to start by saying how BEAUTIFUL this vineyard is, and how kind and accommodating most staff members are. I had my bridal shower there this Saturday! Every staff member, excluding the manager, was incredibly friendly and helpful. Three staff members come to mind in particular, and I wish I knew their names so I could give them a proper thank you, because they were amazing! The bartender was a 20 something male who was friendly and went out of his way to make us feel taken care of and important. He said he was not a regular employee, and was just filling in for the day. Our main staff person was a beautiful (also 20 something) blonde woman with a charming accent. She was very attentive and helped us immensely. Finally, there was a wonderful older gentleman who looked like he was the chef. He was vivacious, friendly, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He made our event special and fun, and his warm personality was the highlight of our day at the winery. That being said, the manager, Terri, was close to impossible to work with. She was our main contact leading up to the event, and honestly.... if we hadnt already paid the deposit and sent out the invitations, we would have chosen one of the many other vineyards in the area for our party. She was cold, condescending, and incompetent. She was rude... often going back on her word and making us feel like we were the ones in the wrong. It was a very uncomfortable environment when we knew she was in the proximity. Some specific issues we had included misinformation regarding the drink minimum, as well as not providing a cash bartender last minute and then changing expectations the day of the event. We paid $500 (JUST for the use of the room) and she refused to give us the wi-fi password so we could play our music playlist. She did not do anything particularly horrible, but her customer service was horrendous, and left a lot to be desired (especially from someone in the service industry.) All in all, our event turned out to be wonderful, but I would not recommend this venue to anyone, due to the hassle (and tremendous expense!) with poor follow through and the uncomfortable environment created by the manager. This was my very favorite winery before planning my event (which is why I wanted my event here) and was unfortunately incredibly disappointed and embarrassed for requesting the venue of my bridesmaids. I would caution anyone to hesitate before booking an event here.

A Private User

Okay, I have to admit Im a local and am really into the idea of buying locally. While you can buy cheaper wine from South America in liquor stores, this place is worth the visit for the wine, food, and the venue. Sovereign Estate is a project of love from long time residents who have turned their property into one of the most beautiful settings in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Its located on the north shore of Lake Waconia and provides a beautiful view of the lake from beneath hardwood trees. There is a garden to stroll through as well as a fire to sit around while sharing some wine. They have hired a French winemaker to help them produce their product and have succeeded very well. The whites are very good, and their Cabernet Sauvignon is a killer. Ive been there twice for private events (they do everything except weddings), and have enjoyed their delightful catered offerings. If you are looking for food, make sure to check their events schedule, as they only do food on certain weekends. At one affair they provided food appropriate for a given wine in front of each wine offering. What is particularly cool about this place is that its located just 1/8th a mile from the popular recreational Dakota Trail, which means I can ride my bicycle there providing I can trust myself to ride home.

A Private User

I live in Bloomington and took a drive out to Waconia recently to go to Sovereign Estate Winery. It was an easy 45 minute drive on highway 5. The winery and vineyard is located on a small raised piece of land that overlooks the north side of Lake Waconia. The higher elevation gives an excellent view of the vineyard with Lake Waconia filling in as the backdrop. It’s small and quaint wine shop, but nicely decorated. Now let me say that I am nowhere near an expert at wine. I’m just an average wine drinker, but I can tell the difference between a good and bad wine. Rather than making a dozen or so varieties of wine, they have focused on making just 5 wines, but they are all made well. They make 2 reds, 2 whites, and a Rosé wine. For a few dollars, they let you taste all 5 wines and offer a sample of different cheeses to go with each wine. Like I said, all 5 wines are very good. In particular, their one white wine, Talon Crest, is just fantastic. It is a sweeter white wine (though not overly sweet) that is very reminiscent of a Riesling. If you are a fan of Rieslings, you will love the Talon Crest. The other white wine is a dry white, but also good. The staff was very friendly and helpful and I enjoyed my trip to Sovereign Estate. I highly recommend it.

Joy Sorich

The Friends of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra planned our first benefit at Sovereign Estate Winery held on October 1st, 2016. Terri, the estates general manager, coordinated an evening in their large tent, complete with linens and sparkling chandeliers. A star quartet from the SPCO played while the winerys head chef prepared and served appetizersto pair with 5 specific wines made by Sovereign Estate. Very tasty! My favorites were the 2015 Marquette, the 2015 Frotenac Blanc and the 2015 Seyval Blanc. Lastly, a delicious assortment of desserts from Deco was served with a lovely pairing of the St Therese Rose. The evening was truly magical. Sovereign Estate sits at the edge of the Lake overlooking their vineyards. The gardens and grounds are beautiful to wander and have a picnic and the tasting room is a great place to hang out for a tasting and cheese board. Highly recommend.

A Private User

I went with a friend recently as we drove in from Eau Claire. I have been in the wine business for over 25 years. It is not a hobby of mine, it is how I make my living. I found this place as being another upstart trying to cash in on the new winemaking trend. For those who truly love and know their wines, these are the places to avoid. I did try most of their varieties. I found the character to be quite "odd" I did ask a lot of questions about their processes and got a lot of dodgy and inconsistent answers. Typical of inexperienced makers. The owners are very pretentious, and do not value the reputations that the experienced winemakers of the region have spent so much time to establish. Their so called vineyard is young and impossible to produce a grape suitable of maturation to press. I did not get any clear answers on any of this. AVOID

Kristy Hammes

I was lucky enough to have my dream wedding at Sovereign Estate Wine in May 2017. It was absolutely perfect and I couldnt have asked for a better experience as a bride. Ive been a huge admirer of the property, the views say it all. However, there are few places that the beauty of the location match the quality of the product. The wine is fantastic with such a variety for all levels of wine drinkers (theres even beer for the less wine-enthused). Whether youre hosting a private event like a wedding, or simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon, this place is a relaxing getaway from the cities with unpaired customer service, stunning views of Lake Waconia, and of course, delightful wine! I recommend the TENUTA DI SOVRANO and TALON CREST, and even better, joining the "Royal Case Club" - so many deals and special events.