Wisconsin wineries celebrate National Drink Wine Day

MILWAUKEE, (CBS 58) -- If you are looking for a reason to celebrate today, Feb. 18 is National Drink Wine Day.

"We like to think that every day is National Drink Wine Day," said Steve Danner, the general manager of Cedar Creek Winery.

Wisconsin might be best known for beer, but it's also home to many wineries.

Cedar Creek Winery in Cedarburg offers tastings and makes some of its wines in house, and others are made at its sister winery, Wollersheim in Prairie Du Sac.

"People are constantly surprised that we make wine here," Danner said.

According to the Wisconsin Winery Association, wine making in Wisconsin dates back to the 1840s, when a Hungarian immigrant established the first vineyard, though Danner says in recent years has it taken off.

"Cold-hearty grapes allowed the ability to grow grapes and make wines in the state, where 20 years ago, very limited in their growing," Danner said. "The cold-hearty grapes typically bloom a little bit later, they're able to withstand the 10 degrees below zero kind of stuff."

And for those wines you can't make in the state, you can still find some made by someone local.

Allen Naparalla owns Chiselled Grape Winery in Cedarburg. He makes all his own wine, but he does it in California.

"We're all a little bit different, we have our own little niche, which makes coming here, especially for the tourists, so unique," Naparalla said.

And if you're looking to celebrate National Drink Wine Day a little late, this weekend is Winter Fest in Cedarburg and you can visit Cedar Creek or Chiselled Grape.