Parley Lake Winery

Parley Lake Winery is a winery in Waconia, MN, located at 8280 Parley Lake Rd. It operates on a 125-acre vineyard and orchard just west of Minneapolis/St. Paul, offering handcrafted Minnesota wines and an authentic local experience centered on art and wine. The business holds a 4.50 rating based on customer reviews.

Established in 2008 at Deardorff Orchards & Vineyards, the winery was founded by Lin and Bonnie Deardorff and Steve and Deb Zeller, who met on a paddle tennis court. The Deardorffs began growing and selling apples, including Honeycrisp, at their orchard in 1981. Steve and Deb Zeller worked at Rosemount and spent time in Germany before joining the venture. In 2005, the couples began planting cold hardy grapes, following the University of Minnesota's introduction of varieties like Frontenac, La Crescent, Frontenac Gris, and Marquette. The first commercial season in 2009 saw the winery sell out of La Crescent and Parley Vu Rosé within days. Today, the vineyard consists of seven acres planted with Marquette, Frontenac, and Frontenac Gris grapes.

Visitors can taste award-winning wines at the expanded tasting room and wrap-around deck overlooking the Lake View Stage and Itasca vineyard. The property features an art gallery showcasing local artists, indoor restrooms, and a unique setting where art and wine entwine. The winery hosts events such as concerts in the vines, live music from bands like the Westwind Swing Band and Russell Schmidt, and yoga sessions. The winery has garnered over 200 medals in national and international wine competitions, including more than 30 gold medals.

The positive rating from customers reflects the quality of the wines and the distinctive setting. Parley Lake Winery combines local agriculture with artistic expression in Waconia, offering a memorable destination for wine enthusiasts.

Parley Lake Winery is located on Parley Lake Road in Waconia, Minnesota, situated about half a mile from Sixmile Creek and less than a mile from State Highway 5.

BizScoreAI gives the business a Performance score of 90 out of 100, which reflects how quickly the website loads to keep visitors engaged and improve search rankings. The Discoverability score is 75 out of 100.