We took a weekend adventure to Pella and looked for nearby wineries while in the area. To our…read moredelight, we found Van Wijk which looked beautiful from the outside. We were excited as it was 5pm and they were open until 10 (typically on Saturday wineries are only open until 6). So, we went in, hoping to do a wine tasting and share a bottle on the patio. We were told we couldn't do a tasting since there was a wedding going on. Okay. So we tried 2-3 samples so we could order a glass we liked. The very few we tried were ok. We were at least able to pick one. Then we went to the patio. Photos of the view are attached. Beautiful view of an alley and someone's house and some cars. The best part is over our speaker we heard this couples entire wedding ceremony. We could see it through the patio doors too. Talk about uncomfortable. I'm thinking the winery should close to the public when they have a wedding ceremony going on - since we couldn't get the same service and had to listen to someone's wedding. What a strange experience. Good thing we never come through Sully, Iowa! Seemed like it could've been a cute place...if it closed for weddings.

Who would a thought??? Love this place!!! We were clueless upon walking in and the owners…read moregreeted us right away. They walked us through the tasting and gave us several options for next steps. We decided to purchase flights of various wines. The owners gave excellent recommendations and encouraged us to taste new things. Then we went to the deck to enjoy our choices. It was a beautiful atmosphere with preferred seating both inside and out . Prices are extremely reasonable and we bought some wine to go. A fabulous time!!

I have been to Wijn Shop several times now; I visit every time I come through my hometown. Don't…read moremiss your chance to sample wine from all over Iowa at this retailer with over 200 options. Taste 5 wines for $5 and enjoy a full glass in their dining room with a warm pretzel or local cheese. In the summer you'll love the wine slushees. Jeremy and Tara, the owners, are incredibly genuine and knowledgeable about Iowa grapes and can steer your taste buds to everything from dry to off dry to semi sweet, sweet, ice, and port. Wine snobs...let down your preconceived notions of Iowa wine and take in a Frontenac or Chambourcin. They also have wines aged in Bourbon barrels which are fabulous and becoming more popular. I spent a good hour chatting up the owner on a cold snowy day and learned about his business model and Iowa varietals.

I just absolutely love this place. I don't live in Pella but whenever I visit my mother here I…read morealways try to make it by the Wijn House. The ladies are always so nice and it's just lovely to have a nice stop and chat. Last weekend there was a free wine tasting and I was so surprised by what I ended up liking! I wish I had a place like the Wijn House where I live!

From the moment I walked in I was greeted warmly by the woman working behind the wine bar. I told…read moreher I was from out of town as my son & I are here visiting William Penn college and that I would love to be better acquainted with their wines. She explained that some grapes are grown here in Iowa and the rest is brought in from elsewhere. They have a large selection of wine and a tasting allowed me to sample 5 along with a loaf of bread, cheese and dipping oil for $16. Of course I went with it! She was able to pour 3 whites (my preference) and 2 reds and brought an amazing display of cheese, oil and bread which was beyond tasty! The cheese is from a local spot down the road called Frisian farms and it was very good! The bread was warm and delicious also. I thoroughly enjoyed the wine choices and surprisingly my fav was a red called Iowa Pizzeria & pasta too. Maybe it's due to enjoying it with the warm bread and cheese. Who knows!?! This place is truly a gem, anyone visiting should check it out!

What a great relaxing place to visit. We stopped in late afternoon and enjoyed the Iowa State Fair…read moreAward Winners Wine Flight. What a deal! 5 wines, a baguette with dipping sauce and great Gouda cheese from a near by dairy. What a great deal! They have a great variety of wines so everyone can find something to enjoy. Additionally, they have great wine related gifts at reasonable prices.

We spent a beautiful afternoon at the winery. The staff is not only helpful but very friendly. The…read morewines were delicious. The views perfect. It will be a summer repeat again and again.

Madison County Winery is located in - you guessed it - Madison County. My mom and I participated in…read morethe Madison County Fall Crawl and ventured here. There is much to do in this area and MCW is not an exception. It is worth noting this area is absolutely beautiful, especially in the fall. I really like Madison County Winery's setup - the vineyards are abundant, visible, and accessible (perfect for that Instagram moment you are dreaming of). They have a large patio area with traditional outdoor tables and limited indoor seating. OUtside, they also have an offset pergola and firepit area with their own patio furniture, which would be fun for a small group. I had the wine slush which melted really fast and was very sweet, but who am I kidding I still enjoyed! My mom had the PINK wine (semi-sweet Rose) and liked it so much that she bought a bottle to take home. Down the steps from their patio, they also have a tent with personal pan fire grilled pizza - would also recommend. What is honestly better than wine, pizza, and beautiful fall day. It was such a great Sunday afternoon, I can't wait to take friends back soon!

Stopped by for some wine and had a great time! Lots of selection and friendly staff. Sat on the…read morepatio and enjoyed the beautiful scenery!

What fun! Loved our fall themed tasting. Our mini pie and cider tasting was perfect to kick off…read moreautumn. It was so yummy and balanced.

Great Wine! Good Food! Amazing friendly service! I try to stop passing thru Iowa every chance I get.read more

A beautiful setting with nice trees for lovely days outside. Plenty of friendly faces to help while…read moreyou're there. It would be good if they had more organization to help speed the process of sampling and ordering. There are many wine choices especially if you prefer sweeter varieties. Hopefully they get more dry and less sweet varieties.

Hidden gem!! We…read morefound something online called the "back road winery tour" so we had to do it! La Vida Loca is the first place we stopped and my oh my was it fun!! We received the friendliest welcome and sampled delicious wine, including a CORN COB WINE, you know, 'cuz Iowa. Then we sipped wine on the deck with the most gorgeous view. The owner even came outside to talk and hang out with us - such a cool experience!

Years of wine tasting around the US being in a touring band finally brought us to center Iowa. To…read moremy surprise, we ran into the best we have encountered in thousands of miles. House grown grapes, and simply the best sweet selection you can imagine was only topped off by a killer port and the last minute suggestion by the man of the hour Ron, "Do you like spice and flavor?" To which my friend and I responded "Does a grape love to be smashed??". The piece de resistance was an entourage of cooking wines (Which were awesomely drinkable) including Garlic, Rosemary, and Onion among others. Don't leave without trying them all. Of all the places we have been, there wasn't a bad one in the house (and we sampled over 12). Left with a case (+3) and will fly back soon (from Chicago). Did I mention they were the nicest knowledgeable people we have ever encountered in out travels?

Thunder Creek Winery is truly a hidden gem! The owners are some of the kindest people you'll ever…read moremeet, they actually opened up for us on a Sunday since we were visiting from out of town (talk about going above and beyond!). I'm very picky when it comes to wine, but I walked out with 12 bottles because everything was that good. Both sangrias are absolutely amazing, and their wine selection is top-notch. If you're anywhere nearby, do yourself a favor and stop in. Between the quality of the wine and the warm hospitality, Thunder Creek Winery is a must-visit.

Beautiful location. They did a really great job hosting…read morethis event I was at. I didn't try the wine but everyone seemed to love it. The owner and staff were so sweet to me answering all my questions. This would be a rad place to host an event, or wedding! The staff is great, the wine is as fresh as you can get and it has both indoor and outdoor places to hang! A fun night indeed!

Great experience! Was able to taste 3 different wines before deciding which one to order a glass…read moreof. Staff was very helpful accommodating my tastes and suggesting which wines to try. Prices are very good here. The view of the vines is wonderful and the patio is nice to sit and drink on. I am already thinking of coming back here!