TAKE YOUR PICK. The owners of Chippewa County's River Bend Winery & Distillery now have three more grape varieties to harvest and create with thanks to their newly-leased property in the New Auburn area. (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)

Offering a year-round locale for visitors and residents alike to sip on something sweet – or dry, depending on your palette preferences – with indoor tasting rooms and outdoor vineyard venues, Wisconsin wineries shine particularly well during the summer.

River Bend Winery & Distillery (10439 33rd Ave., Chippewa Falls), for instance, takes advantage of the predictable sunshine as they regularly host outdoors events on the Chippewa County property, including live music, boutique-style vendor markets and more.

Wineries frequently launch seasonal wines throughout the year; River Bend, too, will welcomes its popular summer blend, the Summer White, in June. But before then, something more rare will be unveiled by the local winery.

Now, three new-to-River Bend Varieties – Itasca, Marquette and a hybrid grape called Louise Swenson (named after American grape breeder, Elmer Swenson's wife) – can be used in future River Bend blends. The first River Bend wine to feature those new flavors will be Sandhill Rosé, slated to debut Saturday, June 6. 

While River Bend has become known for its award-winning wines and liquors, it’s also experienced chapters of change over its decade-plus life. In 2022, about a dozen years since its opening, the six-acre vineyard and winery welcomed new owners – and new ideas.

Sara and Mike Antonson, alongside their daughter, Andrea and her husband Jake Fleishauer, were simply customers of River Bend when the for-sale sign initially went up. Then, they decided to take a heck of a leap – into the ownership seats.

Less than five years later, River Bend has experienced a roughly 20% increase in wine and spirits sales, Sara said – a stunning growth she attributes to the family’s expansion of winery-based events, strategic marketing and exceptional customer care.

River Bend sits on a six-acre vineyard of its own (pictured), growing Brianna, Frontenac and Frontenac Gris grapes. As of last year, the owners now have an additional two acres – that they're leasing – just a half hour's drive north.  (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)

During that time, River Bend’s tasting room has seen a renovation, its branding refreshed (a collaborative effort between the owners, Chippewa Falls’ After Ten Agency and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students) and new liquors and wine blends.

The latter is largely created from the grapes grown on-site: Brianna, Frontenac and Frontenac Gris varieties. River Bend also uses grapes from growers out of Washington and New York to diversify what types of wines it can produce throughout the year.

Thanks to a recent partnership, River Bend won’t have to travel far to harvest even more varieties.

Last fall, the Antonson and Fleishauer families harvested – for the first time – grapes from its newly-leased vineyard, Sandhill Vineyard, just a half hour’s drive from River Bend’s own acreage.

The property has operated privately, Sara said, for a number of years. “(The owners) still love harvesting and growing the grapes,” she noted.

Sara and Mike Antonson's grandkids (Andrea and Jake's kiddos), pictured, helped harvest the grapes used to create River Bend Winery & Distillery's forthcoming release, Sandhill Rosé.  (Submitted photo)

River Bend Winery & Distillery now has three more grape varieties to work with, following the owners' leasing of a nearby, private vineyard. Here's a glimpse into last fall's harvest! (Submitted photo)

Now, three new-to-River Bend varieties – Itasca, Marquette and a hybrid grape called Louise Swenson (named after American grape breeder, Elmer Swenson's wife) – can be used in future River Bend blends.

The first River Bend wine to feature those new flavors will be Sandhill Rosé, slated to debut Saturday, June 6. 

Described as bright and refreshing with notes of fresh berries and summer fruit, the semi-sweet rosé will provide the perfect sip for patio hangouts alongside summertime meals.

Its label will feature a sandhill crane, serving as an homage to both the bird – “often seen soaring above the vineyards where our grapes are grown,” the label notes – and River Bend’s newly-leased vineyard.

“(Having access to this new property) won’t change anything about River Bend but will offer us more flexibility to create brand-new wines, which we’re really excited about,” Sara said.

Visit River Bend Winery & Distillery (10439 33rd Ave., Chippewa Falls) from 11am-8pm on Wednesday; 11am-7pm from Thursday-Saturday; 11am-5pm on Sunday • Learn more about the local winery and distillery online at www.riverbendwinery.com • Keep up with River Bend on social media (@RiverBendWinery)