Shady Creek near Michigan City, Anderson's 1927 vineyard in Valparaiso, Running Vines in Chesterton, and cider too. A local's guide to the wineries and vineyard day trips just a short drive from the 219.
When people think of Northwest Indiana drinking, they usually picture craft beer. But drive a little past Lake County into Porter and LaPorte counties and a quieter scene unfolds: family-run vineyards, small-batch tasting rooms, and rolling countryside that turns golden by late summer. After 30+ years here, I can tell you the wine trail is one of the region's best-kept secrets for a slow, scenic afternoon. Here is where to go, what to try, and how to turn a tasting into a full day trip.
Lake County proper has few traditional vineyards left, so the wine trail lives just across the county line in Porter and LaPorte counties, all within an easy 35 to 50 minute drive from Crown Point, Munster, or Schererville. These are the stops I come back to year after year.
A 20-acre winery about an hour from Chicago that has become a LaPorte County favorite. Shady Creek is known for a well-rounded list of dry and semi-sweet wines, friendly pours, and a tasting room that feels like a countryside escape. They even run a second spot in Valparaiso, Trailyard by Shady Creek, for a sit-down meal with the wine.
Visit WebsiteThe veteran of the region, growing grapes since 1927. Anderson's is a classic family-run vineyard with a friendly farmhouse tasting room, an orchard, and the kind of history you can taste in every bottle. It is the first stop I recommend to anyone new to the Indiana wine trail.
Visit WebsiteA small-batch winery in the heart of Chesterton, just a short drive from the Indiana Dunes. Running Vines keeps things personal, with a rotating selection of wines made in small lots and a cozy downtown tasting room. Pair it with a dunes morning and you have the perfect day.
A Valparaiso tasting room known for its relaxed vibe and a lineup that runs from dry reds to crisp whites. Lambstone is a great mid-loop stop when you are bouncing between wineries on Lincoln Highway.
A vineyard with a full wedding venue, which tells you the setting is something special. Four Corners grows its own fruit and pours it in a bucolic country setting just outside Valparaiso, with a tasting room open to the public on regular hours.
Part cidery, part winery, all local. Aftermath splits its time between hard ciders and wine, making it a fun change of pace on the trail and a favorite of mine when I want something a little different from a traditional vineyard pour.
Beyond the headliners, a handful of tasting rooms and local pours round out the trail, whether you want lunch with your wine or a Lake County brewery alternative.
Shady Creek's second home in Valparaiso, pairing the winery's pours with a full kitchen. A great lunch stop in the middle of a tasting loop.
Lunch with wineA Michigan City tasting room on US-12 that pours local wine alongside a welcoming, neighborhood feel. Easy to tack onto a beach day at Washington Park.
Beach day pairingLake County's own answer when you want the local pour but with hops instead of grapes. This Merrillville brewery keeps the 219 drink scene fully local.
Brewery alternativeA tasting is an afternoon, but the best wine days pair a few stops together into a full outing. Here are three curated routes across Porter and LaPorte counties, each easy to do from Lake County.
Start at Anderson's Winery & Vineyard for history and orchard vibes. Swing by Lambstone Cellars on Lincoln Highway next, then Four Corners for the vineyard setting. End downtown at Aftermath Cidery or Trailyard by Shady Creek for lunch and a final pour. A full, easy day all within a few miles.
Morning at the Indiana Dunes for a beach walk and the view from the dunes. Drive into Chesterton for a tasting at Running Vines, then wander the town's boutiques and grab dinner at a local spot. Proof that wine country and lake country overlap beautifully.
Take the longer scenic drive to Shady Creek in Michigan City for the 20-acre vineyard experience. Add a stop at Brix Tasting Room on US-12, then finish with a sunset walk at Washington Park's lighthouse. A perfect slower-paced day that feels a world away from the daily grind.
Love a weekend in the countryside? The same drives that take you to a vineyard can take you to some of the 219's best neighborhoods. If you are thinking about where to settle down near the wineries, the dunes, or downtown Crown Point, let's find your spot in Northwest Indiana.
Common questions about wineries, tasting rooms, and vineyard day trips near Northwest Indiana.
Not many traditional vineyards remain in Lake County proper. Today the county is better known for craft breweries and distilleries, like Devil's Trumpet Brewing in Merrillville. The wine scene lives just across the county lines in Porter and LaPorte counties, where the countryside opens up and the vineyards start.
Anderson's Winery & Vineyard in Valparaiso has been growing grapes since 1927, making it the region's veteran operation and a must-visit for anyone who loves a family-run vineyard with real history.
Most of the wineries in this guide are a 35 to 50 minute drive from Crown Point, Munster, or Schererville. Valparaiso and Chesterton in Porter County are the closest, and Michigan City in LaPorte County makes a lovely longer day trip. Perfect for an afternoon loop that ends back home in time for dinner.
Yes, and it is a great pairing. Running Vines in Chesterton and Anderson's in Valparaiso are both a short drive from the Indiana Dunes, so you can combine a morning at the beach with an afternoon at a tasting room.
A short drive from the vineyards to your front door is a pretty good way to live. Ready to explore the 219?