Micro Breweries & Wineries in Arkansas

Arkansas wine is a natural byproduct of The Natural State. Back in 1880, two European families settled in the Arkansas River Valley, attracted by its fertile sandy soil and moderate climate. The two pioneers of the American wine industry were Jacob Post, who came to America in 1872, and Johann Wiederkehr, who immigrated to Altus from Switzerland in 1880. Area conditions reminded them so much of the fine wine-making regions of Germany and Switzerland that they each established vineyards, which was the beginning of a wine heritage and viticulture in Arkansas.

Wine was made from grapes, berries and fruit native to their new homeland. Since those early years, each added new grape varieties, and cultivated, improved and expanded their vineyards.

Several area wineries that offer free tours, wine tastings and special events are:

Today, fourth and fifth generations of these two families, plus others have contributed to making Arkansas the largest and oldest wine producing state in the South. Paris, Ozark, Wiederkehr Village and Altus are located in Arkansas Wine Country, just off Interstate 40 northwest of Little Rock and east of Fort Smith, near where the Arkansas River winds between the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains.  Today Arkansas wine production has spread beyond the Arkansas River Valley to encompass Gamaliel, Eureka Springs and Tontitown.  These have been joined by distilleries and breweries.

Chateau Aux Arc, (pronounced "ozark") established in 1998; known for chardonnay and cynthiana grapes; tasting room open daily 479-468-4400 or 800-558-WINE.

Mount Bethel Winery, in operation since 1956; produces a wide variety of locally-grown fruit wines: sip some blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, elderberry, peach, wild plum and, of course, grape! 479-468-2444.

Neumeier Winery, located in Wiederkehr Village, is best-known for its uniquely dry Muscadine wine. Neumeier is open for tours and tastings by appointment only. 479-209-1224.

Post  Winery, Taste some wine, shop for gifts and local wine, juice, jelly and vinegar; tours available by request. Established in 1880. Open daily. 479-468-2741

Wiederkehr Wine Cellars and Vineyard Tour the original wine cellar (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), which has been converted into the Weinkeller Restaurant, which serves Swiss and European specialties, and wine. Closed major holidays. 800-622-9463.

In Paris, Cowie Wine Cellars opened in 1955; free wine tastings following tours of the cellars; wine making supplies for sale; amateur wine making competition held in April; home to the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum. 479-963-3990. A branch of the museum is located in Hot Springs.

Keels Creek Winery is in Eureka Springs in the Northwest Arkansas Ozark Mountains. In addition to its own label, Keels Creek offers one of the largest selections of Arkansas wines in the state. The retail wine sales and tasting room are located in a Spanish-style building that is shared with Keels Creek Art Gallery. 3185 East Van Buren. 479-253-WINE (9463)

Raimondo Family Winery, a small farm winery, operates its tasting room and produces its wines at Blue Lady Resort in Gamaliel. The Raimondo Family Winery has been producing wine in California for more than two decades.

The quaint Italian-founded town of Tontitown is already famous for its over a century-old Grape Festival each August. The Italian heritage is showcased in a new attraction -- the Tontitown Winery. It's housed in the 1917 Taldo House and features free wine tastings and a history room full of the area's colorful past.

Brew Pubs, Micro Breweries & Distilleries

Refreshing regional beer and microbrews are available on tap and in bottles, but Arkansas also boasts a microbrewery, located in Little Rock, and several popular brew pubs known for their handcrafted ales and lagers found in restaurants and bars in Little Rock and Fayetteville. Tour the breweries and brew pubs of Arkansas.

Diamond Bear Brewing Company in Little Rock is Arkansas's only production brewery. Its craft beers include Southern Blonde Ale, Pale Ale and Irish Red, which can also be purchased in western Tennessee and northern Louisiana. Public brewery tours, which take 45 minutes to an hour, are offered at 2 p.m. every Saturday on a first-come, first-serve basis. Private group tours are available by special arrangement. The 6,000-square-foot brewery may also be rented for catered private parties. The Diamond Bear Brewery is located three blocks from the Arkansas State Capitol at 323 Cross Street, Suite C, Little Rock 501-708-BREW (2739)

Less than a mile from the State Capitol is Vino's Pizza Pub Brewery. This on-site micro brewery produces 6 Bridges Cream Ale, Firehouse Pale Ale, Lazyboy Stout, Ouachita ESB, Rainbow Wheat, Quawpaw Quarter Porter, Aphrodite Red Ale, English "Old Style" Ale, Pinnacle IPA and Shamrock Stout. The Little Rock restaurant, well known for New York-style pizza, calzones and live music, provides beer growlers for brew to go. 923 West 7th, Little Rock 501-375-8466

Bosco's, a restaurant for beer lovers, is located in downtown Little Rock's River Market area. Bosco's has numerous beers brewed on-site and available on tap. Food offerings include appetizers such as smoked duck spring rolls, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta and entrees such as black bean and goat cheese tamales. 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. 501-907-1881

Refined Ale Brewery, is the first black-owned brewery in Arkansas. It offers Refined Ale Light Beer, Refined Ale Beer and Refined Ale Malt Liquor. The beer is made in three-barrel batches for superior product; Refined is the only brewer of Malt Liquor in the south. Located at 2221 Cedar Street in the Little Rock Central High School area. 501-280-0556

Rock Town Distillery, the state's first legal liquor production company since Prohibition is located in downtown Little Rock. The business uses Arkansas-grown grains, corn, fruits and vegetables for Brandon's Bourbon, Vodka and Gin it produces. Tasting tours are offered at the factory.

Hog Haus Brewing Company, a popular gathering spot and restaurant on downtown Fayetteville's Dickson Street, serves numerous seasonal and special brews, plus an eclectic menu of traditional pub food including steak, fresh seafood, pasta, salads, appetizers and more. 430 W. Dickson, Fayetteville. 479-521-2739.

Core Brewing & Distilling Company  in Springdale is Arkansas’s newest production brewery. Its craft beers include ESB, Kölsch, Oatmeal Stout, Black IPA, Premium Pale Ale, and a variety of specialty and seasonal brews. Tours available starting in the spring of 2012. The tour lasts approximately one hour and will end in the tasting room. 479-879-2469.