A VINEYARD EVENT CENTER RISES IN DAYTON
Minnesota wine country is expanding just northwest of the Twin Cities. Thicket Hill Vineyard & Winery in Dayton is breaking ground on a 14,500-square-foot event center with a 320-capacity ballroom. The property sits on 120 acres near the confluence of the Crow and Mississippi Rivers, about 35 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Father-and-son owners Jack and John Bernens are behind the project, and they have a groundbreaking event on the calendar.
MORE THAN A DECADE IN THE MAKING
This is not an overnight idea. The Bernens family planted their first grapevines at the property in 2011, building more than 15 years of Minnesota farming and winemaking. Today the vineyard produces reds, whites, rosés, and blends made from cold-hardy Minnesota grapes, the kind bred to handle the state's tough winters. The family bought the 120 acres in 2022 for nearly $1.9 million, right next to their personal vineyard, and they have hired Abbey Degoey as event coordinator to help run the new space.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR THE TWIN CITIES
Once it opens, Thicket Hill will be one of the closest vineyard wedding venues to downtown Minneapolis, alongside 7 Vines Vineyard in Dellwood. For couples planning a wedding, that means a scenic Minnesota option without a long drive out of the metro. It also adds to the steady rise of experience-driven venues across the Twin Cities, from breweries to orchards to vineyards. [INTERNAL LINK: Twin Cities lifestyle and local area guide]
The location puts a spotlight on the fast-growing northwest suburbs, too. Thicket Hill sits near the hotels and restaurants of Maple Grove and Rogers, communities that have grown quickly in recent years. A destination venue like this can bring more weekend visitors, more local spending, and one more reason for people to explore that corner of the Twin Cities. For the wider Minnesota wine scene, it is another sign that local vineyards are becoming year-round gathering places, not just tasting-room stops.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The official groundbreaking is set for October 9 at 10:30 a.m., marking the start of construction. The event center is slated to open as soon as spring 2027. Osseo-based Rochon Corp. is the general contractor, Waconia-based Kaeding Architecture designed the space, and the project is financed through 21st Century Bank.
Minnesota wine country keeps growing, and this is one Twin Cities project worth watching.
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