Business Details
27 Years
experience
Award-Winning South Dakota Wines
Prairie Berry was a family-owned and operated winery rooted in a five-generation tradition of crafting beverages in South Dakota. Founded in 1999 by Sandi Vojta, her husband Matt, and her father Ralph, the winery combined a deep respect for heritage with innovative winemaking techniques. Over 25 years, we grew from a 500-square-foot basement operation to a 20,000-square-foot facility in the Black Hills, earning over 1,000 international awards for our wines. Our commitment to local ingredients, including wild fruits like chokecherries and buffaloberries, reflected our dedication to showcasing South Dakota's unique terroir.We pioneered fruit wines, grape wines, and fusion wines, blending tradition with experimentation. Our tasting room in Hill City became a destination for wine enthusiasts, offering a connection to our family's story and the region's history. Though we closed our doors in 2022, our legacy of crafting award-winning wines and fostering community endures.
Services
Wine production
Tasting room
Wine club
Event hosting
Online sales
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We offered 25 years of family tradition in winemaking with a fifth-generation winemaker.
- Our wines won over 1,000 international awards for quality and innovation.
- We used locally sourced wild fruits and regional ingredients in every bottle.
- We pioneered fusion wines that combined unique flavors and textures.
- Our tasting room provided an immersive experience in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
What people say
Unique flavors
Award-winning quality
Family tradition
Black Hills location
Creative fusions
Services
Wine production
We specialized in crafting fruit wines, grape wines, and fusion wines using locally sourced ingredients. Our process began with handpicked wild fruits and regional grapes, emphasizing quality and innovation. Each bottle reflected our commitment to South Dakota's heritage and our family's five-generation winemaking tradition.
Tasting room
Our Hill City tasting room offered visitors the chance to sample award-winning wines in the Black Hills. The experience included educational insights into our winemaking process and the history of our family-owned business. The facility also featured an events room for private gatherings.
Wine club
The Gen5 Wine Club provided members exclusive access to limited-release wines and special events. Membership included curated selections showcasing our most innovative and popular offerings. The club celebrated our dedication to quality and community engagement.
Event hosting
We hosted events at The Homestead, a rustic venue offering a unique setting in the Black Hills. The space accommodated weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings, combining natural beauty with our winery's heritage. Events featured custom wine pairings and personalized service.
Online sales
Our full wine selection was available for purchase online with shipping to 35+ states. The platform provided detailed descriptions of each wine's flavor profile and pairing suggestions. Customers could order directly from our production facility for nationwide delivery.
People
Sandi Vojta
Winemaker
Fifth-generation winemaker Sandi Vojta founded Prairie Berry in 1999. Her family's winemaking tradition began in Moravia and continued through five generations in South Dakota. She combined chemistry expertise with local ingredients to create award-winning wines.
Ralph Vojta
Co-founder
Ralph Vojta, Sandi's father, co-founded Prairie Berry with his family in 1999. He inspired Sandi's passion for winemaking through their early experiments with wild fruits. His legacy continued through the winery's commitment to tradition and innovation.
Questions
What made Prairie Berry Winery unique?
Our winery combined a five-generation family tradition with innovative use of South Dakota's wild fruits and regional grapes.
What types of wines did you produce?
We crafted fruit wines, grape wines, and fusion wines using local ingredients like chokecherries and Petite Pearl grapes.
How many awards did your wines win?
Our wines earned over 1,000 international awards for quality and innovation during our 25-year history.
Why did Prairie Berry Winery close?
After 25 years of operation, we decided to close our doors in 2022 to focus on new ventures while preserving our legacy.
Can I still purchase Prairie Berry wines?
Our full wine selection remains available online with shipping to 35+ states through our existing inventory.
Reviews (5)
Alex Parker
Jan 15, 2022
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Totally awesome. Love the atmosphere, interior and exterior. The food is delicious. They offer cans of Root beer (vintage-like-cans) and I dig that. Sitting outside is also extremely relaxing.
Michael Thompson
Dec 25, 2021
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I had my team's Christmas Party in their private room; it was an awesome experience; the wine and beer as good as ever but the food was impeccable and despite being a catered event the food was on par with some of the best restaurants in the Hills. My team will be back!
Robbie Rushing
Oct 16, 2021
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First time!!! Didn't know the ropes but host allowed me to taste 3 wines I was interested in. He was very knowledgeable and courteous. So helpful sense we didn't know reservations for tastings were needed. Spent too much but Christmas shopping done!
Robert L.
Sep 28, 2021
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Our favorite Winery located on way to the monuments and Crazy Horse. Located in Hill City SD. Great lunch menu and have some wine.
Pg
Sep 26, 2021
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Visiting from Louisiana, stopped about 12:30 on a Friday and the wine tasting wait was 30 minutes but they told us we could go and order a flight of samples in the bar for $9, which we did. Lovely winery and ambiance with a modern farmhouse vibe. Wonderful samples. Bought a few bottles. Friendly fast service.