FAQ’S

We are conveniently located on the South side of I-70 about 15 minute West of Topeka. We might be just a short drive form the city, but The Flint Hills are truly a world away. Detailed directions can be found here: Directions
There certainly isn't a bad time... We have wine! It really depends on what you like and are trying to accomplish. The views, vineyard, and releases are different throughout the year. Generally, Saturday and Sunday from 2 PM - 4:30 PM are our peak times. we do our best to keep waiting times as short as we can. We have great guests, and you can meet lots of lovely people on a weekend. If you are looking for a quieter time, during the week might be more like what you are looking for. We often have couples come out during the week to celebrate special occasions. Over 60 acres, it is often easy for them to find a secluded space to themselves. It makes for a very peaceful celebration. For us, there is not better or worse time to visit, it just depends on the type of experience you are hoping to have. We hope to see you soon!
What isn't there to do? Relax, enjoy the beauty of The Flint Hills, walk through our vineyard, enjoy our walking trails, take in the beautiful 25-30 mile views, and of course try a tasting flight of our award-winning Kansas wine! The choices are many, come out and Taste The Flint Hills!

We are open daily for tastings and sales.

Summer: March 1st - October 31st Tues - Sat 10AM - 6 PM, Sunday Noon - 6 PM (Closed Monday)

Winter: November 1st - February 28th

Tues - Sat 10 AM - 5 PM, Sunday Noon - 5 PM (Closed Monday)

 

(Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, and Easter)

Tastings are on the hour and half hour. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak time as we can be on a wait ,and can be made here: https://www.prairiefirewinery.com/wine-tasting-reservations/ If you are just wanting to make a retail purchase to go, or already are familiar with our wines and know what you want while here, reservations are not required. As of March 1, 2021 our maximum group size is still limited to 4 persons due to COVID. (Groups of 6 or more have always required a reservation anyway so it's really not much different.)
We do. As a sustainably focused organization, we owe it to our staff to uphold the tenet of economic sustainability. (They like their paychecks to clear the bank!) We have several options though for all budgets from tasting flights, to glasses of wine, to bottles, we can find something for everyone's budget while visiting.
Absolutely! We are friendly to friendly pets on a leash. You have to leave them at home all week. They really want to go for a R-I-D-E. We also host many travelers given our proximity to I-70 and are the perfect pet rest stop. Please note that we reserve special privileges for our wine dog Brie.
We do! We do have a selection of local meats, cheeses, and other snacks grown and produced locally. It operates as a "build you own charcuterie board." As local producers, we hope that you will join us in supporting our fellow farmers and producers. Providing both indoor and outdoor seating places, our ranch is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some relaxation any time of year regardless of our unpredictable weather. Thank you for supporting Local. NO outside food or drink is permitted.
Obviously they cannot taste being under 21 years of age, but we meet many families with wonderful children that are traveling and decide (perhaps need) to make a stop at our vineyard. It is important to remember that this is a working farm and children must remain under constant and direct supervision to ensure their safety. Caution: Unattended children may be given an espresso and a puppy! 😉
In addition to our vineyard location on the South side of I-70, other locations to purchase wine can be found here: https://www.prairiefirewinery.com/where-to-buy/ And candles can be found here: https://prairiefirecandles.com/pages/store-locator If there are retail stores, liquor stores or restaurants you'd like to see us in let us know! You can also have them contact us by phone or email.
No. Sorry, but no outside alcohol, food, water, or containers may be brought onto our licensed premise. We are a licensed Farm Winery and we'd like to keep it that that way!
We do! These days are some of the best and highly sought after days in the vineyard. We are blessed that the majority of our pickers return year over year, so these events fill up quickly. Join our email list to make certain you here about them.
That varies wildly and is totally up to you! We have some travelers that may not taste and just purchase, and some that will enjoy a tasting flight quickly taste quickly to get back on their journey after there purchases. These can vary 5-30 minutes. If you are not is a rush and are looking to get out and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Flint Hills, that can be 30 minutes to several hours. Whatever time you have available, or depending on the type of experience you would like to have, we will do our best to make it a great time!
All wines (and all other fermented beverages) contain sulfites as they are naturally produced as a byproduct of fermentation. Almost all wineries, including Prairie Fire, also add minute amounts of naturally occurring sulfur to protect the wine from oxidation.
Dry farming is a traditional method of farming that relies on rainfall for moisture, rather than irrigation. The soil acts as a sponge during the snows of winter and early spring, recharging to subsurface moisture of our soil. Periodic rainfall during the growing season helps supplement the subsurface moisture. Dry farming also forces the roots of the grapevines deeper into the soil, following the same paths as our native grasses on their search for water and nutrients in the rich sedimentary layers of The Flint Hills slopes.
We use French oak barrels from various coopers. The acid is softer on the palate than American oak and helps provide the smoothness our winemaker is looking for.