Travel To Montana

Mission Mountain Winery is a family owned winery located on the West Shore of Flathead Lake (the largest natural fresh water lake west of the Mississippi), in Dayton Montana. The first Bonded Winery in the state of Montana was initially started about twenty eight years ago. The Winery’s first vintage was 1984. There is even boat access to the Winery!

The man behind the winemaking is Tom Campbell Jr. He was trained at the University of California at Davis in Enology (Winemaking). Later on he worked as an enologist at many different winery’s including: Jekel and Shiloh in California and the Ste. Michelle and Quail Run (now known as Covey Run) in Washington. Mission Mountain Winery was started in 1984 with Tom’s father, however the vineyard itself was first planted by the two in 1979. Tom and his wife Hema also started Horizon’s Edge Winery in Zillah, Washington in 1985 and sold it in 1999.

The vineyard is a continuing experiment in finding suitable grape varieties. Several varieties have been exposed to the short growing season that begins in May and ends in early October. The cold winter eliminates varieties that cannot survive the harsh cold. Of the varieties that are cold hardy, they have had to eliminate those that do not ripen in the short season. Pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and gewurztraminer have fit Mission Mountain’s criteria for commercial success.

Currently the Winery produces about 6,500 cases of wine in one year. Some of the wines produced include Vin Gris, Riesling, Monster Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, a “blush” wine called Sundown, an exceptional Muscat Canelli dinner wine, Nouveaux Riche a dessert Muscat Canelli, Ice Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Monster Red a Merlot - Cabernet blend, Cream Sherry and a Port.

The vineyards in Montana grow Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and small amounts of Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. The other grapes are grown in Tom’s own vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills of Washington and from other vineyards that have been specifically selected for their high quality.

Some of the finest wines in the world come from this small winery in northwest Montana. The wines have met with excellent acceptance by Montana Residents and visitors to the winery from all 50 States and 25 Foreign Countries as well reviews from national and international competitions and wine writers. Recently Mission Mountain Wines have received International recognition winning over 85 medals.

Mission Mountain Winery invites you to their tasting room where one can taste the wines made here. They are open 7 days a week from May 1st until November 1st. Hours are from 10:00am to 5:00 pm.