Cannon River Winery + Kitchen — Attraction in Cannon Falls

WEDDING REVIEW: Being in the wedding business, I had expected a little more organization and back up planning. We had our wedding at the end of September. Communication was great until our big day.

Overall Planning: Anne was prompt with emails and sending out notices if we missed anything, and was cordial enough to let us drop off our decorations the night before.

Day of: I met Anne, her assistant and the General manager before I started getting ready and everything was going smoothly. We were told that Anne would be our 'Main contact' throughout the day and she would be there to help out with the ceremony. That changed, and the assistant was sent out to the vineyard with the GM.

Vineyard: Due to being in the middle of harvest season, we knew that there may be a few workers out in the vineyard when we arrived at 2p.m. They did not leave until before the ceremony started. My brother had to ask the workers TWICE to stop using the bobcat so we could have our first look and take family photos without it in the background.

Bussing: There is required bussing to the vineyard site due to limited parking. Cannon River has an "exclusive" bussing company they use.. We needed 3 buses- 1 from the hotel and two from the winery. At 2 p.m, before our first look (3 hours before the ceremony) the assistant notified my husband that one driver was sick and they could only get 2 buses and " It happens all the time and we just make it work". We were NOT refunded for this bus. If we would known earlier we could have secured another bus. One of the two drivers got LOST on the way out to the ceremony. The guests that were on the first round of buses were not notified that the ceremony would be starting 30minutes later due to a bus needing to pick up the rest of the guests.

Ceremony: There is a charge for rehearsal, so all planning and timing needs to be done the day of. The wedding party is to walk through the vineyard rows as an aisle to the ceremony site. The GM and assistant were using texts to notify when to send the bridal party down the aisle, which was delayed due to limited cell service.

Reception: GREAT! Ryan is the head bartender and was absolutely amazing to work with!

Cannon River is an AMAZING venue and was wonderful location for our wedding, but we expected more respect and organization for those 'What If/ Backup" events. Overall I am pleased with how everything turned out but just wanted to give an honest review to those looking to have their wedding here, and hopes their day will be...

DO NOT RECOMMEND. I met two of my friends in Cannon Falls for dinner. They came from the Twin Cities and I came from Rochester thinking it would be a great place to meet. We had dinner and then stopped at Cannon River Winery for a glass of wine at approximately 7:45pm. Our server Jon came to the table and let us know the kitchen was closed. We asked if the dessert charcuterie board was available. He checked and came back to the table to let us know it was not available. We then said we were fine with wine and he explained the drink options (flights, tokens, glasses, bottles). He took our order and we were each served our glass of wine at approximately 7:55pm. Shortly after, Jon stopped by to let us know they close at 8pm and would need to have us pay. We were surprised they even served us and asked if we could finish our drinks and he assured us we could. We paid and continued to enjoy our wine and conversation. At approximately 8:20pm, Zach approached the table and asked us to leave because they closed at 8pm and he cannot count the tills while there are still people there. None of us had finished our drink. I mentioned to Zach that we were served our wine just before 8pm and hadn't had a chance to finish our drinks. His response was "I would have drank it faster." After this unprofessional response, I asked Zach for a refund. He said he was not authorized to give refunds. As we got ready to leave, my friend used the restroom and we waited by the table. It was then that Jon started aggressively sweeping next to our table and did not stop until our friend was done in the restroom and we made our way to the door.

Needless to say, our girls' night ended poorly thanks to the terrible service at this establishment. I was very much enjoying my sparkling wine and conversation with friends. In 47 years, this is the worst experience I've had in a winery/bar/restaurant. The tone of Zach's voice and Jon's physical closeness while he swept made us question our safety. If there had not been a wedding upstairs I would have been very frightened.

I frequently visit Cannon Falls and can confidently say that I will never again visit Cannon Valley Winery and will not recommend...

Over the years we’ve watched this property come on the market, be purchased and renovated into this historic event center. Within years, the upstairs space, formerly the town dance hall, was also restored and open for larger events (up to 250 people, we were told). Everything that the owners have done is time-period and exceptional.

Initially, we went to see the interior, sample wine, and listen to bit of music over an appetizer. They also offer smaller rooms ideal for board meetings, I rented one for a small local group centered around my work. The staff are positive, fun-loving, and customer focused. This remained true while the building changed hands again in 2016 to Ron Stowell of Eagan.

We enjoy supporting local businesses and this remote gem that has its own 20 acres vineyard. It is amazing how great local grapes can taste!

Today, you can go in and find a table; shortly someone will come to give you menu options. Their flatbread pizzas and appetizer charcuterie boards are ideal for sharing. It has come with a varied selection of artisanal cheeses and meats, artfully accompanied by fruit, crackers/bread, nuts and olives. They are always fine pairings with wine.

You can tell you are in for an exceptional experience just by the naming of their Shareable Plates: The Queen Elizebth II, The Spice Girls, and The Judge Judy Sandwich. They also name entrees after famous actors - everything has an upscale twist with a bit of humor. On cooler days, I have often dropped in to order the creamy chicken with wild rice soup. The name? Annie Oakley Soup. It is such a help that they expanded their menu and now also offer salads. This is a whole notch up from ordering the usual American hamburger.

If you enjoy wineries, I highly recommend that you visit this place. Beverage options run from beer to wine to liquor. You can pull up to the bar, sit outdoors during warm weather, or elect for table seating. Parking is ample. The setting is ideal - right in the heart of the historic downtown of Cannon Falls, MN. You’ll also find unusual gifts for your discerning friends who seem to already...