Chankaska Creek Ranch sits on a sprawling property along the Minnesota River Valley near Kasota, about an hour southwest of Minneapolis. Dave and Darlene Rohrer founded this operation in 1999, starting as a vineyard and winery before expanding into distilling in 2010. The couple transformed their 240-acre ranch into a full agricultural destination, complete with vineyards, grain production, and eventually a craft distillery housed in rustic farm buildings that blend into the rolling countryside. Dave brought decades of farming experience to the venture, while Darlene handled the business side and hospitality aspects. They decided to add distilling after realizing they could grow their own corn and other grains on the property, creating a true farm-to-bottle operation. The distillery uses copper pot stills and focuses on traditional methods, with much of their grain coming directly from fields you can see from the tasting room windows. Visitors get a genuine ranch experience here – you’re not just touring a production facility, but exploring a working farm where the Rohrers have built something that connects the land to the glass. The tasting room overlooks the vineyards and distillery operations, and you’ll often see Dave or other family members around the property. They produce vodka, gin, whiskey, and seasonal spirits alongside their wines, making this one of Minnesota’s more comprehensive agricultural beverage operations.