Sunset Point celebrates 10 years

STEVENS POINT — Sunset Point Winery, located on the edge of downtown Stevens Point overlooking the Wisconsin River, is gearing up to celebrate its’ tenth anniversary. Founded in July 2015 by Don and Kelly Guay, Sunset Point Winery has offered live music, wine flights and more in its first ten years.
The local winery got its name from Portage County roots, as Don and Kelly were married on Sunset Lake in Amherst and both are Pointer alumni from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Sunset Point Winery makes all the wine themselves. Directly below the seating area of swinging chairs and board games is a production room where all the winery’s products are made. Sunset Point Winery manager, Jill Krawczyk, said, “For a sweet wine, which people in central Wisconsin tend to lean to more, takes about eight weeks to make. For a dry wine, right around a year.”
Sunset Point Winery sources local ingredients for their wine when possible. A list of their local ingredients includes blueberries from Chet’s Blueberry Farm in Stevens Point, cranberries from the Wisconsin Rapids area and grapes from Rock Ridge Vineyard in Amherst. Just as Sunset Point Winery sources local ingredients, their own wine is sourced as an ingredient for other local businesses. Great Northern Distilling, located in Stevens Point, uses Sunset Point wine for their brandy.
With over forty wines made throughout the year, the winery offers a tasting flight to find the right wine for every guest. “Our flights are really popular,” Krawczyk said. “People really enjoy being able to get to taste a little bit of everything that we have to offer.”

Events are held at the winery year round, from live music to pop ups with other local business, candle making and painting classes, trivia nights, bingo, and more.
In winter months, the winery offers a respite in the cold through their hot mulled wine and hot cider.
Sunset Point Winery is still changing and growing, evident in their soon to be addition of an outdoor patio. “We love pets here at the winery, we just can’t have them inside. We’ll be adding an outdoor patio space so guests can bring their pets with and still be able to enjoy the wine or other beverages. Or, just to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather,” said Krawczyk.
Sunset Point Winery doesn’t just offer their own wine; they carry a variety of beer from Michigan and Wisconsin, in addition to non-alcoholic options such as dry brandy old fashion made in Madison, Wisconsin.
Krawczyk has worked to make the winery more inviting to a young adult crowd in recent years, noting a shift in their typical customer following the pandemic. According to Krawczyk , their average customer base tends to be middle aged to older. However, by offering discounts to Mid-State Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students, there has been a larger base of younger adults enjoying the winery. By booking younger musical artists and hosting more events, the younger adult crowd has grown in recent years.
“We’re a tourist destination but we also have a group of local regulars, and that’s something I myself am really proud of.” Krawczyk said.
July marks the winery’s tenth year of business, something that is being celebrated with a special release wine. Sunset Point Winery has a list of wines that are discontinued and no longer in production. However, in honor of their anniversary the winery will be bringing back a wine from their first year of business. Although the wine’s exact name is kept under wraps until later in July, Krawczyk teased the wine as a dry red that takes four years to make.