Flint Hills winery is an oasis of beauty and taste
Prairie Fire Winery, Vineyard and Candle Co. is a destination for hikers + nature and wine lovers.
By Roy Harryman
Publisher
These two words don’t seem to go together: Kansas + Winery. Yet in the Flint Hills, there is indeed such a combination.
Set amid an endless rolling horizon, The Prairie Fire Winery, Vineyard, and Candle Co. is 30 minutes west of Topeka. I’m not given to overstatement, but I left convinced it’s one of the most scenic locations in the Midwest.
Prairie Fire is located near the tiny and historic town of Paxico. After jumping off I-70, a gravel road takes you south and east for a few minutes before you drop into a valley sprawling with grapevines. Set in the midst of ranches, the winery features a tasting area and indoor and outdoor seating with glorious views. If you are a wine connoisseur, you can schedule a tasting through the website.
If you’re not into wine (and I’m not), there are plenty of other reasons to visit. For one, the Flint Hills scenery in this area is unparalleled. You can explore about one mile’s worth of (steep) trails that track the ridges of the hills, complete with benches to take in the views. In addition, the store features homemade candles with unique scents such as Ernest Hemingway (tobacco, lemon, oak moss). Food that can be paired with wine is also available. For the most part, everything sold at Prairie Fire is made by Prairie Fire.
“We are a ‘Dirt to Glass’ operation,” according to the Prairie Fire website. “We live, grow, make, and sell our product from our ‘Little Chateau on the Prairie.’ From the initial vineyard planting through to the consumer, we handle it all.”
Prairie Fire Winery
20250 Hudson Ranch RD
Paxico, Kan., 66526
785.246.6500