Tontitown Winery, a Northwest Arkansas Destination

I drove past the Tontitown Winery easily 100 times before stopping in and checking it out. The first time I visited was in July of 2022. I’d done all my shopping and was about to head home before realizing that we were having friends over and I didn’t have any wine to serve with dinner. I really didn’t want to head back to town and thought how delightful it would be to serve a local wine from a local winery. What I didn’t realize is what a pretty place Tontitown Winery is and how the exterior, as inviting as it is, doesn’t adequately reveal all that is beyond the front door.  This is more than just a local winery; it’s a destination for picking up some local gifts native to Tontitown; it’s a place that features weekly bingo for the local community; live music on Friday and Saturday nights; a menu of homemade food, desserts, bocce ball, a playground for kids to play while their parents can sip wine, listen to music and still keep a watchful eye, but most of all it’s run by a longtime local family.

The Ranalli family have done quite a lot to put Tontitown on the map. Between their multi-generation Ranalli family farm, local farm supply, and seasonal grocery store, in many ways they’ve contributed to the city’s growth and success. The Tontitown Winery, in turn, has thrived along with the rest of the family’s ventures. Yet like their other businesses, the Tontitown winery remains personable and accessible, with the family staffing the floor and interacting with their customers.

It's this personable service that led me to keep returning to the winery. After repeated gracious interactions with their staff, I called and asked if I might be able to interview an employee for the Dixiecast. Owner Operator Heather Ranalli Peachee went a step beyond and granted me a personal interview on her day off. Please view the video for a conversation about family, food, and good wine. https://youtu.be/Uhakq5-tQ7I

I had such a lovely time talking with Heather, I decided to return on Friday night to hear their live music By the time I got halfway there, it started drizzling. But the summer rain didn’t keep away the lively crowd of couples and families.  In the distance from Hwy 412, I could see the winery and holy cow-the parking lot was packed. Those string-lights illuminated the outdoor patio and the Atlantics were playing American rock classics. Couples danced, kids ran to the playground and there was Heather enjoying the fruits of her labor with her husband and friends.  As I watched the servers bring out piping hot pizzas, I ordered a watermelon slushie and sat under the stars listening to the Atlantics cover Van Morrison’s Wild Nights.

What I love about this winery is you don’t have to trek to one of NW Arkansas’ many Downtowns in order to enjoy this kind of ambiance. Instead, you can go out into the country to a family owned small business. It’s an upscale atmosphere with a family friendly feel.

So thanks again for sharing another Northwest Arkansas experience with me on the Dixiecast. And please visit the Tontitown Winery located conveniently off of 412 in Tontitown Arkansas. I’m Jill Varvell and this is the Dixiecast. The Sound of the South