General Inquiries

Is Admission Required for the Spirit of Winter?

Yes! We require admission for our Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights starting at 4PM from Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is $15 per person for 6 years old or older. 5 and under are free. Admission can be purchased online or at the gate. At gate purchases are available as long as we do not sell out online. Please check the website BEFORE heading out!

More information on the Spirit of Winter can be found HERE.

What Should i show at the gate when i purchase a ticket ONLINE?

Online ticket purchase will receive an email receipt/confirmation. PLEASE SAVE YOUR RECEIPT/CONFIRMATION! You will be showing this at the gate for admission. If you have not received a receipt, please check all spam/junk folders before reaching out. We will not be able to respond to phone calls or emails  if you lose it or can’t find it later.

You may print the email or simply show your email confirmation/receipt to gate staff to enter. At gate purchases are available as long as we do not sell out online. Please check the website BEFORE heading out!

Do we get a refund for the Spirit of Winter if we cannot attend?

We do not issue refunds for the Spirit of Winter.If for some reason (such as illness) you are unable to attend on the night you selected, you may change the date of your ticket up to 24 hours in advance using the link in your confirmation email. Please make sure you are buying your desired date before you purchase. NO REFUNDS ONCE PURCHASED.

What Happens if The Spirit of Winter is CancelEd?

Sovereign Estate may choose to close the show due to severe weather or ice to ensure safety of our customers and staff. Please check the website for updates and closures. If we have to close, your ticket will be good for any other night of show.

Is there any indoor seating or outdoor seating?

Our Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights is an OUTDOOR, walking event! There is no place to come in and warm up, unless you have a Christmas Cabana or are visiting The Nutcracker Suite. Some tables will be scattered around property, but again, this is more of a walking light tour with family activities.

How Should I dress when attending the Spirit of Winter?

Our Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights is an OUTDOOR, walking event! We ask that everyone dresses appropriately for the Minnesota Winter, especially with negative temperatures. There is no place to come in and warm up, unless you have a Christmas Cabana or are visiting The Nutcracker Suite.

What should i do if i’m sick?

If you are feeling under the weather, we ask that you stay home and reschedule your visit to the Spirit of Winter to another date. Please be careful of prolonged cold exposure, especially children.

Can I Bring food/beverages on property?

We do NOT allow any outside food (including desserts/cakes), beverages, or coolers on our property. If you are looking for food options while visiting us, please look at our Blizzard Bistro Menu or our Nutcracker Lounge Menu.

Do you have food or beverages available for purchase?

Yes! We have couple ways where guests can purchase both food and beverages. Our Bistro will be open during the day beginning at 12pm with a full food and wine menu. Beginning at 4pm, we will have our Polar Bear Bar and Blizzard Bistro open outside for food and holiday drinks for the whole family. For our 21+ crowd, we will also have our NEW Nutcracker Lounge open beginning at 4pm for indoor seating where guests can order food and drinks.

What is the Nutcracker Lounge?

The Nutcracker Lounge is a NEW Holiday Cocktail Bar for guests who are 21 and older. It will be open during the Spirit of Winter beginning at 4pm with holiday decor, festive drinks, and small bites for guests to enjoy. The Nutcracker Lounge is located inside our main winery building with a host to seat all groups for a 90 minute visit.

Can we make a reservation for the Nutcracker Lounge?

Reservations are not available. All seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for a duration of 90 minutes. Guests must be 21 or older to visit the Nutcracker Lounge.

Can we visit the Nutcracker Lounge without purchasing tickets to the Spirit of winter?

No! All guests must have tickets to the Spirit of Winter to visit the Nutcracker Lounge. This holiday cocktail bar is only available to guests with tickets beginning at 4pm during the Spirit of Winter.

Are Guided Wine Tastings Available during the Winter Season?

Yes! Guided Wine Tastings are available during the day before the Spirit of Winter Event. Our Tastings are on the hour, every hour from 12PM-3PM. For more information on Guided Wine Tastings and to book a Tasting, please click HERE.

Are you open during the day before the Spirit of Winter Event?

Yes! We are open during the Winter season from 12PM-4PM from Tuesday-Sunday for our Wine Store, Guided Wine Tastings, and walk-in guests to enjoy wine by glass, bottle, and food from our Bistro. Starting at 4PM, admission for the Spirit of Winter is required to enter the property.

For more information on our Winter Hours, please visit our Hours Page.

Can I bring my Dog?

Not during the Spirit of Winter. Although we love our pooches here at Sovereign, dogs scare the llamas and discolor the snow. Please do not bring your dog, even if you hold them, to protect them from the cold weather during our Minnesota Winters.

Are Children Allowed at the Spirit of winter?

Absolutely! We are a family-friendly establishment, especially during the Spirit of Winter. We kindly ask that all children are closely supervised and not left unattended at any time on our property. Cars are driving in and out of parking lot during show. Please observe roped off areas and do not allow your children to touch inflatables. All guests under 21 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21. Guests must be 21+ to visit our Nutcracker Lounge.

Do you take group Vistis/reservations?

The Winery at Sovereign Estate is dedicated to giving our guests the best winery experience in the Midwest. For the enjoyment of all our guests, we ask that any parties of 8 or more guests, group tours, buses and/or limos must make prior arrangements before arriving on property. Please send a detailed request to reservations@sovereignestatewine.com.

For large group, rental spaces are available during the Spirit of Winter. Visit our Christmas Cabanas Page for more information.

We reserve the right to turn away any group of 8 or more that did not make prior arrangements before arriving on property.

Do You allow Decorations?

All decorations, balloons, and table decor are not allowed on our property. If you wish to celebrate at the Winery, we do offer designated event space that can be reserved in advance. To learn more about our rental space options, please email reservations@sovereignestatewine.com.

Do you host Weddings or Private Events?

We no longer host weddings on our property, including rehearsal dinners of any size. During the Spirit of Winter, we do offer accommodations for small gatherings or corporate events. To learn more about our rental space options, please email reservations@sovereignestatewine.com.

Is Professional Photography Allowed?

Although we are honored that many people want to use our property for a beautiful backdrop for photos, we do not allow professional photography on our property.