Pioneers of South Dakota Wine
The first winery in South Dakota. A family legacy six generations deep.
Every bottle tells a story. Ours began in 1850 with a German immigrant's dream, took root in South Dakota soil, and culminated in a legislative act that launched an entire state industry.
A Heritage Rooted in Tradition
The Nygaard family's winemaking heritage traces back to 1850, when Christian F. Gossmann immigrated from Germany to the American Midwest, bringing centuries of Old World winemaking knowledge with him.
Fast forward to 1961. Eldon Nygaard, working from the family farm in Turner County, South Dakota, created his first wine using mulberries from their land. It was an experiment born from curiosity and family tradition—one that would eventually change South Dakota's agricultural landscape.
Making History
Testing the Soil
The family planted experimental grape plots, partnering with South Dakota State University's Dr. Ann Fennel to identify cold-hardy varieties that could survive brutal Midwest winters. Among them: the Valiant grape, developed by Dr. Ronald Peterson—the variety that would eventually give the vineyard its name.
Writing the Law
Recognizing the commercial viability of wine grapes in South Dakota, Eldon—a political science professor at the University of South Dakota—did something remarkable. He drafted the state's enabling legislation for farm wineries. The Nygaard family testified before the state legislature, and on July 1, 1996, the Farm Winery Act became law.
License BW-SD-1
Valiant Vineyards received South Dakota's first commercial bonded winery license. They didn't just become the state's first winery—they created the industry itself.
Building the Dream
The family completed a 15,000-square-foot facility at Buffalo Run Resort in Vermillion. What started as a mulberry wine experiment on a Turner County farm had grown into a full-fledged destination winery overlooking the Missouri River.
A Family Affair
From the very beginning, this has been a family endeavor. Eldon's children, Leif and Jeanette, grew up working in the vineyard—pruning vines, harvesting grapes, and helping with bottling runs.
By age eighteen, Leif had become a sixth-generation American winemaker. Today, he leads Stone Faces Distillery, expanding the family's craft to include vodka, whiskey, apple brandy, rum, and bourbon—all made with the same dedication to quality and local ingredients that defines Valiant Vineyards.
Today & Tomorrow
Valiant Vineyards and Stone Faces Distillery continue to operate at Buffalo Run Resort, offering award-winning wines, small-batch spirits, a cozy bed & breakfast, and space for private celebrations. We're still a family operation, still experimenting with new varietals and techniques, and still proud to carry forward a legacy that spans six generations and two continents.
We didn't just write South Dakota wine history. We're still writing it.