Looking behind the craft at Waters Edge Winery & Bistro

When guests settle in for an evening of live music at Waters Edge Winery & Bistro in Kalispell, they expect great food, award-winning wine and a memorable performance. What many don't realize is that they're also sitting inside one of the Flathead Valley's most unique manufacturing facilities. 

Owned by Angela and Trevor Zuba, Waters Edge Winery & Bistro opened in 2020 with a vision of creating more than a restaurant or tasting room. They wanted a place where handcrafted wine, scratch-made food and live entertainment could bring people together while introducing the community to something rarely found in Montana — an urban winery producing its wines entirely on-site. 

That vision has earned recognition throughout the region. Waters Edge Winery & Bistro has been voted Best of the Flathead for five consecutive years, was named Business of the Year in 2021, earned honors in the wine manufacturing world including Operator of the Year and Red Vintner of the Year, and was featured on America's Best Restaurants. Today, the winery hosts live music, weekly trivia, private events, wine education experiences, catering and celebrations, making it as much a community gathering place as it is a production facility.  

Unlike traditional wineries that rely on a single vineyard, Waters Edge begins with premium grapes sourced from renowned wine regions around the world. Once it arrives in Kalispell, the winemaking team ferments, monitors, blends, clarifies, ages and bottles every wine on site.  

What makes Waters Edge truly unique is the freedom to blend grapes from different continents to create wines that simply couldn't be made anywhere else. 

One signature wine, Bohemian Waxwing, combines the crisp minerality of Italian Pinot Grigio with the bright citrus character of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Another, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, blends velvety Chilean Carménère with bold Old Vine Zinfandel from California's Lodi region. These aren't traditional blends — they're original creations that showcase what happens when geography no longer limits creativity.  

That same philosophy extends beyond the winery's own labels. Waters Edge creates custom wines for weddings, anniversaries, businesses, nonprofits and even restaurants. Clients work with the winery to develop a unique blend and personalized label, creating a wine that becomes exclusive to their brand or celebration and can never be exactly replicated.  

As local musicians perform just a few feet from the production area, guests experience something few wineries can offer: handcrafted wine, fresh food and live entertainment under one roof. Every glass reflects grapes grown around the world, transformed through careful craftsmanship in the heart of the Flathead Valley.  

At Waters Edge Winery & Bistro, the music may draw people through the doors, but it's the winemaking that keeps them talking long after the last song ends.  

Visit Waters Edge Winery & Bistro at 2593 U.S. 2 East, Kalispell or at wewinerykalispell.com.