Pour and Sip: Candle Making at Rustic Roots Winery in Scandia, MN

Rustic Roots Winery sits on St Croix Trail in Scandia, Minnesota, offering an intimate candle-making workshop that feels both hands-on and restorative. Set at 20168 St Croix Trail N, Scandia, MN 55073, USA, this three-hour session teaches you to blend scents and pour a 14oz soy candle while enjoying a glass of local wine. The experience is simple: choose fragrance notes from floral, citrus, wood, and spice families; test blends in scent strips; and finish by hand-pouring a labeled 14-ounce jar to cure at home. Inside the tasting room you’ll find long communal tables, jars of essential oils, and attentive staff who guide novices through safe melting temperatures, fragrance load, and wick selection. The workshop highlights the tactile pleasure of pouring and the patient craft of scent building. Because the candles are soy-based and poured on site, they burn cleaner and carry subtle top, heart, and base notes that evolve as the wax sets—perfect for a locally made souvenir. What makes this offering a special part of the outdoor recreation area is its complementary role. Scandia sits near the glacially carved St. Croix River valley, where hikers and paddlers spend sunlit days; a slow, creative workshop at Rustic Roots makes for a well-rounded visit. After a river paddle or a hike on nearby trails, swapping muddy boots for a warm studio and a poured candle is quietly restorative. The winery’s rural setting frames the class with farmhouse charm and views of open fields along St Croix Trail. The trip stands out because it bundles craft and terroir: blending fragrances while sipping wine ties sensory memories to place. The 14oz candle format is generous—this is not a quick sample, but a take-home piece built to last. The staff-sized groups keep the session social but manageable, and the hands-on instruction demystifies candle chemistry for first-timers. Practical details: the workshop runs about three hours, is family-friendly for older children, and requires no prior craft experience. Bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind splashing, and allow the candle to cure fully before burning. Rustic Roots Winery’s address is provided above; parking is typically on site. Whether you’re planning a cozy afternoon off the river or a creative stop on a weekend escape through Minnesota’s farm country, this candle-making session at Rustic Roots offers a sensory layer to the region’s outdoor rhythms. Bookings fill quickly on weekends, so reserve a seat online; Rustic Roots offers private sessions for groups like bridal parties. With advance notice staff can provide accessible setup and moderate fragrance strength for sensitive noses. Expect lively conversation, gentle instruction, and the steady rhythm of measured pours—this is a social craft class that doubles as a memorable keepsake from your trip.