vineyard-candle-making-class-at-next-chapter-winery-new-prague

At Next Chapter Winery in New Prague, Minnesota, the Candle Making Experience blends craft, scent and a vineyard evening into a single, relaxed event. Located at 16945 320th St., this hands-on class invites makers to design and pour a 14oz wood-wick candle using 100% natural soy wax and a palette of more than fifty fragrance oils. The setting is the winery's tasting room and adjacent vineyard lawn; low light and open air make for an easy, convivial evening where you can sip a purchased glass of wine between scent stations. The experience is led by TS Home Studio's Scent Consultant and begins at 5 PM, with the session running about three hours from orientation through blending and the pour. Guests move through station-style steps: choose base, mid and top notes from the oil library, test short scent strips, and then measure and pour hot wax into the wood-wick jar. Candles require roughly 1.5–2 hours to set, so you’ll either wait briefly on site or return later to pick up your finished candle when it’s safe to travel. What makes this more than a craft class is its pairing of place and process. The vineyard atmosphere softens the learning curve and encourages experimentation—think apple-orchard top notes against warm vanilla bases—while wood wicks give a crackle and cleaner burn unique among mass-market candles. The hands-on design work, paired with local wine service available for purchase, turns an ordinary night into a sensory lab where fragrance, texture and drink mingle. This is a beginner-friendly, station-based workshop; no prior candle knowledge is required. The group is limited to thirty people, which keeps the instruction personal. The class is a good fit for couples, small groups of friends, date nights, or anyone wanting to customize a gift or souvenir. Practical notes: arrive on time for orientation, wear closed-toe shoes for a standing, station-based flow, and plan for a brief wait while wax cures. New Prague sits in southern Minnesota's agricultural landscape, and local growers and makers have been expanding small-scale wineries across the region over the last decade. The event supports small businesses and uses natural soy wax, which burns cleaner than petroleum-based waxes. If you’re in the Twin Cities or exploring local wine country, this evening is an accessible, tactile way to take home a personalized keepsake—and a memory that smells like the place where you made it. Reserve early: classes cap at thirty, and special sessions around holidays fill quickly. Tickets do not include wine, but the winery’s menu offers glasses and plates to extend the evening. Whether you’re gifting a custom candle or learning a craft, this workshop delivers hands-on instruction, sensory discovery, and a tangible memento from rural Minnesota wine country.