Milwaukee Wine Weekend is set to make its highly anticipated return next month, bringing together wine experts and enthusiasts for five days of tasting, learning, and community building. Taking place from April 10-14, the festival offers a locally-focused experience, distinct from traveling wine events, with a series of special happenings hosted at various businesses around Milwaukee.
Now in its second year, Milwaukee Wine Weekend, organized by the Milwaukee Wine Academy (MWA), will feature a variety of exciting events, including a wine dinner to commemorate 414 Day hosted by local chef Dane Baldwin, a book talk by author Charles Springfield, and tastings spotlighting Black-owned wine brands.
MWA co-founders Jeffrey Coleman and Tim Cole are committed to delivering a one-of-a-kind experience, blending delicious wines with a deep exploration of winemaking history, culture, and key industry figures. “With this year’s Milwaukee Wine Weekend, we are creating new experiences that Milwaukee has never seen,” said Coleman. “Not only are we elevating the city’s wine culture, but we do so all while embracing the diversity that makes our city and the world of wine so enchanting.”
The event will kick off on April 10 with a happy hour at Thelma Carol Wine Merchants, located at 605 W. Virginia St. The free event will offer guests a chance to explore the store’s selection of wines, spirits, and small-batch products, with wines available for purchase in-store. Thelma Carol, which opened in 2022, is known for its curated focus on independent, small-scale producers, and boasts the largest selection of wines from Black producers in Milwaukee.
On April 11, the Charles Allis Art Museum will be transformed into “Vino Royale,” where attendees can enjoy casino-style games such as blackjack, roulette, and wine bingo. The event will also feature a tour of the museum, which houses over 800 works of art. Entry is free, but participants must purchase tokens to play the games and win prizes. A cash bar will be available offering a selection of curated wines, and proceeds will benefit scholarships for wine students.
The Black Wine Expo, set for April 12 at Lupi & Iris (777 N. Van Buren St.), will allow guests to taste over 40 wines from Black producers and winemakers. The event will also feature a grazing table prepared by the restaurant’s chefs and a panel discussion with prominent Black wine professionals.
On April 13, the event will move to Niche Book Bar (1937 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.), a new addition to the Bronzeville area. Attendees will enjoy a rosé tasting while listening to a book talk by author and sommelier Charles Springfield, who will discuss his book, Maneuvering Rosé Wine with Style. Springfield, a Milwaukee native, will sign copies of his book for attendees.
The festival will conclude on April 14 with a special 414 Day Wine Dinner at The Diplomat (815 E. Brady St.), hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner Dane Baldwin. The five-course meal will feature global wine pairings from Kumusha Wines, led by South African winemaker Tinashe Nyamudoka, and will serve as a grand celebration of the city’s rich culinary and wine culture.
Milwaukee Wine Weekend promises to be an unforgettable celebration of wine, diversity, and community, offering something for every wine lover in the city.
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