April 11-12: Red Wine Weekend at Old Rittenhouse Inn

Get ready for our upcoming 20th Annual Red Wine Weekend on April 11th and 12th. It’s our chance to share and enjoy fine wines, delicious food, and exceptional lodging in Bayfield WI.  Wine Weekend events are held at Old Rittenhouse Inn’s Le Chateau property, and at the historic Landmark Restaurant at Old Rittenhouse Inn.

Wisconsin wine tasting

The highlight of the weekend is a 6-course Red Wine Dinner with Pinot Noirs specially selected to match each dish by the weekend’s guest host, Gary Binter. This Wisconsin wine tasting weekend promises to be one of the best ever, as Gary unleashes a virtual tidal wave of big, bold reds, smooth and subtle Pinot Noirs, and some rare and uncommon wines from little known grape varieties.

Make It A Weekend
Discount weekend lodging packages include a hearty 2-course breakfast each morning, a Cabernet tasting and appetizer reception (Fri), an afternoon wine tasting and seminar (Sat), and a 6-course Red Wine Dinner (see menu below). Call 715-779-5111 or Book Online to Reserve Your Spot!

Friday Tasting & Appetizer Reception: Cabernet Sauvignon Smack Down
Friday, April 11th from 7:00 – 9:00pm
Friday evening at Le Chateau – 7 Rice Ave, Bayfield WI – brings a Napa vs Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon Smack Down!! Featured wines of the night include St Supery, Buehler, and Frogs Leap from Napa and Decoy, Geyser Peak, and Ferrari Carano from Sonoma. Guests will also enjoy a delicious appetizer buffet with Artisan Cheeses, Potato Crusted Smoked Cheddar Quiche, Bleu Cheese & Thyme Popovers, Grilled Flank Steak with Horseradish Cream, Fig & Fromage Tarts with Caramelized Shallots, Roasted Red Pepper & Crab Dip, and Dark Chocolate Cookies with Raspberry Ganache. The event is included in the Red Wine Weekend Lodging Package, or available a’ la carte for $45/person plus tax and gratuity. Advance Reservations Required for this event. Call 715-779-5111 to Reserve Your Spot!

Red Wine Seminar/Tasting: An Exploration of “Other” Grape Varieties
Saturday, April 12th from 1:30 – 3:30pm
Have a bit of fun on Saturday afternoon with an Exploration of “Other” Grape Varieties. In this fun, informative session, you’ll taste, Heitz, (Grignolino) Napa, Ca Del Sarto, (Nero D Avola) Italy, Lo Nuevo, (Tempranillo) Spain, Primus (Carmenere) Chile, Finca Linda, (Bonarda) Argentina, and Michel Torino (Tannat) Argentina. There will also be a bonus 2-wine blind tasting! This event is included in the Red Wine Weekend Lodging Package, or available a’ la carte for $45/person plus tax and gratuity.Call 715-779-5111 to Reserve Your Spot!

Red Wine Dinner
Saturday, April 12th from 6:30 – 8:30pm
Without a doubt, the highlight of the weekend is the Red Wine Dinner served at Old Rittenhouse Inn’s Landmark Restaurant on Saturday evening featuring one of our favorite wines: Pinot Noir. Each of the 6 courses is accompanied by a different Pinot Noir selected by host, Gary Binter, to compliment the amazing menu created by Chef Matt Chingo. The meal includes an appetizer, soup, salad, sorbet, a choice of entree, and dessert, plus all the wines (see details below. This event is included in the Red Wine Weekend Lodging Package, or available a’ la carte for $75/person plus tax and gratuity.Call 715-779-5111 to Reserve Your Spot!

April 12 Red Wine Dinner Menu
$75/Person plus tax & gratuity

1st Course
Pan Seared Salmon with Red Wine Balsamic Sauce – paired with Decoy, Sonoma

2nd Course
Creamy Swiss Onion – paired with Dipinti, Italy

3rd Course
Crisp Duck Salad with Warm Cherry Vinaigrette, Fennel, Yellow Pepper and Spinach – paired with J, Sonoma

4th Course
Blackberry Sorbet

5th Course
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce and Sweet Potato Ragout – paired with Fess Parker, Sta. Rita Hills
OR
Grilled Yellowfin Tuna with Beurre Rouge and Couscous Primavera – paired with King Estate, Oregon

6th Course
Blueberry and Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake – paired with Sherwood, New Zealand