Kohler Food & Wine Experience – October 22 – 25, 2015
With the cool nip in the morning air and the change of seasons quickly approaching, it’s time to make fall travel plans. If you haven’t visited the Midwest and in particular, Wisconsin, then you should consider traveling to Kohler for their 15th annual Kohler Food & Wine Experience.
The original factory building at Kohler
Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Wisconsin
The leaves were still beautiful in late October
If you’ve attended other food and wine festivals, you have probably been to the tasting tents, seminars, and cooking demonstrations. While Kohler offers these as well, this is a complete 4-day destination and culinary learning experience. It’s no wonder a visit to this town is referred to as Destination Kohler. With celebrity guest chefs (Jacques Pépin and his daughter Claudine will be here for their 4th appearance at the event), renowned winemakers (such as Stags Leap and Grgich Hills), interactive cooking demonstrations, and signature events and dinners, it’s still small enough that you have the opportunity to meet and chat with the culinary talent and beverage professionals, but large enough to provide a breadth of culinary experiences.
Some of the dining options during the event
One of the tasting venues at the Inn on Woodlake
Wine Tasting with Sean Barrett of Grgich Hills
Grgich Hills makes delicious wines
If you don’t like wine, there are plenty of spirits
You can sample them, too
When you think of Wisconsin, green grassy pastures dotted with cows, cheese (probably cheddar or cheese curds), and beer (lots of it) and brats probably come to mind. And yes, the state is home to many cows as Wisconsin is the No. 1 producer of cheese in the United States and the No. 2 producer of milk. They are also known as the Swiss Cheese Capital of the World (not Switzerland). And while they’re the No. 4 largest consumer of beer in the country, they are known for other foods and beverages as well. Their fresh cherries are used by producers for usual food items (such as dried cherries), but they also create wines and liqueurs from the fruit. And one final surprising fact, Wisconsin is the largest producer of cranberries in the U.S. (almost 60% of the supply).
You can contribute to the No. 4 beer consumption ranking at The Horse & Plow
Several of the products made with Wisconsin cherries
Sample regional foods at The American Club Resort
