By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Dec 06, 2023 at 6:02 PM

Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.

The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Educators Credit Union, Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors

It’s time to start thinking about the holidays. That means delicious wine, amazing food and incredible parties to enjoy them all.

Among the can’t-miss events for the season is an inaugural tasting event hosted by Voyager, Bay View’s one-of-a-kind wine and cocktail bar.

The wine-tasting showcase, dubbed The End Festival, will take place on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Radio Milwaukee, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave.

The festival is a wine and gourmet food-tasting event with live music from several notable Milwaukee acts, as well as a prime opportunity to purchase signature wines for the holiday season.

Plus, if you buy tickets, you can be one of the cool kids and say things like "See you at The End!" followed by a knowing chuckle.

What to expect

The End will feature over 80 remarkable wines to taste, as well as gourmet snacks and holiday pre-orders such as caviar, champagne and specialty cheeses. Voyager will also be operating a pop-up wine and cocktail bar where guests can enjoy a variety of wines and spirits from event vendors.

“We are taking a traditional wine “taste & buy” event and making it a memorable experience— something fun and a little wilder . . . in typical Voyager fashion,” says Jordan Burich, owner of Voyager Wine & Cocktail Bar. 

“We want to look back on a year of delicious flavors, and present them in a way that is accessible to all, not just for one subset of enthusiasts. Wine events should be fun and convivial . . . and maybe a little bit of dance party. It’s also a great chance to buy some holiday gifts for friends and family, or to treat yourself to something wonderful.”

During the tasting festival, there will be performances by King Courteen, Dark Psychic, and Group of the Altos, along with an all-day record spin by Bill Rouleau of Rush Mör Records.

Advance tickets for The End Festival are currently available online for $35 per person, which includes a complimentary tasting glass, detailed wine notes and discounts at Voyager for wine purchased at the event.

Provided the event does not sell out, tickets will be available for $45 per person at the door.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.