By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Jun 13, 2019 at 1:01 PM

Last summer, we brought you the story of Stringer Cellars, a burgeoning winery in West Bend, Wisconsin. At the time, they’d just released their very first rosé, a 100 percent direct press pinot noir from Santa Barbara County.

Since that time, winemaker Casey Stringer realized that making wine in California made more sense than bringing California grapes to Wisconsin. So, today Stringer Cellars is part of Grand Cru Custom Crush, a state-of-the-art cooperative winemaking facility in Windsor, California, in the heart of Sonoma County. The move has opened doors for the winery, which can now make wine from more grape varietals, as well as expose their wines to a larger audience.

Nonetheless, the heart of Stringer Cellars will always lie in Milwaukee. And Wisconsin remains a primary market for their wines.

Taste their wines!

In an effort to maintain their Milwaukee connections, Stringer will be hosting a very special pop-up tasting event on Tuesday, June 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 1840 Brewing Co., 342 E. Ward St. in Bay View.

The event will feature both core wines and new releases including (but not limited to):
2018 Rosé of Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2017 John Sebastiano Vineyard Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
2018 Metal Bender Sauvignon Blanc
2016 Metal Bender Red
2016 Harrison-Clarke Vineyard Syrah Ballard Canyon
2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Light snacks will also be provided.

A tasting fee of $20 per person will be charged at the door; however, the fee can be applied to a purchase of two or more bottles of wine. Reservations are required. Email info@stringercellars.com to secure your spot at this private tasting.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

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 every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, 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.