By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Sep 13, 2023 at 11:03 AM

“Mark my words - there has never been a tasting like this, anywhere in the entire world. And I am serious, not even in Bordeaux do they put on a tasting like this. This is unique and special, and anyone who has an inkling about wine needs to attend.”

Those are the words that kick off the invitation to attend Waterford Wine & Spirits upcoming Bordeaux Festival, an unprecedented tasting event featuring over 50 Grand Cru Classés all of which are over a decade old and from the same year (2012).

The event will take place at Waterford Wine & Spirits, 2120 N. Farwell Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person and include the tasting, plus an opportunity to purchase any of the featured wines directly from the chateaux in Bordeaux.

"Milwaukee is really punching way above its weight in terms of wine," notes Waterford owner Ben Christiansen. "I've never seen another city put an event like this together."

Some of the 50+ wines that will be featured include: 

  • Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac, AOC Margaux $109.99
  • Château Léoville-Las-Cases, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien $329.99
  • Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe $229.99
  • Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron-de-Pichon, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac $249.99
  • Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux, AOC Margaux $119.99
  • Château Calon-Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe $249.99
  • Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac, AOC Margaux $104.99
  • Château Ferrière, Margaux, AOC Margaux $69.99
  • Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Margaux, AOC Margaux $99.99
  • Château Palmer, Cantenac, AOC Margaux $499.99
  • Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien $249.99
  • Château Pouget, Cantenac, AOC Margaux $79.99
  • Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien $99.99
  • Château Talbot, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien $124.99
  • Château La Tour-Carnet, Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc, AOC Haut-Médoc $64.99
  • Château Camensac, Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc, AOC Haut-Médoc $49.99
  • Château Cantemerle, Macau, AOC Haut-Médoc $54.99
  • Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac $189.99
  • Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac $219.99
  • Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac $64.99

A full listing of the featured wines, as well as a link to purchase tickets, can be found on the Waterford website.

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.