Kohler Food & Wine Experience Guide — Kohler, Wisconsin Events and Tickets

I want to thank The Kohler Company for sponsoring and hosting me at The American Club Resort and the 2016 Kohler Food and Wine Experience. All opinions and photography (unless otherwise noted) are — as always — my own.

I’ve traveled widely, yet until last month I didn’t realize Wisconsin is home to a 5-Star, 5-Diamond resort just across Lake Michigan from where I grew up. I was delighted to be invited to the 2016 Kohler Food and Wine Experience in Kohler, Wisconsin in October, and it exceeded every expectation.

Kohler is impressive in so many ways. It began as a company town for The Kohler Company — yes, the same company known for faucets, sinks, fixtures, and more. The American Club Resort Hotel, where I stayed, began as housing for skilled immigrant workers who helped build Kohler’s ceramics reputation. During a tour of the Kohler Company Museum I learned the dormitory offered an in-house barbershop, English tutors, and citizenship classes, with the company supporting families who wanted to pursue naturalization. That sense of care carries through today: employees at The American Club, The Kohler Waters Spa, and the town’s restaurants clearly take pride in Kohler, which only made me appreciate both the company and the community even more.

My introduction to the town came at a chocolate and brandy tasting where Herb Kohler introduced Kohler Dark Chocolate Brandy. If you love chocolate, this is worth trying — it’s not cloyingly sweet like many chocolate liqueurs and will make a wonderful holiday mixer. The affection locals have for Kohler was obvious when Mr. Kohler sat at the local market to sign bottles; one guest bought a dozen to give as gifts, and the line wound out the door.

Photo of Amanda Freitag and Rebecca Lindamood by Becky Hardin

The Kohler Food and Wine Experience blends refinement and fun. If you love exceptional food and wine and don’t mind bumping into celebrity chefs like Aaron Sanchez and Amanda Freitag, this event delivers. One personal highlight was meeting Amanda Freitag and exchanging books with her—she’s as warm and gracious in person as she is on television.

The Taste of the Vine scene was extraordinary. Two floors of Destination Kohler chefs served small plates alongside some of the finest wines I’ve sampled at a tasting.

Many tasting stations were integrated with the permanent displays in the Kohler Design Center. I sat in a beautifully appointed show bathroom beside a whirlpool tub, enjoying a grilled bulgogi skewer on kimchi with a magnificent Pinot Noir. The setting was so comfortable I almost ran a bath. A couple of days later I returned to the Design Center to wander and admire the curated rooms and fixtures. Testing shower heads and faucets inspired a small kitchen DIY idea I’m planning to implement at home.

Over the next two days my travel companions Sommer (A Spicy Perspective), Becky (The Cookie Rookie), and Katerina (Diethood) and I explored every corner of Kohler we could.

Photo of Rebecca Lindamood shooting by Sommer Collier

We tried trap shooting, toured the striking Straits at Whistling Straits golf course, dined at as many Kohler village restaurants as time allowed, experienced treatments at The Kohler Waters Spa, and soaked in the autumnal beauty of Wisconsin in October. The weekend was filled with indulgence and discovery.

Whistling Straits deserves special mention. We enjoyed a meal at the clubhouse at sunset and watched the wind-swept, links-style course meet the shore of Lake Michigan. The dramatic landscape feels like a rugged European coast line and is the reason Whistling Straits has hosted multiple PGA Championships and was slated for the Ryder Cup in 2020.

After a morning at the spa and a light lunch in the lounge, I felt completely relaxed and pampered. The Kohler Waters Spa alone could justify a weekend getaway for anyone seeking rest and restoration.

I also discovered life-changing fried cheese curds at The Horse & Plow — a dish I’ll be sharing more about soon. It’s the kind of comfort food that makes a trip memorable.

Start Planning your Destination Kohler Experience Today!

I’m already planning my return for the Kohler Food and Wine Experience in October 2017, and there are events throughout the year if you don’t want to wait. Destination Kohler hosts a variety of culinary experiences year-round, including Chef’s Table dinners, Demonstration Kitchen sessions, and kids’ cooking classes. Major upcoming food-focused events for 2017 included:

Read my travel buddies’ accounts of our trip, too!

Katerina of Diethood

Again, a huge thank you to The Kohler Company for sponsoring and hosting me at The American Club Resort and the 2016 Kohler Food and Wine Experience. All opinions and photography (unless otherwise noted) are — as always — my own.