- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
Somewhere past Maiden Rock, there’s a turn off Highway 35 where the road leaves the Mississippi behind and follows the Rush River up into a narrow green valley. The cell signal gets spotty, the farms get closer together, and just when you start to wonder if you missed it, you come around a bend and there it is: strings of lights over an open-air pavilion, bonfires crackling on the lawn and a few hundred people who all look extremely happy to be exactly where they are.
That’s Vino in the Valley. It’s dinner outdoors, start to finish, in the middle of the countryside, and 2026 was its 20th season. Owners Larry Brenner and Julie Karlstad have built something you can’t really compare to anywhere else, and if you’ve never been, here’s everything I’d tell you before your first visit.
There’s no dining room here. You’ll eat in an open-sided pavilion with roll-down curtains for cool nights, or at tables out on the lawn. When you arrive, put your name in at the host stand, and they’ll hand you a buzzer. Then grab a glass of wine at the outdoor bar, wander down toward the river and wait for it to go off. Once you’re seated, a server takes care of you from there.
Here’s the honest truth: on a summer Saturday, the wait can be long, sometimes an hour or more. Nobody minds, because the waiting is half the fun, but if you’re hungry, arrive early.
Everybody does, and you should too. The Brick Oven Italian Nachos come piled with tricolor chips, mozzarella, Italian sausage, tomatoes, green and banana peppers and black olives, finished with garlic Parmesan cream. Order them for the table the minute you sit down.
The pasta list is where Vino really shines. The Spicy Shrimp and Andouille Linguini is the one regulars talk about most. If you like something a little more unexpected, the Portabella Mushroom Ravioli comes with leeks, dried cherries and spinach in a vodka cream with a drizzle of white truffle oil. The Butternut Squash Ravioli with bacon, nutmeg and allspice in garlic alfredo tastes like fall in a bowl. And then there’s the Tortellini “Larry’s Favorite,” with onions, mushrooms, peas and ham in garlic Parmesan cream. Gluten-free pasta is available for any of them.
The pizzas come in two sizes and are big enough to share. The Margherita and the Farmer’s Market are classic picks, or build your own.
Desserts come from local bakers, including cheesecakes from FA Cheesecakes in Hager City and Amma’s Pies from Ellsworth. There’s also a gluten-free flourless chocolate torte and a tiramisu.
On Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Vino puts out a pasta buffet, and it’s a great way to try a little of everything.
Start with the house-label wines, which are made with cold-hardy Midwestern grapes and named for the valley. Moonlight Whisper is a crisp white made entirely from Minnesota La Crescent. Lost Creek Sunset is sweet and pink. Rush River Red is a semi-dry blend of Marquette and Merlot. Beyond those, there are about 30 wines from around the world, plus a Prosecco bottled just for the 20th anniversary.
Don’t rush off. Walk down to the Rush River, then find a chair by one of the bonfires and stay a while. New for 2026, a water feature with ponds, waterfalls and seating replaced the old grapevines, and it’s a lovely spot to sit with the last of your wine. On a warm summer night, with music drifting across the lawn and the valley going dark around you, it’s very hard to leave.
Vino fills its season with live music and special weekends, and they’re worth planning a trip around.
Right next door, the Rush River Tree Farm sells choose-and-cut and fresh-cut Christmas trees, including balsam, Fraser fir, Canaan and white pine from about 5 to 10 feet tall, along with wreaths, swags and spruce tips. In past years, Vino has opened for a few Christmas weekends around Thanksgiving and early December, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, tractor-drawn wagon rides around the vineyard, cookie decorating for the kids, pizza, Italian nachos and chicken wild rice soup, all under a heated pavilion. Watch their website for this year’s dates. It’s a wonderful way to pick out your tree.
Before you leave, stop in the gift shop for Vino in the Valley shirts and blankets, etched wine glasses and a bottle or two of the house wine. It’s the best souvenir of the night.
Turn dinner at Vino into a full day on the Great River Road. Start with breakfast in Prescott, then drive south along the Mississippi. Hike Maiden Rock Bluff for the view over the river, stop for pie in Stockholm and arrive in the valley in time for dinner. Our Wineries & Wine Tastings guide has more stops along the way.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
