Midwest Wine Fest: An International Wine Experience

Join us in the heart of Cleveland for the Midwest Wine Fest, a vibrant celebration of global wines and wine culture.

Midwest Wine Fest: An International Wine Experience

A weekend for wine lovers in the heart of Downtown Cleveland.

May 1st - May 3rd, 2026

Join us for the highly anticipated return of Midwest Wine Fest: An International Wine Experience! Over three unforgettable days, sip and savor wines from around the world with expert-led tastings, exclusive pairings, and specialty courses designed to elevate your palate. Indulge in elegant wine dinners, enjoy live music, and engage with renowned sommeliers as they guide you through the artistry of winemaking.

All tickets are à la carte. Food and wine samples are included in the ticket price. Customize your weekend experience by choosing the events and expert-led courses that you'd like to attend below.

Weekend Schedule:

Overview:

Friday, May 1st - Welcome Reception | 6:00pm - 9:00pm ($80)
Saturday, May 2nd - Classes & Grand Tasting | 1:30 pm - 5:00pm ($95+)
Saturday, May 2nd - Sommelier Smackdown Dinner | 6pm ($150)
Sunday, May 3rd - Bubbles & Brunch |11am ($75)

Learn More:

Welcome Reception - Friday, May 1st | 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Kick off the weekend with a four course food and wine tasting paired with our partner wineries, including a champagne and charcuterie welcome.

Classes & Grand Tasting - Saturday, May 2nd | 1:30 pm - 5:00pm
$ 95 per person to just attend the Grand Tasting.

$115 - $150 per person for one class and the Grand Tasting.

Enjoy an afternoon of live music by Cinema Talk Band, activities, wine tasting and food samples! If you choose to attend a class, these will be on a first come basis to sign up once you arrive outside of the Freemark Abbey experience. These classes will be breakout sessions happening throughout the event including the following amazing options:

• Bubbles, Bubbles and More Bubbles with Ed Thompkins from Wines, LLC
• What's "Hip" in 2026 with Wes Cowie, Sommelier with Cutting Edge
• Cooking with Wine where you will learn to make your own vinaigrette and taste wines with chef paired food choices
• Sommelier Experience Class - Blend Your Own Wine with Freemark Abbey Blending Kit (Napa, CA) led by Larry O'Brien, Master Sommelier with Jackson Family Wines

We will have amazing vendors, activities for purchase including fishing for caviar, wine bottle ring toss and more, and a wine themed Kentucky Derby competition throughout the day for all to enjoy!

Bubbles, Bubbles and More Bubbles Class led by Ed Thompkins with Wines, LLC - Saturday, May 2nd | 1:30 pm

$115 per person (includes Grand Tasting)

Enjoy all details of the Grand Tasting along with a breakaway class to taste Bubbles from around the world. Not all bubbles come from Champagne, France, did you know that?! After this class, you will and you may even have some new favorites! Sign up is on a first come basis!

Grand Tasting - Enjoy 40+ wines to sample along with lite bites. Live Music will be playing throughout the event and there will be a number of fun activities to choose to participate in including Fishing for Caviar, Live Painting, Wine Ring Bottle Toss and more. The first 50 tickets sold will receive complimentary swag at check in! All tickets receive a wine tasting guide to follow along with and make notes. ALL wine will be available for purchase at a discounted retail rate during the event!

What's "Hip" in 2026 Class led by Wes Cowie, Sommilier with Cutting Edge - Saturday, May 2nd | 1:30 pm

$115 per person (includes Grand Tasting and Entertainment)

Enjoy all details of the Grand Tasting along with a breakaway class for tasting best of 2026 varietals and learning about grapes from these wines. You will leave this class learning about some wines you didn't know existed and we guarantee with a new patio favorite to sip on this summer! Sign up is on a first come basis.

Grand Tasting - Enjoy 40+ wines to sample along with lite bites. Live Music will be playing throughout the event and there will be a number of fun activities to choose to participate in including Fishing for Caviar, Live Painting, Wine Ring Bottle Toss and more. The first 50 tickets sold will receive complimentary swag at check in! All tickets receive a wine tasting guide to follow along with and make notes. ALL wine will be available for purchase at a discounted retail rate during the event!

Cooking with Wine Class - Saturday, May 2nd | 1:30 pm

$115 per person (includes Grand Tasting)

Enjoy all details of the Grand Tasting along with a breakaway class for learning how to cook with wine. You will enjoy sipping on select wine while a chef teaches you different techniques in cooking with wine. You will also make a wine based vinaigrette to take home with you! Sign up is on a first come basis!

Grand Tasting - Enjoy 40+ wines to sample along with lite bites. Live Music will be playing throughout the event and there will be a number of fun activities to choose to participate in including Fishing for Caviar, Live Painting, Wine Ring Bottle Toss and more. The first 50 tickets sold will receive complimentary swag at check in! All tickets receive a wine tasting guide to follow along with and make notes. ALL wine will be available for purchase at a discounted retail rate during the event!

A Sommelier Experience Class - Make Your Own Blend with Freemark Abbey Blending Kit (Napa, CA) led by Larry O'Brien, Master Sommelier with Jackson Family Wines

$150 per person (includes Grand Tasting)

Enjoy a sommelier led class featuring Freemark Abbey Napa wines! In this class you will receive an official Freemark Abbey blending kit. Larry O'Brien, Master Sommelier, will teach you how to use different varietals of wine to curate your very own blend! This is a class not to miss!!

Grand Tasting - Enjoy 40+ wines to sample along with lite bites. Live Music will be playing throughout the event and there will be a number of fun activities to choose to participate in including Fishing for Caviar, Live Painting, Wine Ring Bottle Toss and more. The first 50 tickets sold will receive complimentary swag at check in! All tickets receive a wine tasting guide to follow along with and make notes. ALL wine will be available for purchase at a discounted retail rate during the event!

Wine Expert Smackdown Dinner - Saturday, May 2nd | 6pm

$150 per person (includes tax & gratuity)

This dinner will be one for the books. We will have 2 wine experts, {{master sommelier Larry O'Brien with Jackson Family Wines and wine expert Doug Miller with Lux Wines}}, selecting wines for each of 5 courses for you to blind taste and vote on! After each course, the experts will talk about the wines they chose and why and we will announce which wine was the crowd favorite. The wine expert to take a win from 3 of the 5 courses takes home the trophy! Menu created from Chef Eric Hess with Sora and Chef Chris Enyon frmo Lago.

Bubbles & Brunch - Sunday, May 3rd | 11am

$75 per person (includes gratuity)

Ticket includes:

- Tasting of four select bubbles, including a welcome champagne

- 3 Course Brunch along with Fruit, Cheese & Scones

Hosted at Sora under the beautiful cherry blossom tree. Entertainment by DJ Bobby Booshay, best dressed "Derby Style" competition, and more!

Refund Policy

All tickets are final sale. If you are no longer able to attend, you may transfer your tickets to another person. To transfer tickets to another person, please email ally@salernogroup.com. Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable. Due to the preparation and programming for this event, absolutely no exceptions can be made regarding the refund policy.

Questions? Please email events@lagoeastbank.com