Featured Photo by Matthieu Joannon
Pepin County Art & Wine Weekend
Art galleries and wineries are the perfect pairing for a relaxing and fun weekend in Pepin County. Along the Wisconsin Great River Road and the Mississippi River, visitors to Pepin County can find a range of art galleries and wineries. Pepin County towns such as Pepin, Stockholm, and nearby Maiden Rock offer beautiful wineries with locally sourced wine options. Plus they are all within a short driving distance and they house a variety of art galleries, making it easy to enjoy a weekend of exploring art galleries and finding a new favorite wine.
BNOX Jewelry Studio
Located in the small river village of Pepin, Wisconsin, BNOX Jewelry Studio is a jewelry gallery that features the work of co-owner Rebecca Johnson and many other local artists who create handcrafted metal jewelry. Rebecca, a metalsmith, creates her pieces by casting objects of nature (many of which she finds in her backyard and around the area) in metal to produce unique pieces that resemble the natural beauty of the Mississippi River Valley and evokes the power and changeability of nature and water. Her gallery also represents other fine jewelers and artists, featuring the work of Judy Knose, Laura Stamper, Lori Braun, Mary Opatz Herges, Wendy Thurlow, and more.
Villa Bellezza Winery
Villa Bellezza Winery in Pepin is a beautiful winery near the Mississippi River that is designed to resemble an Italian village and provide an Old World Winery and vineyard experience. Visitors can enjoy the tasting room, restaurant and piazza during their visit, as well as take in the timeless architecture and magnificent grounds. The large tasting room offers plenty of space to relax and enjoy a wine tasting from their ample wine list, which features wines made from locally grown grapes. Villa Bellezza Winery is a great place to stop between art gallery visits to sit down for a meal and enjoy some fine wines in Pepin County.
Indigo Swan Jewelry & Fine Art
Offering hand-made jewelry and a range of artworks, including mosaic and stained-glass to pottery and paintings, Indigo Swan Jewelry & Fine Art is another gallery to add to a Pepin County art and wine weekend itinerary. Located in Stockholm, WI, the gallery is full of highly original pieces and unique creations visitors may not find anywhere else. Their collection features painted purses, artisan dish towels, woodwork, calligraphy, stained glass, watercolor paintings, and more. The gallery also highlights the jewelry creations of Ann Mooney Design and other jewelers and artisans, creating a selection of casual and fine jewelry.
The Nest Art Gallery & Studio
The Nest Art Gallery & Studio in Maiden Rock is another art gallery Pepin County visitors may want to explore. Beginning as a way to showcase talented local and regional artists’ work, including owner, artist, and entrepreneur Leah Sheldon’s pieces, The Nest Gallery & Studio is a great place to discover and support local artists. Currently supporting 19 Wisconsin and Minnesota artisans, visitors to The Nest can find handmade art items for the home and the body. These pieces include candles, jewelry, pottery, and art works.
Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery
A small, family-owned winery and cidery in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, the Maiden Rock Apples, Winery, and Cidery specializes in ciders, wines, and meads made from locally grown fruits. Known for the quality of their products, visitors can enjoy sampling various ciders, wines, and meads in the Cider Pub & Tasting Room. When trying something new, many opt for flight or glass to sample, but there are also bottles for sale to take home. Maiden Rock Winery and Cidery also offer the rare option of gluten-free ciders, so everyone who visits is able to enjoy their products.
Fresh Art Tour
Travelers who come during October can explore the scenic backroads of Pepin County and the local art scene on the self-guided Fall Fresh Art Tour. The semi-annual tour takes place every spring and fall and guides visitors to home art studios and galleries all throughout the Pepin, Pierce, and Buffalo County countrysides. Each artist who calls this area home will have stories to tell and inspiration to share, as well as pieces of their work. The tour includes 23 different sites and winds through the picturesque fall scenery of Wisconsin, making the drive just as enjoyable as the various sites.