A Private Wine & Cheese Experience in the Brainerd Lakes Area
Some of the best weekends in the Brainerd Lakes Area are spent together at the lake house, cabin or vacation rental.
So why leave when the experience can come to you?
The UpNorth Social Wine & Cheese Pairing Experience, created in partnership with Bella Wine Girl, brings an elevated, guided tasting directly to your group.
We combine thoughtfully selected wines with high-quality artisan cheeses and accompaniments, personalized styling and an interactive tasting experience designed around the people you’re celebrating.
It’s an especially fun addition to a bachelorette weekend or girls’ trip, but it’s just as fitting for birthdays, couples, an annual friends’ weekend or simply a group that wants to plan something memorable at the lake.
And because we come to you, the experience can take place throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area, including Crosslake, Nisswa, Breezy Point, Pequot Lakes and surrounding communities.
This Isn’t Just Wine and Cheese
Anyone can set out a few bottles of wine and a cheese board.
What makes this different is the thought that goes into how everything works together.
UpNorth Social curates the artisan cheese, charcuterie and accompaniments, while our partner Bella Wine Girl brings the wine expertise and guides your group through the tasting.
You’ll explore why certain wines and cheeses work beautifully together, what changes when you taste them side by side, and how unexpected flavors can completely transform a pairing.
It’s educational without feeling like a class.
There are no wine experts required on the guest list. Ask questions, compare favorites, learn something new or simply enjoy tasting really good wine and food together.
The experience is meant to be fun.
Created Specifically for Your Group
This may be our favorite part.
We don’t want every private tasting to look or feel the same.
Before your event, we learn a little about your group, the occasion and the overall style you’re going for.
Planning a bachelorette weekend? Tell us about the bride.
Is the weekend colorful and playful? Soft and romantic? Elevated and understated? Inspired by the lake? Built around a particular color palette?
Those details can influence how we approach the presentation and finishing touches.
The goal is to create something that feels like it belongs in your weekend, not something we unpack from a box and recreate exactly the same way every time.
High-Quality Ingredients Are Part of the Experience
When you’re tasting wine and cheese side by side, ingredient quality matters.
UpNorth Social is known for thoughtfully sourced artisan cheeses, charcuterie and accompaniments, and we bring that same standard to our private experiences.
The food isn’t there simply to make the table look full.
Each element has a purpose within the tasting.
Bella Wine Girl brings the same intention to the wine, creating pairings that give your group an opportunity to taste wines and foods in a completely different way.
You might discover a cheese you never would have chosen yourself.
You may find a new favorite wine.
Or you may be surprised by what happens when two flavors you wouldn’t have thought to put together suddenly make perfect sense.
That’s what makes a pairing experience so much more interesting than simply opening a bottle of wine.
A Bachelorette Experience That Comes to You
Planning a bachelorette weekend can quickly become a lot of logistics.
Where are we going?
Do we need reservations?
How are 12 people getting there?
Who’s driving?
What time does everyone need to be ready?
A private experience removes all of that.
Whether your group is staying at a lake house in Crosslake, a vacation rental in Nisswa, a cabin near Breezy Point or Pequot Lakes, or elsewhere in the Brainerd Lakes Area, we bring the experience to you.
Spend the day on the lake. Come back to the house. Change if you want to.
Then gather around the table and enjoy an experience that’s already been thoughtfully planned for your group.
No coordinating cars. No moving a large group from one location to another. And no asking one bridesmaid to spend the afternoon grocery shopping, styling food and figuring out what wine goes with what.
Everyone gets to participate.
We Think About the Guests Who Need Something Different, Too
Personalization isn’t only about colors and presentation.
It’s also about making sure the people in your group can actually enjoy the experience.
We ask about dietary restrictions, allergies and sensitivities in advance so we can plan accordingly, including gluten sensitivities.
And wine doesn’t have to be part of the experience for every guest.
If someone is pregnant, doesn’t drink alcohol or simply prefers not to drink, let us know. We can incorporate non-alcoholic wine or other beverage options so that person can still take part in the pairing rather than feeling like the experience wasn’t designed for them.
We’ve hosted a private bachelorette experience for a group of 11 at a Crosslake Airbnb where we accommodated allergies as well as a guest who needed a non-alcoholic option.
Those details aren’t an inconvenience.
They’re part of creating the experience well.
Not Just for Bachelorette Parties
Bachelorette groups are a natural fit, but you certainly don’t need a bride to book a private wine and cheese experience.
It could be the centerpiece of your annual girls’ weekend.
Invite a few couples to the lake house and make the tasting the evening’s entertainment.
Plan one for a milestone birthday or anniversary weekend.
Or gather a group of friends who love good food and wine and want to do something different together.
For couples traveling together, it’s an especially fun alternative to another dinner reservation. You still get the great wine, food and conversation, but there’s an interactive experience built into the evening.
Sometimes you don’t need a traditional reason to celebrate.
You just need the right group of people.
Something Different to Do in the Brainerd Lakes Area
There are plenty of ways to spend a weekend in lake country.
This is for the group looking for something beyond another restaurant reservation or night out.
You get the comfort and privacy of staying where you are, paired with an experience that’s been thoughtfully brought to you.
High-quality artisan food from UpNorth Social. Wine expertise from Bella Wine Girl. Guided pairings. Personalization. Beautiful presentation. And an experience designed specifically for your group.
It’s something we haven’t seen anyone else offering quite like this in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
And that’s exactly what we want it to feel like.
Make One Part of the Weekend Truly Memorable
When you inquire, tell us a little about what you’re planning.
We’ll want to know your date, location, group size, occasion, dietary needs and overall vision or vibe. From there, we can start thinking about what would make the experience feel special for your group.
Whether you’re gathering in Crosslake, Nisswa, Breezy Point, Pequot Lakes or elsewhere in the Brainerd Lakes Area, we’ll help you create an experience that’s about more than what you’re eating and drinking.
It’s about giving everyone a reason to gather around the table, try something new and remember the evening long after the weekend is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring a private wine tasting to our Airbnb or lake house?
Yes. The Wine & Cheese Pairing Experience is designed to come to your group at a lake home, cabin, vacation rental or other private setting.
What areas do you travel to?
Private experiences are available throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area, including Crosslake, Nisswa, Breezy Point, Pequot Lakes and surrounding communities. Specific travel details can be confirmed when you inquire.
Is this a good bachelorette party activity in the Brainerd Lakes Area?
Absolutely. It’s especially well suited to bachelorette groups because the experience comes directly to you and can be personalized around the bride, group and weekend.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Share allergies, dietary restrictions and sensitivities when planning your experience so selections can be thoughtfully adjusted.
What if someone in our group doesn’t drink or is pregnant?
Non-alcoholic wine or other beverage options can be incorporated so everyone can participate in the experience.
Who provides the wine portion of the tasting?
UpNorth Social partners with Bella Wine Girl for wine expertise and the guided tasting component, paired with UpNorth Social’s artisan food, presentation and hospitality.
Is this only for bachelorette parties and large groups?
No. Girls’ weekends, birthdays, couples, anniversaries and smaller gatherings can all be a great fit for a private pairing experience.