Upcoming events.
Thelma Carol Wine hosts a variety of unique events and collaborations every month, including a casual, no-reservations needed tasting every Thursday.
New here at TC: On Mondays, join us for a Wee Swally!
$3 off wines by the glass, $10 cocktails, and 10% all wine retail.
Check our calendar below for the most recent update of monthly happenings.
We look forward to hosting you!
September Pause: Special Hours
Friends & Lovers - we are taking our annual autumn pause this coming September, with limited hours during our time away. Please take note of the following days/times the shop will be open and/or closed:
Thursday September 10th: Closed
Friday September 11th: Closed
Saturday September 12th: Closed
Monday, September 14th: Open 2pm to 8pm. Join us for Wee Swally Mondays!
Tuesday, September 15th: Open 2pm to 8pm.
Wednesday, September 16th: Closed
Thursday, September 17th: Closed
Friday, September 18th: Closed
Saturday, September 19th: Open 2pm to 9pm.
Winery Focus: Tenuta del Buonamico
It is the last Thursday of the month, so a winery focus it must be!
Join us tonight as we taste through one of our favourite Tuscan producers, Tenuta del Buonamico. Dating back to the 1960s, Tenuta del Buonamico has a rich history of producing exceptional wines that highlight the unique and beautiful expressions of the Montecarlo region. Come taste through 5 of their offerings; one white, one rose, a bubble, and two reds.
$22/person. No reservations needed.
Photo c/o Buonamico Estate.
Vermouth & Amaro
October is here at last friends and lovers. Join us on this special first Thursday tasting of our favourite month here at Thelma Carol. Tonight we will be revisiting the highly-requested Vermouth and Amaro tasting, with 5 pours highlighting these unique and complex pours from Italy and Spain. White, red, and perhaps a rose? We will see.
$21/person. No reservations needed. List to come!
Celebrating Syrah
Tonight we explore Syrah the beautiful.
Easily in our top 5 most-favourite red varietals, Syrah is a hardy, inky grape planted the world over. Northern hemisphere, Southern hemisphere, east, west - you will find Syrah in most wine-producing countries - yet with massively different tasting notes based on climate, weather, terrior, and age. Join us tonight as we taste through 5 iterations of this pretty pretty, very autumn-friendly wine.
$24/person. No reservations needed.
Champagne, of course: It's our 10th Wedding Anniversary!
October 15th marks our 10th wedding anniversary; we would love for you to come celebrate with us!
Champagne tonight, but of course. 5 gorgeous champers to enjoy with you all - plus an special open of one of one or two of our favourite varietals (red or white, we will see!) - just for the fun of it.
$25/person. No reservations needed.
Annual October Orange Wine Tasting
Our annual October Orange wine tasting is back! Join us as we explore 5 delicious skin-contact offerings from around the world. From the clean and crisp to the funky funk, this will be a fun tasting to explore how white grapes change when left on the skins.
$23/person. List to come!
4th Annual Wee Franc Fest
The veil shall wane, and here at Thelma Carol we are bringing Franc Fest back from the dead.
She’s back for the 4th year in a row!
Join us on 10.29 for a special mini wine festival, where we will pour 10+ different Cabernet Francs to celebrate this special evening of the year. Franc Fest was our first large-scale tasting at TC (back in October 2022!) and it was a huge, delicious success. We are thrilled to bring a wee version of that evening on Thursday, October 29th this year.
$35/person, 10+ pours. 6pm to 8pm. List to come!
All black attire highly encouraged.
Vin Royale Deux; an evening with Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Burgundy, & Bordeaux
Early morning fogs creeping through the hilly vineyards of Piemonte. Bright sunshine radiating off the ancient walls of a Tuscan village, the aroma of cypress and olives lingering in the air. A quiet croissant within a low stone-marked Pinot Noir clos.
Let us transport you for the second year(!) to some of Europe's most famed and beloved wine making regions for an unparalleled tasting: Vin Royale; an evening with Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Burgundy, and Bordeaux.
This level of quality is rarely showcased in one single event so please join us for THE high end tasting of 2026. Save 10% on your purchases and stock up on holiday gifts for friends or bottles for your cellar.
Tickets are $95/person. Entry includes small bites and 20+ pours at 3 tasting stations.
Event runs 5pm to 8pm. 21+ to attend.
Bubbles for Back to School
Summer is nearing her final days and the school year is upon us - let’s pop some sparkling in celebration of a great year ahead! Join us tonight as we taste through 5 exciting bubbles from the world-over.
Teachers receive an extra 5% off on all wine retail the night of!
$22/person. No reservations needed.
An Evening with Pablo Achurra, owner of Andes Cru of Chile
Join us for a special additional & FREE tasting this week as we explore new Chilean wines to the Milwaukee market! Meet and greet the owner, Pablo Achurra, of Andes Cru wine as we taste through 4 of his exceptional offerings:
Pais, Cabernet, Carménère, and an Orange Muscatel, brand new to our shop and city.
5:00pm to 7:30pm. No reservations needed .
Winery Focus: Longridge Wine
Come with us for the last tasting of August as we explore the astoundingly beautiful wines of Longridge of South Africa along with the Importer.
Operating since 1841, Longridge produces elegant, biodynamic wines in the Stellenbosch. They specialize in varietals suitable for their mountain-base, Atlantic air, and soil.Their diverse offerings are sure to please any palate.
Chenin Blanc
Basket & Barrel Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
“Skebenga” Red Blend
Jasper Raats “The Raincatcher” Red
$23/person. No reservations needed. 6pm to 8pm.
An Evening with Dingle Distillery
Coming off the heels of our favourite festival (can you guess which one?!) - we are thrilled to announce this special tasting tonight with Dingle Distillery; an exceptional establishment from County Kerry in Ireland. Join us and a distillery representative to taste through their gin, vodka, a few Irish single malts.
$21/person. No reservations needed. 6pm to 8pm.
Mountain, Vale, Foothill, Plain; an evening with the wines of Austria, Czechia, Slovenia, Croatia, Georgia, & Hungary
Thelma Carol Wine is thrilled to announce our third-large scale tasting of the year: Mountain, Vale, Foothill, Plain; an evening with wines from Austria, Czechia, Slovenia, Croatia, Georgia, & Hungary
For our summer tasting, please join us for a journey through central and eastern Europe as we taste the offerings from six special wine-producing countries. This is a tasting to expand your varietal knowledge and experience unique offerings from a vast amount of differentiating terroirs, climates, and cultures. Whites, reds, and bubble or two of course!
Saturday, August 15th | 5pm to 8pm
$70/person includes 20+ pours & small bites.
Reserve your spot here today
La Plage, bien sûr: Summer in the South of France
Grab your sunglasses and headscarf, we are journeying to the south of France tonight for our second Thursday tasting of August.
Frequently daydreaming of all things fabulous & French? Us too… come with tonight as we taste through the south of France - the perfect way to help beat the heat. Expect to see a bit of everything in this lineup - c’est magnifique.
Domaine d'Eole Coteaux de Aix-en-Provence Reserve Gardians Rouge
Domaine le Galantin Bandol Rouge
Domaine Gassier Nostre Pais blanc
Commanders de la Bargemone Blanc
Domaine de Triennes Sainte Fleur Viognier
Henri Gaillard Cotes de Provence rose
$23/person. No reservations needed. 6pm to 8pm.
Chill-able Reds & Cute Kitty Meet n’ Greet with Cats @ Large
There is no better time than in the warmth of the summer sun to enjoy a chill-able red. Whether you’re adding ice to your glass or sticking the whole bottle in the fridge, tonight’s tasting will feature a selection of red wines perfect for chilling down on a relaxing summer day.
In addition to our tasting, Cats at Large will be onsite with kittens(!) ready to meet you, and perhaps find their forever home! Come cuddle with these cuties and learn more about how you can adopt.
On deck:
Dluhe Grefty Rosa Mixtura
Three Wine Faux Pas
Telhas Palhete do Tareco
Division Big Chill
Zeni Mr Lake Bardolino
$20/person. No reservations needed. 6pm to 8pm.
Winery Focus: Bodegas Bhilar
Boutique and biodynamic beauties tonight. Join us as we taste through 5 offerings from the special and unique Bodegas Bhilar of Rioja Alavesa in the Basque. Bhilar’s husband and wife team, David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman, focus on native varietals such as Graciano and Garnacha, Macabeo and Viura. With their a deep love for the soul of the land they till, Bhilar’s biodynamic and terrior-driven wines are sure to impress.
Bhilar Lagrimas Graciano
Bhilar Rioja Blanco
Bhilar Rioja Tinto
Bhilar Rioja Phincas
Eterea Kripan Rioja Phinca Hapa Blanco
$24/person. 6pm to 8pm.
It's a Wonderful July; a Thelma Carol Christmas Cocktail Soiree
Alert the press! We are opening on a Sunday!
Join us for a special Sunday for It’s a Wonderful July; a Thelma Carol Christmas Cocktail Soiree. Who does’t love a little holiday cheer in the sunshine? It’s Christmas in July, and we are throwing a cocktail soiree for you all.
The fete will embrace Frank Capra’s 1946 It’s a Wonderful Life, a favourite in the Button-Hall household. Themed cocktails, lite snacks, and festive cheer of course!
Vintage attire with a holiday twist is highly encouraged - get a little dolly for some festive fun in sun with us!
2026 Patio Pounders
Join us tonight for our annual summer patio pounder tasting! These five wines are our choice for all your patio, boat, lake-side, or forest dwelling needs: Budget friendly, crushable, and delicious. Think whites, roses, a bubble, and perhaps a chill-able red.
On deck:
Filipa Pato 3B Sparkling
Chalmers Col Fondo Aglianico PetNat
Leth Roter Veltliner Klassik
Ostatu Rosado
Wonderland Ranch Red
$20/person. 6pm to 8pm.
Thelma Carol Turns Four!
We are turning FOUR this year, and we want to celebrate with all you friends and lovers!!
Join us for wine and cocktail specials, good tunes, and a few complimentary bites because we love you so much.
No tickets, just come as you are. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!
$20 and under for Summer*
The heat may be a bit oppressive for us northerners, but that doesn’t mean your wine budget needs to be!
Join us tomorrow, July 9th as we taste through 6 delicious, budget-friendly wines for your summer sipper. ALL bottles will be $20 or less; the perfect little pick-me-up for an easy-summer day with friends.
Vignobles Simian Mon P’Tit Camion Vermentino
Balnea Rueda Verdejo
Two Mountain Rose
Zaha Calcaire Brut Reserve
Tenuta la Presa Montebaldo Bardolino
Subterranean Los Olivos District Pinot Noir
$17/person. No reservations needed.
6pm to 8pm.
*This tasting is replacing the Viognier tasting as previously planned.
Bubbly for Birthday; a sparkling tasting
Happiest July and happiest (early) birthday to the lady of the shop! Join us tonight for our first tasting of the month, 100% celebratory, 100% sparkling. Champagne, of course - & a few exciting new offerings to the shop.
$25/person. 6pm to 8pm. List to come soon!
Porrón Party ft. Spanish Summer Wines
Ok friends! Let’s party. Join us on the patio tonight to taste through 4 summer spanish wines, and take a crack at the fantastic and fabulously fun porrón.
Originating in Catalan, the porrón is a glass invention iconic to Spain, where each person may share the same vessle without touching it to their lips (very 2020 friendly, no?!). It is not the easiest, but it is certianly the most fun.
To add to the fun, Jerel will be grilling up Butifarra sausages, specially made for us tonight by the wonderful Adam of Groppis. Sausages will be served with fresh Romesco sauce & grilled bread. $7/order.
Wines on offer tonight:
Can Feixes Blanc Seleccio
Josep Grau Montsant Volador
Pere Mata Cava Cupada Rose
Bardos Verdejo
$18/person to taste. Free to try the porrón! No reservations needed. 6pm to 8pm.
Wines of Luxembourg
We. Are. So. Excited. About. This. Tasting!!
Brand new to the MKE market, join us tonight to taste through 5 wines from beautiful Luxembourg. We have been waiting for bottle offerings from this special country for years, and we cannot be more thrilled they are here now in WI, and we get to share them with you tonight.
A few whites, a rose, one red - this will be a great night to explore offerings you may have never tried before.
$23/person. No reservations needed. List to come!
Vinho Verde Staycation
She’s easy, She’s breezy, She’s beautiful Vinho Verde. Join us on June 11th as we taste through 5 gorgeous little wines from this famous and special northern Portugal region.
Yes, vinho verde means “green wine”, but it more specifically translates to “young wine”. Vinho Verde is a region, and has no specific single varietal - it may even be red or rose! Often coming in at a lower ABV, VV is an absolute perfect wine for patio sipping, dinner preparation, boat days, and beyond. Plus, the retail price is always easy, breezy when it comes to Vinho Verde.
Join us to taste through mainly the white version, plus one rose and red for diversity:
Arca Nova Rose
Quinta do Ermizio VV
Casa do Valle Branco
Mendes & Symington Alvarinho+Avesso
Casa do Valle Tinto
$17/person. No reservations needed.
2025 Rose Launch
Woot woot! Zee fresh and fun roses have landed and are here for our summer pleasure.
Join us as we taste through SIX new 2025 vintages. If you haven’t dusted off your patio furniture yet, perhaps this tasting will give you that patio pep-in-your-step you’ve been waiting for.
On deck:
Moreaux Sancerre Cuvee es Lys Rose of Pinot Noir
Domaine Dozon Le Petit Chemin Rose Cab Franc
Domaine de Cristol Cotes de Provence
Botanica Big Flower Rose of Petit Verdot
Dyckerhoff Reuilly Petit Gris
$20/person. No reservations needed.
A Piña By Any Name: An Agave Spirits Labelling Seminar and Tasting with Lou Bank
Lou Bank is back! This time we’re talking through labelling regulations, laws, and rules across all agave spirits, including Tequila, Mezcal, Raicilla, and Bacanora. The tasting will highlight well-known, smaller producers and Lou will give an in-depth class on just how things need to be labelled to be considered “official,” what happens for producers who don’t follow the rules, and what to expect from the industry moving forward.
As always, a portion of the ticket sales and any bottles sold tonight will go directly to Lou’s non-profit, SACRED Agave.
$40/person. 21+ to attend.
SOLD OUT: Sera di Primavera; a spring Italian Wine Tasting
Sweet scents of the early morning dew creeping through the hilly vineyards of Piemonte. Rich waves radiating off the coasts near an ancient Calabrian village. The aroma of cypress and olives, sunshine and cornflower, orchids and vine - all lingering in the air. Spring has arrived in Italy, and here at Thelma Carol we are ready to celebrate.
Thelma Carol Wine presents Sera di Primavera - a very special spring event celebrating the wines of Italy.
Join us on the 30th of May for a decadent evening, featuring 20+pours from our favourite of countries; Italia. Tonight we will span as many northern and southern regions as possible, with a focus on fresh spring flavours and profiles. Whites, reds, rose, bubbles - this tasting will have them all.
$70/person includes all pours and lite bites. Advance tickets are required. Event runs 5pm to 8pm. 21+ to attend.
This event is sold out for 2026.
Winery Focus: Raventos i Blanc & Can Sumoi
Our focus tonight is on the dynamic, edgy, and defiant wines of Raventos i blanc. Hailing from Penedes, the Raventos family was responsible for introducing the Champagne method to this region; wines now commonly referred to as Cava. The man in charge, Pepe, has also been making delicious still wines (Can Sumoi) from local grapes and we’ll taste these as well.
Come taste tradition made possible by a true rebel.
Blanc de Blancs
Brut Rose “de Nit”
Can Sumoi Ancestral Montonega
Can Sumoi Garnatxa Blanco
Can Sumoi Rosado “La Rosa”
Can Sumoi Sumoll / Garnatxa
$26/person. No reservations needed.
TC 2026 Patio Day 1 & Hazelwood Farm Floral & Seedling Sale
Join us for the first day of the TC patio 2026, with our girl Julia from Hazelwood Farm for a special Memorial Day weekend floral and seedling sale!
Julia will be bringing fresh cut florals and seedlings, including:
Chamomile
Snapdragons
Viola/Pansies
Everlasting Flowers
Nasturtium
Marigolds
Cerinthe
Orange
Geranium
Portulaca
Hibiscus
Pineapple Sage
Hollyhocks
Lavender
Zinnia
Bee Balm
Assorted Herbs
We will also be revealing the first iteration of our summer spritz library, which was a huge success last year!
Floral sale runs 1pm to 4pm.
TC is open regular hours, 12pm to 9pm.
A Night with Angela Maculan of Cantina Maculan
Since the 1940’s the Maculan family has been growing grapes and producing superbly-made wines in the hills of the Veneto. Located an hour northwest of Venice, Cantina Maculan makes a range of wines from indigenous varietals.
Tonight we are very lucky to have one of the owners, Angela, with us to taste through her fantastic wines.
On offer:
"Pino & Toi" Bianco
"Brentino" Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon
"Palazzotto" Cabernet Sauvignon
"Dindarello" Mosato Passito
$19/person. No reservations needed.
Lambrusco for Haters
Hey yah, haters, we’re back! Join us for the third of the series, this time highlighting the delectable, polarizing Lambrusco.
Love it or hate it, Lambrusco hits the spot for many wine drinkers - it has for years, and will continue to. It is also amongst the best wines for pairing with salumi, bbq, and pizza.
Join us tonight as we taste through several drier iterations of this fabulous, frothy Emilia-Romagna staple. We can’t wait to change your mind about this sparkling oldie, but goodie.
Lini 910 Labrusca Bianco Secco
Cleto Chiarli Brut Rosé de Noir
De Vecci Reggiano DOC
Cavicchioli Vigna del Cristo di Sorbara DOC
Cleto Chiarli “Pruno Nero” Modena DOC
$19/person. No reservations needed.
Chenin Blanc Spotlight
We’re kicking off the month of May with another varietal focus: Chenin Blanc. This wildly diverse and adaptable French varietal, planted the world over, comes in many distinct and delicious forms. From crisp and refreshing to sparkling, to austere and intellectual: Chenin Blanc offers something for all drinkers and occasions. Join us tonight for 5 iterations of this special white grape.
Jean Michel Gautier Vouvray Brut (FR)
Beau Joubert Potter’s Wheel (South Africa)
Husch Chenin Blanc (CA)
Bernard Baudry Chinon Blanc (FR)
Chateau de l'Eperonniere Savennieres 'Croix Picot'
$23/person. No reservations needed.
West Coast Pinot Noir
From Russian River and the Central Coast in California, all the way up to Oregon, Pinot Noir has become one of the most important grapes to the West Coast wine industry. We’ll explore the subtle changes in profile from location to location, and we’ll also ask/answer hard questions about how some US companies have used marketing and chemicals to redefine what Pinot can or should be.
Annabella (Russian River, Sonoma Co.)
Folktale Estate (Arroyo Seco)
The Paring (Santa Barbara)
Elevee Winegrowers Madrona Hill (OR)
Chehalem Willamette Valley (OR)
$23/person. No reservations needed.
Winery Focus: Luberri, Rioja Alavesa at it's Finest
This month’s winery focus is on Rioja Alavesa’s Luberri. What is Rioja Alavesa? It’s the smallest of the three winemaking regions of Rioja, situated at fairly high elevations. Luberri itself is helmed by Florentino Martínez Monje, and the winery is run with his wife, María José, and their two daughters. Truly a family undertaking…with amazing results.
Tonight we taste through 5 wines that will give you a perfect picture of the area’s character.
2024 Rioja Blanco "Zuri"
2023 Rioja "Orlegi" Joven
2023 Rioja "Seis"
2020 Rioja "Biga" Crianza
2015 Grand Reserva
$21/person. 6-8pm. No reservations needed.
Zinfandel / Primitivo
Inky, robust, peppery, and floral: this is Zinfandel. Cookout season is now officially upon us, and Zin is easily one of the best reds for BBQ, especially ribs.
We’ll also taste the origin grape, Primitivo, hailing from Puglia in southern Italy.
Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel (Dry Creek, Sonoma Co.)
Turley Buck Cobb Zinfandel (Amador Co.)
Autre Monde Columbia Gorge Zinfandel (WA)
Cantele Primitivo (Puglia)
Masserina Surani Primitivo (Puglia)
$22/person. No reservations needed.
Milwaukee Wine Weekend Happy Hour
Tonight we host the opening festivities for Milwaukee Wine Weekend, sponsored by Milwaukee Wine Academy. A multi-event, multi-day festival celebrating the ongoing professional- and enthusiast-level wine communities. No tasting tonight, but come by and meet the MWA team, learn about the events, and share a glass!
Special event menu will include $13 glasspours, $12 cocktails, $5 beers. See you then!
Riesling for Haters
“Eeeeewww, too sweet, I hate Riesling!”
Solving crimes against wine one tasting at a time, we continue the “For Haters” series with one of the world’s most misunderstood and misrepresented wines: Riesling. For many, whose limited experience may have stopped with Liebfraumilch in the dreaded blue bottle, chosing Riesling over almost anything else constitutes a breach of the “I’m a serious wine drinker” contract.
Well, folks, let’s fix this. Tonight we dive into the world of serious Riesling for serious wine people. We’ll focus on fresh, crisp, dry versions from some of the world’s most renowned production sites, explore the grape’s ability to age, and examine how acid and sugars play with one another to form a complex organoleptic experience.
Seven wines this time, all! Bring your “A-game".”
Manni Nossing Sudtirol Eisacktaler (Sudtirol/Alto-Adige)
Immich-Baatterieberg, Mosel Extra Brut Riesling ‘Detonation Bubbles’ (Mosel, Germany)
Fuhrgassl-Huber Riesling Ried Preussen Nussberg (Vienna, Austria)
Weingut Brand Trocken (Pfalz)
Marietta NADI Riesling (Cienega Valley, CA)
Gonzales (Columbia Valley, OR)
Donnhoff Westhofener Trocken (Nahe, Germany)
$24/person. 6-8pm.
Mini Spring Pause
Thelma Carol Wine will be on a mini spring day pause Friday March 27th. Back open March 28th, 3pm to 9pm.

