WineFest

WineFest is an annual grand tasting wine festival held each spring in Minneapolis, Minnesota — now in its 29th year, it raises funds for pediatric research and care at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. The 2026 edition, WineFest No. 29—A Toast to Children's Health, takes place Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, 225 3rd Avenue South. Tickets range from $125 for the Friday afternoon Magnum Meander to $600 per person for the Saturday Fine Wine Dinner, with table packages available at $1,500 and $6,000.

WineFest No. 29 is structured across four distinct ticketed events spanning two days. On Friday, the Magnum Meander (12:30–3:00 p.m., $125) offers guided tastings from large-format bottles alongside small bites, led by WCCO radio host and food critic Jason DeRusha, with Netflix Somm documentary subject DLynn Proctor participating as a roaming correspondent. The Friday Grand Tasting (6:30–9:30 p.m., $200) features over 400 wines from around the world alongside selections from Twin Cities restaurants, live auction bidding, and access to Honorary Winemasters. A Grape Stomp After-Party runs from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Saturday opens with Bubbles & Brunch (10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., $150), then culminates in the Fine Wine Dinner (from 7:00 p.m., $600), a multi-course gourmet event with premier wine pairings, a live auction, and dancing. Approximately 700 guests attend the Saturday evening festivities. The 2026 theme draws on Napa Valley's Highway 29, with many featured wines sourced from Napa and California-inspired cuisine on the menu.

All proceeds from WineFest benefit research, education, and patient care at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, which has been ranked the top children's hospital in the Twin Cities for 18 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report and ranks 7th nationally among pediatric departments for NIH research funding. Each ticket includes a stated tax-deductible portion — $125 of the Grand Tasting ticket, $405 of the Fine Wine Dinner ticket — making WineFest a philanthropic event as much as a wine occasion. Group hotel rates are available at the venue.

The wines poured at WineFest No. 29 draw heavily from Napa Valley, one of California's most recognized wine regions, known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. The event's Honorary Winemasters represent established Napa producers, and the Magnum Meander specifically highlights large-format bottles from select featured wineries. For attendees focused on the wine program, the Friday events offer the most direct access to winemakers and guided tasting experiences.