Creekside Winery in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, offers a relaxed and memorable winery experience tucked into the rolling hills of the Driftless Area. Set near a quiet creek and surrounded by natural scenery, Creekside is a welcoming place to slow down, gather with friends, and enjoy thoughtfully crafted wines, handcrafted food, and peaceful outdoor views.
Guests can stop in for wine tastings, enjoy a glass of wine on the patio, share handcrafted pizzas or charcuterie, and experience the inviting atmosphere that makes Creekside a favorite stop for both locals and visitors. The winery features indoor seating, outdoor patio spaces, creek access, seasonal events, live music, and family-friendly outdoor areas, with dogs welcome in designated outdoor spaces when leashed.
Creekside Winery is owned by Madelyn and Gustavo, who bring together a passion for wine, food, travel, and community. Madelyn grew up in Black River Falls and went on to study Viticulture & Enology at Washington State University, later working in wine research and winemaking. Gustavo leads the kitchen, drawing inspiration from his travels and love of pizza making. Together, they have created a place where great wine, good food, and genuine connection come together.
Whether you are planning a casual afternoon, a group outing, a private tasting, or an evening of live music, Creekside Winery offers a warm, scenic destination in Black River Falls. Follow Creekside Winery online or join their mailing list for updates on events, wine releases, seasonal gatherings, and future wine club opportunities.
Meet the Owner – Madelyn
Madelyn was born and raised in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where wine became part of her story early on. From watching her dad make wine in the basement to seeing some of Wisconsin’s first vineyards being planted, she grew up with a quiet curiosity for the craft. It was also her dad who once pointed out a piece of rolling hillside and said it would be perfect for a vineyard — a moment that made the idea of a life in wine suddenly feel possible.
In 2014, during the summer between high school and college, Madelyn took her first job at Sandstone Ridge Vineyard. That experience changed everything. She fell in love with the rhythm of the work, the connection to the land, and the passion shared by those in the industry.
She began her college journey at the University of Minnesota. After her first year, she traveled abroad to work at a vineyard in Chile, an experience shaped her life, deepening her love for wine and the chance encounter with an energetic chileno, her now husband, Gustavo. With Gustavo by her side, they discovered the world and how wine and food connected it all.
Inspired to pursue wine professionally, she transferred to Washington State University to study Viticulture and Enology, gaining both scientific knowledge and hands-on experience. She worked in Argentina’s Mendoza region and studied abroad in Chile, completing coursework in Spanish in subjects like soil science and plant physiology.
After graduating cum laude in 2020, she built her career in Washington wine country, eventually becoming the Research Winemaker at WSU. Still, she felt a strong pull back home. In 2025, she and her family returned to Wisconsin, and by December, they purchased Creekside Winery.
Today, Madelyn is bringing that dream to life that began years ago. She feels grateful every day to make wine, welcome guests, and build something meaningful surrounded by the people she loves most.
Meet the Owner – Gustavo Calderon
Born and raised in Villa Alemana, near Valparaíso along the central coast of Chile, Gustavo grew up inspired by exploring the world and the experiences that came with it. That curiosity eventually took him to Italy, where cooking became more than a hobby—it became a way to bring back memories of home and the places he’d been, reconnecting with those moments through food.
After returning to Chile and settling back into college life while pursuing his degree in Physical Therapy, life took an unexpected turn when a young, energetic American—Madelyn—entered his world. Over the next few years, his travels became centered around visiting her in the U.S., building a relationship that would shape his future.
After graduating, Gustavo made the move to Washington to begin a new chapter with Madelyn. There, he worked in the therapy and running field, while cooking remained a constant in his life. In their backyard, with their growing family, weekends meant lighting up a wood-fired pizza oven, baking homemade bread, and refining the pizzas that would one day become part of something bigger.
Running has always been one of his biggest passions. Gustavo competed and even won local ultra races in Washington State. For him, finding high-quality food is part of the fuel behind those adventures—supporting the body while keeping a balance between performance, wellness, and expression through endurance movement.
After seven years in Washington, they decided to return to Madelyn’s small hometown of Black River Falls for a fresh start. That decision quickly grew into opening a winery, where the dream of sharing the pizzas he had perfected over the years became a reality.
Today, running and traveling continue to shape his life. Ask him about his next race (and how long—maybe 50 miles or more), and you’ll likely find him out on the trails or coaching Track & Field at Black River Falls High School. What once seemed unlikely—a young Chilean from a coastal city settling in rural Wisconsin—has become a life he’s deeply grateful for. And through food, wine, and community, he’s excited to share a piece of his story—and his country—with you.
