On a snowy mid-December evening, music and laughter could be heard coming from inside the Grand Hall at Bold North Cellars. It wasn’t a wedding or holiday party, but instead a retirement party with guests of honor near and dear to our hearts. Staff, friends, and family gathered to celebrate the work and dedication of Bold North Cellars owners Kim and Tami Bredeson as they prepare to retire at the start of 2022.
In their 13 years as owners of Carlos Creek Winery, Kim and Tami have left an incredible mark. Many passed the microphone throughout the evening of celebration to give thanks to Kim and Tami for the legacy they created.
The Bredeson Family Story
The Bredesons moved from Baudette, Minnesota on March 28, 2008 to buy Carlos Creek Winery. When they told friends and family that they were moving south to buy a winery many envisioned Napa or Sonoma. You can just about imagine their surprise when they told them the winery was in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Over the years they’ve been asked countless times just what possessed them to buy a winery. Their unconventional journey began with a single bottle of great wine. Neither had grown up in the wine business nor had any experience with it. Kim, a woodcarver. had crafted a beautiful mantel for a woman who worked for Robert Mondavi Winery. She sent him a bottle of Opus One with a note that read, “Our masterpiece for your masterpiece.” The wine, beautifully packaged, was clearly worth more than any other bottle of wine they’d ever owned. It was this bottle that marked the beginning of their wine journey. After five years of visiting wineries, studying, buying and enjoying wines they took the leap and bought Carlos Creek Winery. They toasted to the sale of the winery with the bottle of Opus One that inspired it all.
Becoming Bold North Cellars
Since that fateful day, many things have changed. Renovations, additions, and countless hours of hard work have made the property into what it is today. Carlos Creek Winery has expanded into Bold North Cellars. The Bold North name encompasses all of the experiences now offered on site. With Carlos Creek Winery, 22 Northmen Brewing Co., Stoke Artisan Wood-Fired Pizza, Sizzle food truck, and the Grand Hall event space, there’s always something happening. Although things have grown over the years, one thing has remained the same. Family has been at the heart of the operation since that very first day. Kim and Tami count themselves as blessed to have actively worked alongside their family.
Now they are ready to pass ownership on to the next generation – son and daughter-in-law Tyler and Michelle Bredeson. Tyler and Michelle have learned so much from Kim and Tami over the past 13 years and are excited to continue the Bredeson legacy.
“We hope to honor what they have done for Bold North Cellars, all our employees, and the community.”
Tyler and Michelle Bredeson
Cheers to Kim and Tami! The impact they’ve had reaches far beyond the Bold North Cellars gates, and we will always celebrate their leadership and heart.
Click here to learn more about Bold North Cellars, plan your visit, and stay connected with the latest news.
