Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants opened its doors to guests at its new Pleasant Prairie location this weekend, bringing the Downers Grove, Ill.-based lifestyle brand to its fourth Wisconsin outpost and giving southeastern Wisconsin a dining destination unlike anything else in the area.

Founded in 2005 by CEO Tim McEnery, Cooper’s Hawk has grown into one of the largest wineries in the United States, with more than 60 wine varietals, over 600 wine awards, and a wine club that claims nearly 840,000 members — the largest in the world. The concept blends a modern casual restaurant, a Napa-style tasting room and an artisanal retail market into a single hospitality experience. Existing Wisconsin locations operate in Greenfield, Brookfield and Middleton.

Kenosha County Eye was invited to a soft opening Saturday evening at the restaurant, located at 7530 115th Avenue, along Highway 50, just east of 94.

Upon arrival, my wife and I were greeted by a Napa-style tasting room fronting the main dining space — a retail area lined with wine-related merchandise, trinkets and an extensive selection of bottles. Past the full-service bar and a barrel reserve, the interior opens into a warmly lit dining room with seating for 262, anchored by a design aesthetic that blends hand-forged metals, worn brick and rich leather. Private rooms off the main floor can be closed off from the rest of the restaurant, making them well-suited for celebrations, corporate gatherings and private events of up to 48 guests. A covered outdoor patio accommodates an additional 44 guests.

The restaurant’s general manager, Jim Alexander of Fox Lake, said the location fills a gap in the market.

“There’s an opportunity to bring something to Pleasant Prairie — nothing like this here,” Alexander said. “Some do a great job, but they don’t have the volume.”

Executive Chef Kaylyn Porter, who comes from Chicago, said the community itself drew her to the project.

“The community is different — there’s a growth aspect here,” Porter said.

Our server, Chris Wysocki, 28, lives in Pleasant Prairie but grew up in Illinois, where his family made frequent trips to the Cooper’s Hawk locations in Gurnee and Wheeling. When the Pleasant Prairie restaurant opened, he said, joining the team was an easy decision.

Wysocki walked my wife and me through the menu with the enthusiasm of someone who had clearly bought in. He said he wasn’t a wine drinker before joining the team but came into it through training, landing on ice wine as a personal favorite, paired with dessert. His favorite dish on the menu is the trio of medallions — a filet served three ways, each portion crusted differently with blue cheese, Parmesan and horseradish.

“It’s one of the most popular dishes,” Wysocki said. “And the barrel reserve is a must-try. It’s always changing, a Bordeaux-inspired red. Even if you’re not a big wine drinker.”

My wife and I started with the Chicken Potstickers, served with sweet and spicy mustard and ginger soy sauce, and the Cooper’s Hawk Smashed Sliders — crispy cheese crust, applewood smoked bacon, caramelized onion and shaved pickle on a King’s Hawaiian pretzel bun. The kitchen also sent out a complimentary pretzel bread, warm and soft, served with whipped butter. Both appetizers were solid.

For dinner, I ordered the 8 oz. Filet Mignon, served with steak butter, crispy onion strings, grilled broccoli and Mary’s potatoes. My wife had the Baked Parmesan Shrimp Scampi — capellini, white wine San Marzano sauce, tomato basil relish and pesto oil. Both dishes were well-executed. The filet was cooked properly, the scampi was light and flavorful.

My wife sampled a glass of the sparkling almond wine and a taste of the Cooper’s Hawk White, a blend of Pinot Gris and Riesling. The restaurant also offers non-alcoholic wine options alongside a full bar carrying IPAs, cocktails, beers and spirits.

For dessert, my wife had the Banoffee Pie — graham cracker crust, banana, toffee filling and fresh whipped cream. A fitting end to the meal.

The wine club operates on a points-and-rewards system tied to member spending, with benefits including exclusive monthly wine selections, trips and birthday perks.

“It makes wine approachable,” Alexander said.

The restaurant is managed by a team of 10, including three assistant general managers, a senior assistant GM, an executive chef, three assistant kitchen managers and a senior kitchen manager.

Cooper’s Hawk Pleasant Prairie is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 262-406-1110 or through OpenTable.