A Hallmark-style holiday movie is no stranger to cheese. But what about a sentimental seasonal flick that’s actually set in America’s Dairyland? A Wisconsin Christmas Pie is a new snow-dusted, made-for-TV romance filmed in Door County – and it’s cheesy in every sense of the word.
It’s the story of Emma (Kaite Leclerc), a Chicago pastry chef who’s up for her dream job in NYC. Over the Christmas holiday, she heads home to her family’s apparently-struggling cherry orchard in Door County. There, she reconnects with her high school boyfriend, Mitch (Ryan Carnes). Will an old flame be reignited, thanks to a series of “small town moments”? Will Emma save the family orchard or follow her big-city dreams? Will she find her pie’s missing ingredient and win the annual Cherry Pie Bake-Off?
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The answer to all of those is: Obviously. This wholesome genre is all about the comfort of a predictable, happy ending trimmed with twinkle lights, and a A Wisconsin Christmas Pie (formerly called A Cherry Pie Christmas) delivers.
It’s also essentially one big beautiful ad for Door County at Christmastime. Destination Door County even has a movie trail visitors can follow, and if you’re so inclined, you can attend movie premiere at Door County Auditorium on Dec. 13th. Here are just some of the featured locations:
Location: Lautenbach’s Orchard, Fish Creek
Scene: The Homecoming
The movie calls Emma’s family orchard “Parker Orchard” – likely because “Lautenbach’s” doesn’t roll off the tongue. But Door County lovers are plenty familiar with Lautenbach’s, known for its sprawling country store, wine and cider tastings and cherry pit spitting.
Cheese watch: “My fancy city slicker daughter is home for Christmas… Don’t let all the friendliness and fresh air overwhelm you now, honey.” – Emma’s Dad
Location: Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay
Scene: The Meet-Cute
Emma is browsing the cozy and cute Novel Bay Booksellers when she spies her high school sweetheart, Mitch. She tries to sneak away but stumbles over a chair, causing a ruckus that catches his attention. From then on, Mitch is a bit like glitter – you can’t get rid of him.
Cheese watch: Oopsie, I’m so clumsy and awkward! – Emma
Location: Door County Coffee, Carlsville
Scene: The Bestie Debrief
This movie moment feels less about two friends catching up and more about the Door County Coffee logo working overtime on product placement. A Wisconsin Christmas Pie actually uses this rustic coffee house as a backdrop no less than three times – for two Jennifer meet-ups and one Mitch breakfast date.
Cheese watch: There’s an entire scene at Door County Coffee starring a cheese board and Wisconsin’s own Renard’s Cheese. As Jennifer says: “You know how it is, December rolls around and suddenly everyone’s pulling out their charcuterie boards.”
Location: Door County Trolley, Egg Harbor
Scene: The All-Day Date
Don’t you wish you too had a hook-up at your local trolley company? Door County Trolley is a movie location on wheels, kicking off Emma’s all-day date with Mitch. The festive red transport is mighty cute and quaint, like a Door County spin on a sleigh ride.
Cheese watch: Mitch knows a guy, so he booked a whole trolley for two people. (Sure, Jan.)
Location: Anderson Dock, Ephraim
Scene: Memory Lane
Graffiti is encouraged at Anderson Dock, where boaters and visitors have been signing the dockside warehouse walls for years. Emma and Mitch signed it too, back in 2009. They stop here to reminisce, and Emma reveals that she still has the snowflake pendant Mitch gave her on Christmas Eve all those years ago.
Cheese watch: Not only does Emma still have the pendant – she’s wearing it.
Location: White Gull Inn, Fish Creek
Scene: Lunch Break
If you don’t visit the White Gull Inn, did you even do Door County? Mitch and Emma continue their all-day date with a stop for lunch. Mitch drops a bomb that Emma’s parents are considering selling the orchard to a land developer who wants to (gasp!) build condos.
Cheese watch: Emma and Mitch opt for the soup, but insiders know that the White Gull Inn is famous for its French Toast bursting with cherries and Wisconsin cream cheese.
Location: Tannenbaum Holiday Shop, Sister Bay
Scene: Second Date
This scene is an overt commercial for Tannenbaum Holiday Shop. No really – it feels like a Hallmark television ad from the ’90s. The store itself is a dazzling wonderland with upside-down trees and Scandinavian kissing balls: “Like mistletoe, but fancier,” Mitch explains to a wide-eyed Emma.
Cheese watch: “Have you ever seen so much Christmas?” – Mitch
Location: Waterfront Mary’s, Sturgeon Bay
Scene: A Secret Revealed
You didn’t think Mitch and Emma could have all-day dates and trips to the Tannanbaum Shop without a pinch of conflict, did you? In Door County, a fish boil is just the spot to throw some kerosene on the fire of long-held secrets.
Cheese watch: No cheese, just 30 seconds of drama before all is forgiven and scrumptious Lake Michigan white fish is served.
Bonus cheese: Former Packers running back Ahman Green is among the judges for the Cherry Pie Bake-Off. Naturally.
Something that’s actually natural? How picture-perfect Door County is to host a holiday movie. Between main street charm, picturesque farmlands and walkable waterfronts, it’s a wonder it’s taken this long for a sentimental script to feature the Cape Cod of the Midwest. Cheesy plot aside, it’s just plain fun to see our very own landscapes and landmarks in a movie. Like Emma’s quippy sous-chef, you might even call it “a-DOOR-able.”
A Wisconsin Christmas Pie is available across a range of free and on-demand platforms, including TubiTV, RokuTV, PlutoTV, Vizio, XumoTV and other holiday and romance-themed free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels such as Amazon’s Always Christmas channel.
