Finally, a decanter columnist verified wollersheims prowess by recounting their equally impressive performance at the 2012 international eastern wine competition. The wollersheim family has been producing red, blush and white wines for just over 40 years and had further reason to celebrate its anniversary upon. Apr 19, 20 wollersheim died in 2005, and coquard regrets that he never had the chance to try the brandy we dreamed about. However a few years before this, stone hill winery was started in missouri in 1847 and meiers winery in ohio was launched in 1856. Five funky towns to bike to selftaught artist tour wisconsin 360. Wine tourism for history buffs do you really know the.
The locally produced wine experience wisconsin bike trails. This winery has a long history, beginning in the 1840s by agoston haraszthy, who later would leave and help start the wine industry in california during the gold rush. View the menu for wollersheim winery and restaurants in prairie du sac, wi. Sauk prairie area historical society at the tripp memorial museum. This national historic site is comprised of 27 acres of frenchamerican hybrid grapes and crafts 19 regional and varietal wines. Not just any grape can make an ice wine, says julie.
A national historic site overlooking the wisconsin river and producing nationally recognized wines, such as the prairie fume. Wollersheim winery in wisconsin wrapped up the 2012 growing season with its earliest ever harvest of ice wine grapes. The slopes returned to their native condition and remained in limited farm use until 1972 when robert and joann wollersheim purchased the property and restored it to a working family winery. Pick up is available mondayfriday from 1pm4pm and saturday from 10amnoon. Our sister winery cedar creek winery cedar creek winery. Wollersheims earliest ever ice wine harvest midwest wine press. Haraszthy went on to establish some of the first successful vineyards in sonoma, california. By brian dambrosio, nuzzled on an attractive knoll facing the wisconsin river, wollersheim winery is rich in history.
Wollersheim winery goes into brandy business madison. Wollersheim winery celebrates 45th anniversary regional. We have set up a local pickup option on this website that allows for orders to have a choice of shipping wine only or pickup wine or spirits. May 29, 2012 in 1842 count agoston haraszthy from hungary established a winery in wisconsin named wollersheim winery today before heading to the west coast to establish californias oldest winery buena vista in 1857. Wollersheim is a winery located in prairie du sac, wisconsin. If you are anywhere near the madison or wisconsin dells area and short drive down highway 12 to wollersheim is well worth the time and tasting. The sister wineries share family ownership and a winemaker, but the two brands are distinct. Wollersheim winery owner and winemaker philippe coquard comes from a family of french winemakers. Finally, a decanter columnist verified wollersheims prowess by recounting their equally impressive performance at. Wollersheim winery sits on a scenic hillside overlooking the wisconsin river across from prairie du sac, wi. But coquards distilled wine needs temperature fluctuation and must be aged for two years before it can be legally labeled brandy.
Its a dark red, dry wine and was made in honor of hungarian agoston haraszthy, who planted the first vineyards in the 1840s. Nov 28, 2014 by brian dambrosio, nuzzled on an attractive knoll facing the wisconsin river, wollersheim winery is rich in history. In the early 1840s, a hungarian immigrant named agoston haraszthy established a vineyard, winery and wine cellars overlooking the wisconsin river at what is today the wollersheim winery in sauk city. Wollersheim died in 2005, and coquard regrets that he never had the chance to try the brandy we dreamed about. Created in the 1840s, wollersheim winery has developed into a leader in the midwestern wine industry, winning numerous awards throughout its storied history. The first wine grapes were planted in wisconsin by agoston haraszthy in the mid19th century. In 1972, robert and joann wollersheim purchased the winery with the intent of restoring the family winery.
The continuing success of the winery was enhanced in 1984 when philippe coquard arrived from the beaujolais region of france and became winemaker. Authentic, local, award winning wine and brandy since the 1840s. In 1990, wollersheim winery bought cedar creek winery, located in an 1860s woolen mill in cedarburg, wisconsin. Located in sauk city of wisconsin, about 1 hour 40 min via i94 w from milwaukee. Top 10 sauk city hotels near wollersheim winery wisconsin. Wollersheim winery grew rapidly and garnered national media attention with the introduction of its prairie fume wine in 1989.
Wollersheim winery in prairie du sac, wi the heavy tablethe. Wollersheim winery in prairie du sac taste of place studied. He came to america and wollersheim in the 1980s and became the winemaker in 1985. Wollersheim winery 7876 state road 188 sauk city wi 53583. Another interesting background note is a young french winemaker, philippe coquard visited wollersheim on an agricultural exchange program in 1984 and is now running the winery with his wife. A loaf of bread, a can of wine, and thou isthmus madison. Aug 10, 2014 the storied history of this winery includes agoston haraszthy founding the winery in the 1840s and later becoming the father of california wine.
Pepin grapes, which were developed in wisconsin in the 1970s. Wine lovers should definitely plan a lovely afternoon to visit wollersheim winery, to enjoy wines and landscape, a place where history, culture and winemaking are interweaving. Learn about wollersheim winery winery and shop the best selection at wine. This post goes deeper into wollersheims winemaking techniques and future plans. Expedia has more than 640,000 properties to browse but we make it easy with advanced search functionality. For the past seven years, wollersheim has hosted its vintage christmas event, set to take place from 10 a.
Our sister winery, wollersheim winery, sits on a scenic hillside overlooking the wisconsin river in southwest wisconsin and is a national historic site comprised of 27 acres of frenchamerican hybrid grapes. Wollersheim winery and wollershiem distillery located in scenic prairie du sac, wisconsin. Most people go to wollersheim winery in prairie du sac to sample the wine, but if you are a geologist researching terroir, then you might be offered a little taste of the soil. Visits through the winerys fermentation facilities and historic aging cellars on a selfguided tour are available throughout the day. The winery offers more than 20 varieties of wine including its popular prairie fume, among others.
Wollersheims history goes back to the 1850s, and its wine caves are still used to age the wines at a constant temperature. Wollersheim cultivates awardwinning libations onmilwaukee. Incorporate a winery tourwine tasting to complete your experience. Feb 25, 2015 most people go to wollersheim winery in prairie du sac to sample the wine, but if you are a geologist researching terroir, then you might be offered a little taste of the soil. Before he migrated to california and helped to found the wine industry there, he established a vineyard, winery and wine cellars overlooking the wisconsin river at what is today the wollersheim winery near prairie du sac. The storied history of this winery includes agoston haraszthy founding the winery in the 1840s and later becoming the father of california wine.
Wollersheim winery makes ice wine the traditional way. Wollersheims winemaker, philippe coquard, has deep roots in france, especially the beaujolais region. One of 97,208 wine stores and wineries with price lists on winesearcher. Its taken a while, but wollersheim finally has won respect for wisconsin wine. The property was first cultivated by european vintners in the 1800s and was established as wollersheim in 1972. Hungarian count agostin haraszthy, traveling through the area in 1840, planted the first grape vines on the wollersheim acreage. You must have a confirmation before coming to the winery courtyard to pick up your wine or spirits. Aug 07, 2009 third in a series of eat local videos. Winemaker philippe coquard combines tradition with the unique climate and growing season of wisconsin to produce regional wines distinctive to this area of wisconsin. It is one of americas oldest winemaking estates, and its original 19thcentury, limestone winery is its handsome centerpiece. Online menu of wollersheim winery, prairie du sac, wi. The weather conditions this year have ranged from drought, to a rainy october and then a warm november. Wollersheim winery crafts 19 regional and varietal wines, and has received numerous awards and national recognition as a leader in the midwest wine industry.
Bob wollersheim always said that, as wisconsins first modern vintner, he had to make all the mistakes myself. Not just any grape can make an ice wine, says julie wollersheim, who runs the winery with coquard, her. Bottling line demonstrations and interactive displays are available for families to enjoy. Wollersheim winery carignan 4 out of 5 sipping sentiments. Brandy was a natural fit as wollersheim winery s first distilled product.
Wollersheim winery 7876 state road 188 sauk city, wi wineries. For one, brandy is made by distilling wine and aging it in oak barrels. You can take the tour and sample 6 or 7 wines or just do the tasting. The wollersheim property has a long history of winemaking. You and your loved one will create many cherished memories when you visit wollersheim winery. The wollersheim family has been producing red, blush and white wines for just over 40 years and had further reason to celebrate its anniversary. Then, wollersheim was awarded winery of the year at the 2012 san diego international wine competition after raking in platinum medals for six wines. Please call 1800vip wine 18008479463 monday friday 84. Wollersheim winery is located on a scenic hillside across the wisconsin river from prairie du sac, wisconsin. Nov 09, 2019 wollersheim winery owner and winemaker philippe coquard comes from a family of french winemakers. Norberts church is worth the trip when youre visiting. Apr 17, 2017 wollersheim 2016 dry rose, american rating was calculated by to be 86 points out of 100 on 4172017. In 2012, it was named winery of the year at the san diego international wine competition, and in 20, its dry riesling was named wine of the year. The frenchborn coquard arrived at wollersheim winery near prairie du sac in 1984.
The winery purchased a copper pot still and started making coquard brandy not long after, reawakening the tradition of distilling at the property. Wollersheim breaks ground on new distillery midwest wine press. Dec 04, 2012 wollersheim winery in wisconsin wrapped up the 2012 growing season with its earliest ever harvest of ice wine grapes. In 1842 count agoston haraszthy from hungary established a winery in wisconsin named wollersheim winery today before heading to the west coast to establish californias oldest winery buena vista in 1857. Learn about wollersheim winery winery and shop the best selection at. Wollersheim winery is a slice of wine country in wisconsin. Contact information for, and services offered by, wollersheim winery. Wollersheim winery and distillery of prairie du sac. Wollersheim winerys holiday event a step back in time. Enjoy a selfguided tasting tour, festive foods, christmas music, and lots of holiday cheer. While youre in town visiting wollersheim winery, you can explore the sights and attractions within a couple miles of the area. Many wanderers come here with similar ideas of what theyd like to do, and since there is only 1 accommodation option close by, its easy to make new friends. If youre thinking of checking it out, hit the road to madison, the capital of the state.
However, at the end of november, cold weather brought excellent conditions to freeze the grapes on the vine. Wollersheim winery prairie du sac 7876 state road 188 p. The wollersheim winery, nestled on the bank of the wisconsin river in sauk city, near prairie du sac, is a familyowned and operated historic site that produces 1 million bottles of wine every. The two previous posts described wollersheims history and portfolio of labels. Wollersheim winerys annual open house offers grapevine pruning, cooking with wine demonstrations and winemaker talks.