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