WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsWollersheim Winery is Positively Wisconsin

Wollersheim Winery is Positively Wisconsin

PRAIRIE DU SAC (WKOW) -- Wollershiem Winery in Prairie du Sac has gone through a lot of changes since vines were first planted back in the1840's.

And if you haven't been there in a while, you'll be surprised to see how much has changed just in the past year.

The view from the hills above Wollersheim can make you feel like you're on top of the world.

And Wollersheim really is.

Its Prairie Fume is celebrating 20 years this summer, and has won numerous prestigious awards.

And the winery just finished a 15-thousand square foot addition.

"We really wanted to do it right," says Wollersheim's Julie Coquard, "so we did take a lot of details from the old building."

At Wollersheim, they take their history very seriously.

It's all around them.

"Well, everything started in 1847." Says winemaker Philippe Coquard.

Philippe came from french wine country in 1984 to help Bob Wollersheim run the winery.

"I think part of the attraction was the challenge."

He married Bob's daughter Julie and they worked hard to make a reputation for excellence in an industry that's predisposed to dismissing Wisconsin wine.

"For a while, we stopped saying wisconsin knowing praire fume was awesome." says Philippe, "and then, ''Oh it's so good where's it from? Wisconsin? I didn't know you could do that.''

The success of Wollersheim can be found on many fronts but it's essence is in the vines. No california vine could withstand a Wisconsin winter. They are especially hardy, but that doesn't mean they aren't pampered.

"I'm going to clip this one take this one." says Philippe, " Take this one that goes down. Remove this one out and leave those two buds."

Those buds will create the grapes that give Wollersheim Domain Reserve a distinct Wisconsin flavor.

But, some grapes will be left on the vine through the winter.

And they don't go to waste.

"We make ice wine taking advantage of the cold winter which California cannot do." Philippe explains, "So, that's another advantage of Wisconsin."

Part of what makes owning a winery fun is you can actually taste the past.

((Julie and I for Easter had a 78 and it was awesome. It was so good. We said where is Bob. Wish he could taste that with us.))

Wherever he is, Bob must be happy to see the little winery he rescued in 1972 doing so well.

A winery that's Positively Wisconsin.

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