Madison Originals Magazine Madison Originals Magazine May 2014 | Page 14

ori gin al wine

Wollersheim
Winery

By Holly Whittlef

Forget Napa, Sonoma, and the
Willamette Valley. Nestled on a sloping
hillside in Prairie du Sac, Wollersheim
Winery is helping transform Wisconsin
into a wine lover’s destination. The
winery is run by French-born winemaker
Philippe Coquard and his wife Julie, and
is sprawled across 27 acres overlooking
the Wisconsin River. With dry soil
and advantageous sun exposure,
Wollersheim Winery enjoys a warmer
sub-climate that makes the 170-year-old
property ideal for winemaking.
Wollersheim Winery’s approachable
and Midwest-friendly attitude has
made them a regional hub for wine
enthusiasts. With more than 1.1 million
bottles produced each year, Julie affirms,
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“There is something for everyone here.”
That message is quickly spreading
across the United States. Last November,
Wollersheim Winery was featured in
the Salon.com article “Four Unexpected
Wine Regions Worth Visiting,” which
highlighted Wisconsin’s growing wine
industry. In addition, TripAdvisor, a
popular review site for travelers, has
named Wollersheim Winery as one of
the top 10 winery tours in the country.
The winery is open daily and tours run
every hour for $5.00 per person. Visitors
are welcomed into the gift shop, and then
guided through the wine garden and by
the vineyards before returning inside
to the fermentation room, limestone
aging cellars, and tasting room. Tastings