Wollersheim Winery

In the early 1840's, Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy acquired acreage on the Wisconsin River near present day Sauk Prairie. He started a brick yard, riverboat and ferry business and laid out the village now known as Sauk City. On the southern slopes he planted a vineyard. His European vines could not withstand the Wisconsin winters and in 1849 Haraszthy departed for California, later to become known as the "Father of California viticulture."<br><br>A fourth generation German winemaker, Peter Kehl, acquired Haraszthy's grape acreage in 1856 and planted vines that were more winter-tolerant. Kehl's impressive limestone home was erected in 1858; the winery was built during the Civil War. Son Jacob Kehl, continued the operation until 1899.<br><br>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. The continuing success of the winery was enhanced in 1984 when Philippe Coquard arrived from the Beaujolais region of France and became winemaker. With a family background and knowledge of winemaking, Philippe along with his wife Julie, the oldest of the Wollersheim children, continue the legacy of making distinctive regional wine.<br><br>On the slopes of Sugarloaf Bluff, Wollersheim Winery carries on the tradition into future generations.