1849. In due course, Haraszthy became noted as the founder of the California wine industry.

Robert and JoAnn Wollersheim purchased the neglected grounds in 1972, with the goal of re-establishing it as a working- family winery.

More than 120 years later, the Wollersheim family sowed the banked slopes with vineyards, cultivating in the unique climate and growing conditions of Wisconsin.

As part of the fix up, the Wollersheim had the underground limestone wine cellars reconditioned with oak barrels and the upstairs of the main building turned into a wine store. It was a veritable dream come true for Robert Wollersheim, who was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An electrical engineer for the UW-Space Science program, Robert helped build weather radar and space satellites duringthe 1960s and 70s. Once tiring of engineering life, he moved to Prairie du Sac with his wife and children and started a new career as a vintner.

Frenchman Philippe Coquard, who grew up in France and worked at his family’s wineries, joined Wollersheim Winery and became a winemaker here 1985. The prominence of family heritage lives on as Philippe and his wife, Julie Coquard, Robert and JoAnn’s daughter now operate the estate winery.

Wollersheim Winery Midwest Nationally-Recognized Winery Tours

Wollersheim harvests 27 acres of vineyards and produces seven different wines, such as Prairie BlushFumé, Ruby Nouveau and Domain du Sac, from four hybrid varietals. The family further collaborates with wineries in Washington and New York to grow varietals like Chardonnay, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir.

Annual productivity, including the Cedar Creek label,