One of the state’s most popular wineries is having a great year!
More than half of Wisconsin is short of moisture, according to the Ag Statistics’ Service. This summer, half the state was water-logged. Despite the extreme weather conditions throughout the state, Wollersheim Winery is having a great harvest this season.
“It’s really due to the fact that we had a drought in August. We had not only dry weather, but we had sunny weather without extremely hot temperatures and that is what we need for grape growing and grape ripening, is the sunshine but not necessarily the heat.”
Julie Coquard VP/CoOwner of Wisconsin’s oldest winery in Prairie du Sac says this year’s grape harvest is underway. The outcome is really luck of the draw. Coquard says last year started out to be a good year until they got 13 inches of rain in August. She says too much water dilutes the flavor, color and sweetness of the fruit.
This year, she says, is looking really good. “Well we’ve been here for 36 years and Philippe, our winemaker, is thinking this is one of our top three vintages.”
Coquard says their tiny hybrid grapes are extra sweet, specifically made for wine-making and suited to withstand the cold Wisconsin winters and our warm summers. Wollersheim Winery produces over a dozen grape wines. Coquard says the harvest could be finished in just a week. The Wisconsin Winery Association has 36 members from every corner of the state.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:49 MP3)
