About thirty miles west of Madison, nestled into the rolling bluffs above the Wisconsin River, Wollersheim Winery & Distillery is the kind of place that makes you exhale the moment you arrive. The limestone hillside, the old stone buildings, the neat rows of vines climbing toward a wide prairie sky — it all feels like a corner of Burgundy that somehow landed, gracefully, in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. And yet it is entirely, proudly Midwestern in the best possible way.
Founded in 1972 by Philippe and JoAnn Coquard, Wollersheim sits on land with a winemaking history that stretches back to the 1840s, when a Prussian immigrant named Agoston Haraszthy planted the first vines here before heading west to found what would become the California wine industry. The estate he left behind found new life under the Coquards, and today their daughter Julie and son-in-law Philippe Coquard-Dietrich continue that legacy with wines that have earned national recognition and a loyal following that spans decades.
The winery is located just off Highway 188 near the village of Prairie du Sac, an easy 45-minute drive from Madison that winds through some of the most scenic countryside in southern Wisconsin. I recommend going on a weekend afternoon when the tasting room is humming and the outdoor terrace is open — there is something deeply satisfying about sipping a glass of their Prairie Fumé, the signature white blend that has become something of a Wisconsin icon, while looking out over the river valley below.
The tours are genuinely worthwhile. A knowledgeable guide walks you through the historic cellars, explains the winemaking process from crush to bottle, and gives you a real sense of why this particular hillside produces grapes worth talking about. The glacial geology, the microclimate, the southeast-facing slopes — it all adds up to terroir that is legitimately interesting, not just marketing copy.
Beyond wine, Wollersheim has expanded into distilling, producing spirits under the Coquard label including a brandy that has won serious attention at national competitions. If you have never tried a Wisconsin brandy, this is exactly the right place to start — the tasting room staff are warm, patient, and genuinely enthusiastic about what they pour.
The gift shop is well-stocked without being overwhelming, and picking up a few bottles to bring home feels less like a souvenir purchase and more like a natural conclusion to a very good afternoon. On summer weekends, food vendors and occasional live music round out the experience without ever making it feel like a theme park. The character here is real, earned over generations, and you feel it in every glass.
If you are planning a day out of Madison and want something that combines natural beauty, genuine craft, and a warm welcome, Wollersheim belongs at the top of your list.
