South West Wisconsin Wineries A Unique Gift To Us.

Our wineries of the drift-less region offer more of what one would say is a more traditional variety of grape wines than you will find in other areas. Our South facing slopes of the limestone bluffs offer a complete different micro-climate that you will find allows for the "traditional grapes varieties" to be grown in our soils. Our hillside vineyards have reminded many people of the vineyards you will find in many parts of Europe.

We at Erlandson Realty have a passion for the area in which we were raised, never do we take for granted anything that this charming part of the state, theSOUTH WEST WISCONSIN  part of the state has to offer.  our area has everything one could want and more. From the old winding roads that lead through some fantastic hidden valleys, to the majestic views from the bluff tops over looking the might Mississippi River. Relax and enjoy, take a few days and explore the Great River Roadway. Highway 35. Remember to make sure you have plenty of time to take in all that this SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN  area has to offer. From the incredible fishing to the historic old Mississippi River towns, and do not be afraid to jump off the well traveled roads to further explore the unknown recreational opportunities that exist through this seldom traveled under developed part of the state. Our "Best kept Secret".

I hope you take the time today to read about each winery that i am going to cover today, each winery is unique to itself. You will find the wine makers to be friendly, and open to guests, as in SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN there is no such thing as strangers, only friends that we have not met yet. As I take the time to explain a little about each winery, the order in which I do this, has nothing to do with the quality of any of the wine, I simply need to start and end somewhere.

I plan on covering nine wineries today, i am going to tell you where they are, a little about them. and what some of the wine styles that they carry are. lets get started.

Botham Vineyards, located in the heart of Iowa County, they are surrounded by more than 900 acres of conservancy property. The wine maker believes that wine making is a less is more philosophy. Less manipulation of the wine allows the grapes character to better exhibit itself. Wine styles include: Badger Blush, Big Stuff Red, Big Stuff Two, and Cupola Gold. Riesling, Vin 10,and Seyval Blanc as well as their enjoyable dessert wine Finis, are some of the wines you will find available.

Spurgeon Vineyards: located within the hills and bluffs of SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN, just outside of Highland. This is where you will find their 16 acres of vineyard they call home. Wines from WI. cherries, cranberries, and honey round out their fine line of wines. These grapes are a firm foundation to their family owned and operated winery. Their wine styles include Beloved, a fresh fruity, semi sweet Chardonnay, with tropical overtones that completes a nice finish. Chaumbourcin, Cranberry, Harvest Blush, and Harvest Red, a semi sweet full bodied red wine, which is soft and easy to drink, a perfect wine with any pasta. These are just a small list of some of the great wines you will find available at their winery.

Weggy Winery: Located in Richland County just outside of Muscoda, two miles north of the Lower Wisconsin River Valley, an area in SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN well known for relaxing canoe trips, that offer one of a kind landscape with it's beautiful sand river bars. Weggy Winery an award winning wine maker whose rewards include a gold medal from California in 2007. Wine styles include Apple and Black Current using estate grown Honey Crisp Apples. Apple Cherry wine a perfect blended wine with WI. Montmorency Cherries that make this a very pleasurable sweet wine. Autumn Crisp (their Gold Medal Winner) a medium dry white wine that uses WI. grown grapes providing a crisp semi-dry finish. Cherry Wine, Oak Ridge Red, Oak Barrel aged Oakey Red, Rieslings, and many more wines that are available here at Weggy Wines.

You will find that SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN offers so much for any type of person, no matter what you enjoy you will find it here. Here is what I think our SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN is all about.

Our next winery Burroak Winery: Located in new Lisbon, WI. They make red, white, and fruit wines. This wineries first grapes were grown in 1997, and new vines have been added yearly since then. Designing started in 2000 with construction starting in 2003. You will find several 100 plus year old stained glass windows as well as a recently new 3,000 square foot addition which was put on for production and bottling. Wine styles include a nice variety of white wines including Brianna, a semi sweet wine, made-only in a limited quantity. Chardonnay, Lorelei, also made in limited quantities. Red wines include Cranberry, Fireside Red, a semi sweet wine, Leon Millot, and New Marquette, a dry wine. There are more choices of wines available at the winery.

Vernon Vineyards, Located in the heart of SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN, Viroqua the county seat for Vernon County. The are host to being the First Winery in Vernon County, The vineyard was established in 2001, and the winery in 2006. Overlooking the Bad Axe River in historic Vernon County. they specialize in cold climate grapes. They offer a wide selection of red, and white wines. Wine styles include, Ridge Red, a grape blend with a hint of black cherry, Three Chimney's Red, La Crosse, a subtle semi dry wine with fruit and a hint of spice, Eagle Eye Blush, named after the famous rock formation across the valley from the winery, ST. Pepin, Edelweiss, Bad Axe River Sweet. a rich sweet white dessert wine, plus many many more choices.

Tenba Ridge Winery, Located in Blair WI. This winery offers and produces a Alsatian style wine. These wines are full of flavor, and are great by themselves or paired with food. The terrace of the winery provides you with a a picture is worth a 1,000 words type view overlooking thousands of acres of SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN. Wine styles include, Apricot, Black Berry, Blue Berry, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Cherry, Cranberry, Peach, Plum, Rasberry, Vinifera Grape, and many more to taste and take your pick of.

Please note that Eric Ristey and Erlandson Realty are a independent Real estate Company that puts our client first. Specializing in the "buyer" We believe that the quality of service long surpasses the quantity. You see we do now want to be every body's real estate agent, but we do want to be yours. Eric Ristey and Erlandson Realty specialize in SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN real estate.

Seven hawks Vineyards, One mile north of the bluffs of SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN. overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River Valley. Located in Buffalo County in the Fountain City area. Vineyards include 18,000 northern hybrid grape vines, along with 500 plum and cherry trees, making them one of the largest vineyards in the Upper Mid West. All wines are made from 100% locally grown grapes and fruit. Wine styles include, Old fashioned Frontier Red, made with valient grapes along with Piporia Grapes. making this a hearty wine, you can serve with cold meats, pork, beef and wild game such as venison. Prairie Star, La Crescent Reserve, a white table wine produced from estate grown La Crescent Grapes planted on the steep bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.Smiling Moon, Ridge Top Apple. This is a small list of wines that are available through this wine maker.

New Glarus Primorse Winery, there motto is Where you're as welcome as the flowers in May! They offer a wide selection of wines primarilly from grapes grown here in SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN. Looking for that dinner, dessert wine or wines, or maybe just a glass for the fun of it.  New Glarus Primrose winery offers whatever you are looking for. Hey, ask them about their personalized wine labels. Wine styles offered include Apfelmost, a spiced apple wine that is excellent served heated with a stick of Cinnamon. Autum Wine, Classic American Red, Holiday Wine, fresh cranberries are used to make this wine, fantastic with all holiday dinners. New Glarus Red, Primrose Blush, Red and White Wines, The Wedding Wine, are among the list of their specialty wines that are available at this SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN winery.

Last but certainly not least, one of the more famous SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN wineries is the Wollersheim Winery. This winery sits on a scenic hillside over looking the Wisconsin River. This Prairie du Sac location was first selected for vineyards in the 1840's. Twenty-Five acres of planted vineyards most of it devoted to winter hearty french American hybrids, and other experimental varieties. They make 5 different wines from their vineyards. Prairie Blush, Prairie Red from the young flat vineyards. Ruby Nouveau and Domaine du Sac from the medium sloped vineyards and Domaine Reserve from the oldest and steepest vineyards. Other wine styles include, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Prairie Sunburst Red, Prairie Fume, White Riesling, and a Dry Riesling, Eagle White, and Ice Wine, their 5th Ice Wine. This is a small list of all the wines they have available at their winery.

I hope that you will take the time to visit the individual wineries and sample the unique flavors each one has available. It truly is worthy of several weekend trips. For more information on this, and any other information you would like regarding SOUTH WEST WISCONSIN, please visit Eric Ristey's web-site, or call Eric at 1-800-771-4259. Till next time!

View Larger Map