Wollersheim Winery, Distillery & Bistro

Overview of the Distillery

Wollersheim lies on a sloping vineyard opposite Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, and combines a historic brandy tradition from the 1840s with modern on-site fermentation and distillation of handmade spirits. The family behind produces wines, brandies and experimental spirit releases, presented in a Distillery Store that is open daily, with tastings and cocktails.

History

Wollersheim emerged in the 1840s and has, through generations, evolved from a local winery to a recognized player in the Midwest wine industry. The established brandy production has paved the way for on-site fermentation and distillation of spirits alongside the wine production. In recent years, the distillery has launched seasonal releases and experimental series, such as Curiosity Collection No. 16, Barrel Aged Gin, and hosts events like Summer Serenade and Summer Old Fashioned Fridays, where the distillery's spirits are featured in tastings and cocktails.

Raw materials and production

Production takes place on-site and combines wine and spirit production. The raw materials are collectively referred to as 'grapes & grains', and the distillery works with on-site fermentation and distillation of handcrafted batches rather than mass production. The family profile shapes the work, and experiments with barrel-aging as well as seasonal releases are undertaken. The Distillery Store and cocktail service enable tasting the products directly on site.

Aging and barrel types

Wollersheim uses barrel-aging as part of developing new spirit releases. A concrete example is Curiosity Collection No. 16, which is a barrel-aged gin. The website does not detail barrel types or previous contents, but shows that casks and barrel requests are part of the distillery's practice and experiments.

Whiskies

The range includes handcrafted distilled spirits and brandies, complemented by experimental collections under the Curiosity Collection. Curiosity Collection No. 16, Barrel Aged Gin, is a recently released product. The products are featured in daily tastings, cocktails and sales in the Distillery Store and are presented as an extension of Wollersheim's wine and brandy tradition.

Visit the distillery

The distillery is open daily; standard hours are 12:00–17:00 with extended Summer Friday Hours 12:00–18:00 for special events. The Distillery Store sells distilled products, glassware and gifts. Daily tastings, cocktails and flight tastings are offered without advance reservation, while special bookable experiences are announced separately. The venue is smoke-free; guests are asked to remain in public areas, and dogs are allowed in designated outdoor areas.

The stated hours are Distillery: open daily 12:00–17:00; Summer Friday Hours 12:00–18:00. Distillery Store open daily 12:00–17:00. Winery and Bistro have their own hours.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Wollersheim prioritizes family-owned, handcrafted production and the continuation of the local wine and brandy tradition. At the same time, experiments in barrel-aging and seasonal releases are pursued to continually expand the range of distilled spirits.