Fox River Mills

Wisconsinites officially love wine, with growers and buyers on the rise

In a state known for its love of beer and brewing heritage forts, guys like Allan and Tomesch Harald Haas could be swimming against the current.

But their new winery and vineyard, located near Grafton, is among the last signs of the growing strength of the wine industry in Wisconsin. As Americans uncork more bottles, they face more choices - including the vintage is far from the Napa Valley, south of France and other traditional local wine.

"It is not surprising that the wine is beginning to rival beer in Wisconsin," said Tomesch, co-owner of the vineyard grape Chiseled, which recently opened in an old country school in Port Washington, and Lakefield Road.

Tomesch may be exaggerated things a bit, as MillerCoors LLC, No. 2 brewer of the nation, based its headquarters in Milwaukee Eastern Division, not to mention dozens of craft brewers scattered across the state. But there are indications that grape stompers are gaining ground:

 The Wisconsin Winery Association has 48 members, compared with just 14 members eight years ago, said President Jon Hamilton, who operates White Winter Winery in Iron River. The state has 73 wineries, including nonmembers, with eight more start-up wineries obtaining their federal licenses, according to a new survey conducted by the Wisconsin Grape Growers Association.

 New wineries include Chiselled Grape, as well as Fisher King Winery, which opens in August in Mount Horeb, and Lewis Station Winery, which opened this summer in Lake Mills. Lewis Station is operated by Rob Lewis, a sommelier and wine shop operator who expects the winery to have its own wines available by late September. The two other companies were founded by amateur winemakers who are investing money earned in other professions and businesses. Tomesch is a theology professor at Concordia University Wisconsin, and Haas operates H2D Inc., a Milwaukee brand marketing firm. Fisher King owner Alwyn Fitzgerald is a former biotech executive.

 Other Wisconsin wineries are expanding.They include Door Peninsula Winery in Sturgeon Bay, which recently added more production space, and Vetro Winery, which moves in August from its current home near Concord, County of Jefferson, to more building at Sanctuary Ridge, a new development on the eastern edge of town of Jefferson.

The first Wisconsin State Fair Professional Wine Competition was held in June Some of the winning wines will be part of the tasting to celebrate All Star Blue Ribbon Wisconsin specialty foods and beverages, from 6 to 21 hours Saturday at State Fair Park Expo Center.

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