Trout Springs Winery is actually just one part of a bigger company, Branch River Farms, which is Wisconsin's only licensed fish hatchery, plant nursery, and winery all under one roof. The owners are big thinkers who don't like to sit still, so there's a little bit of everything at their location in Greenleaf.
This gorgeous space is one of a kind, with so much to do on site. They're green certified, have award winning wines, offer amazing glamping packages, do on-site dinners and so much more.
The area around Green Bay and up through Door County is called the Wisconsin Ledge. It's the result of ancient glacial movement and the unusual soil combined with a climate created by the presence of Lake Michigan makes this a spectacular place to grow grapes. The lake stores warmth and creates an almost vacuum-like suction that keeps cold air from ever settling over the grapes.
The area’s temperate climate rivals that of some of the best grape-growing regions on earth. It is actually very similar to the Napa Valley growing region, something owner Steve DeBaker realized. The Federal Government officially identifies prime grape-producing locations as AVA's - American Viticulture Areas. That notifies consumers that the best grapes are being grown there in prime condition. DeBaker gathered the paperwork and petitioned the government to label nearly 4,000 square miles of the Niagara Escarpment as an AVA. In 2012, the area received the designation. DeBaker and Trout Springs Winery were named Wisconsin Vineyard of the Year for this accomplishment.
That awesome temperate climate and soil creates some incredibly delicious wines.
Something customers and contests have been acknowledging for years.
They also have beer on site, if that's more your thing - provided exclusively to them by Fox River Brewing.
Glamping here is as good as it gets. Spacious tents are perched on platforms and outfitted with antique beds and furniture, refrigerators, microwaves, lights.
Plus your own personal porta-potty is included (that's the extent of roughing it). Meals are optional, wine essential.
Check their events page to see their meal event schedule. You'll get expertly crafted meals paired with their wines for an incredible price.
The farm is committed to sustainability. One awesome thing they do is reducing the use of insecticides in the vineyard by incorporating a flock of 30 chickens to curtail insects naturally. The chickens eat any insect that moves and in return they lay blue eggs that they sell.
They have also transitioned to only using geothermal energy, dropping their carbon emissions by 68 percent.
The hatchery was designed with water conservation in mind. They have an artesian well and the water is moved through the hatchery using gravity.
There's so much to see and do here and they're such an important part of the local culture and the wine business in Wisconsin.
Trout Springs Winery is located at 8150 River Road Greenleaf, WI 54126.
Looking for more wine from this awesome region? Make sure you check out The Wisconsin Wine Trolley Tour You’ll Absolutely Love.
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