staller estate winery

Friends and I went to the Christmas inspired Wine and Dine yesterday and it was fantastic!!! I have been a patron of Staller's since they opened but this is the first Wine and Dine that I have been able to attend. The wines are always wonderful and the Black Sheep menu was delicious! Wendy and Joe along with Tyler and his staff did a great job. It is always such a treat to visit with Wendy and Joe to have a glass of wine and catch up. I have said many times that when they started this endeavor of a life time they were ones that would always " do it right"!!!!! Their wines are spot on in flavor and price! My husband loved dropping in or making a special trip to have some Horizon Cuvee and I continue to bring as many friends to experience this as often as possible! Thanks guys for a great afternoon and bringing some Christmas cheer to my season!!!! I highly recommend this winery for everyone's Christmas and New Year's wines!!!

Thank you for the kind words. We are always happy to assist you in finding just the right wine for your taste. We have a full variety red, white, dry, sweet. We even offer seasonal wines, ports and like you mention Ice Wine. Natural Ice Wine I will add, naturally frozen on the vine, harvested frozen, crush and pressed all while frozen. If you are a wine lover, wine expert or just someone trying for the first time, we are here to help. We believe that the best wine is the wine that fits your taste, the wine YOU LIKE!!

Wendy is very passionate about her winemaking. She is always happy to share that passion with a private tour and tasting. There are two places you will usually find Wendy, in the winery or in the vineyard, and two things she is usually doing, making wine or giving a tour and tasting. Along with the impromptu tours she also gives private tastings which is a group event that includes a full tour of the vineyard and winery facility followed by a sit down tasting of Staller Estate Wines paired with artisan Wisconsin cheese, freshly baked bread and chocolate tasting. These are very popular events and require reservations. Be assured that Wendy will give you an Outstanding Staller Estate Winery Memory!!

Thank you for the review. We are glad that you had an enjoyable time at Staller Estate Winery. We strive to give every guest to the Estate a great experience. Wendy and I are very passionate about wine but more importantly we strive to make every guest leave a friend and wine lover. Wendy and I also offer personal vineyard and winery tours and are always happy to show how we grow grapes and make wine at Staller Estate Winery. Guest can schedule tours in advance at our website or calling ahead to make sure we are not up to our elbows in grapes our just stop in and we might just put you to work pressing them!!Thanks and we hope to see you again soonJoe Staller

Thank you very much for visiting Staller Estate Winery. We are located in the picturesque farm country of the Kettle Moraine of Southeastern Wisconsin, conveniently located between Lake Geneva, Delavan Lake, Janesville and Whitewater. Along with the wines that you enjoyed during your visit we also offer an extensive selection of Wisconsin cheeses, chocolates from around the world, freshly baked bread, olive salads and dried fruits and nuts. We also offer tours of the Staller Estate Vineyard and Winery, usually guided by the winemaker, Wendy Staller. Wendy Loves to share her passion for wine with quests.Thank you again for stopping and we hope you will return soon!!

We are glad that you had an enjoyable time at Staller Estate Winery. You are correct, we are in the quite seclusion of the country but believe it or not we are actually on a very "well beaten path" you see we are located on Walworth County Road A which was actually an Indian trail before Southeastern Wisconsin was settled. It has since become the fastest (and most scenic route) between Milwaukee and HWY 43 and Janesville. Here are some directions from the most populous places around.Winery directions from Lake Geneva, Milwaukee, Madison or Janesville:Milwaukee: I-43 South to Darien Exit #15, North on 14 which becomes Hwy 89- 8 miles to County Hwy A, turn East 1/4 mile.Madison: I90 East 30 miles to Janesville Exit 171C, drive 2 miles to Hwy 14, then East on County Hwy A 11 miles.Lake Geneva: Hwy 12 north 13 miles to County Hwy A, then West 10 miles.Janesville: 11 miles East on County Hwy A.GPS Coordinates: N42° 43.0183′ W88° 44.3501′Thank you again for visiting and we hope you visit again soon!!

Wisconsin’s best STALLER ESTATE WINERY GARNERS TOP AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE By A. J. GoldsmithStaller’s Can’t Miss Sign on County Highway AIn 2013, Staller Estate Winery was chosen from among a dozen other wineries and named SE Wisconsin’s #1 Winery by WINS-TV12.This was quite a monumental award for a family-farm vineyard. Staller’s launched in 2007 by Wendy and Joe Staller with a production of 7,000 bottles from contracted grapes. In 2013 Staller Estate Winery produced 40,000 bottles of a dozen different varieties and added 620 bottles of Ice Wine in January, 2014. To date, Staller Estate Winery has earned some 50 awards (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2010 among others) for its wines, including ones from the Tasters Guild of Michigan, Indiana International Wine Competition at Purdue University in conjunction with the Indiana State Fair and New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Festival International Competition where all proceeds go to Camp Good Days.This family-farm vineyard and winery is located on County Road A in Southeast Wisconsin’s Walworth County within the Delevan zip codeIn Wisconsin, a state that boasts of producing cheese, beer and brats, there is now wine to brag about. The Wisconsin Wine Association counts 45 members but other sources count is near 60.The Stallers were classmates at the University of Wisconsin/Whitewater where they both majored in chemistry and biology. Wendy is from East Troy and Joe is from Germantown, near Milwaukee, where he grew up on a dairy farm and gained valuable experience that he has put to work in the wine operation.Wendy Staller is the winery’s chief vintner, executive officer and operating officer. There are just a few women vintners in America. Increasingly, women are heading American businesses today. To cite a few: IBM’s CEO is Virginia M. Rometty, Meg Whitman heads up Hewlett Packard and Ellen Kullman is CEO at DuPont. In the food business, Patricia Woertz is CEO at Archer Daniels Midland, Indra Nooy leads Pepsico and Irene Rosenfeld runs Mondelez International, the Kraft spinoff.Wendy Staller has a way to go to catch these other ladies of industry, but she is well on her way. Wendy was an avid gardener and loved to cook. Husband Joe was a home brewer. Together, they came to the conclusion that brewing 10 gallons of beer took just as much effort and time as brewing 100 gallons.Wasn’t winemaking just gardening and chemistry together, they thought?Winemaking appealed to the chemist in the Stallers. Wendy’s passion for gardening also fit in. Wendy Staller Wendy Staller among the Vines, Early May, 2014Wendy went to check it out. She enrolled in an oenology course at the University of California/Davis. (Oenology is the study of wine and winemaking). Alcohol is produced in a fermenting (chemical) process using yeast to react with the sugars of the grape. The chemical content of soil is broken down into substances such as clay, sand, limestone and sand/gravel combinations. Wendy’s bent for gardening also fit the challenge. Grape- vine cuttings are planted and pampered for several years when they top out at about seven feet.Wendy talked to this writer about starting the business and some of the obstacles she and her husband had to overcome.“I had no business background, so I have had to learn from the ground up, literally,” Wendy says.Once the Stallers decided to proceed with the winery, they had to find a place and learning how to deal with local officials and ordinances. The challenge was to find a suitable property that had the required “setbacks” to meet zoning requirements, that was affordable and that “just made sense.” “Finally, it all came together at our current location and the business was born.”Securing the proper equipment for wine production was a task in itself. Growing up on a dairy farm, Joe Staller was able to adapt readily available dairying equipment for some winemaking purposes. Other specialized equipment had to be secured from sources in the United States, Canada and Italy.Wendy remembers well the winery’s first years especially having to use a hand-held device to cork the initial 7,000 bottles. One of her first management decisions was to mechanize the corking process. Staller Estate’s first wines appeared in 2007. These were Horizon Cuvee, Estate Blanc, Maiden Blush, Richmond Rouge and Lady in Red at prices ranging from $9.50-$14.50. All are still offered today (see below). Officially, Wendy is the vintner, or wine maker. Joe is an R &D chemist for a local company; however, his input and chemical knowledge are critical ingredients to Staller’s success. He lauds Wendy’s sense of taste.Opened in 2008, Staller Estate’s retail store and winery is surrounded by two acres of grapes of three varieties that were planted in 2008 and yielded their first fruit in 2011. There is another acre of grapes a short distance away; additional grapes are contracted from growers in Illinois and Wisconsin.These on-site varieties are Marechol Foch, Frontenac and La Crescent. All are suitable for Wisconsin’s cooler climate. They provide Ruby Port, Release 5 and Reserve La Crescent. STALLER VINYARD MAY 31, 2014Named for the most important French general of World War I, Marechol Foch is a red grape that ripens early in colder regions.Frontenac is a hybrid French/American, blue-black grape that grows in large clusters, thrives in low temperatures and is very disease resistant. It has a cherry aroma and tastes of blackberry, currant and plum. It can be a red, rosé, or port. (In the interest of full disclosure, this writer is partial to Staller’s Red Dessert Port with currant and toasted oak flavors).La Crescent is a high-acidity, white grape that can be pampered into a dry to sweet white wine or dessert wine. Most of the grapes are handpicked during September. Winemaking begins immediately. First to be picked are La Crescent, followed by Frontenac and then Marechol Foch. The last grapes are not picked until January when they are frozen so little water is present when the frozen grapes are pressed and processed into wine. The resulting Ice Wine has a deep golden color with concentrated aromas of apricot, clover and honey, imparting a silky feeling to the palate. At the top of Staller’s line, a 375 ml bottle of Ice Wine sells for $46.95.All of Staller’s winemaking, bottling (700 per hour), corking, labeling and packaging are done at the Staller site.Winemaking is a 5 a.m. to whenever job. Early in the morning Wendy walks by the vines looking to remove all unwanted branches that may have popped out during the night and divert nourishment from the grapes.Nothing is added to Staller wines, Wendy told us. Different yeast strains are used in the fermenting process that also uses oak chips and takes place in steel tanks for periods of time from four months to two years.When Wendy is not tending the vines, she is running the retail store that in addition to selling their wines offers cheese and handicrafts. Operating a winery and retail business is not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job, it is more like a 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. job.When I returned to interview Wendy for a second time at the end of May, I waved a greeting to her as she was sitting on a power mower cutting the grass in and around the grape vines that had filled out significantly from my visit just two weeks previously. Attached to the store, the Stallers recently added a party room for wine-tasting, business meetings, bridal showers, weddings and other community events. The room is tastefully decorated with original paintings by local artists. There are also ample outdoor areas for events. Serious patrons are encouraged to sample and several young assistants are very helpful in making selections. The Stallers are waiting patiently for their three children, ages 3, 4 and 13, to join the business.Wendy Staller at the “Wine Tasting” BarOff all her chores, Wendy ranks bookkeeping at the top of her most hated list and probably has hiring a bookkeeper on the top of her wish list. Today, Staller offers 14 varieties: there are five reds and five whites, a white port and red port, a blush and the Ice Wine. Staller Estate's wines retail from $9.95-$46.95.Staller Estate is located at W8896 County Highway A, Delevan, WI 53115. In June, July and August, Staller’s is open every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Otherwise, from September 1-May 30 Staller’s is closed Monday and Tuesday.From Elkhorn, WI, U.S. Highway 12/67 runs north for just about five miles before branching. About halfway to the branch, 12/67 intersects with County Highway A (long ago this was the route of stagecoaches traveling between Milwaukee and Janesville). Staller Estate is located 10 miles west of this intersection. It is just 11 miles east for the traveler from Janesville along County Highway A or a dozen miles north of Delevan take County O to County A. From Lake Geneva, 25 miles away, take State Highway 67 through Elkhorn to 12/67.Staller Estate Winery telephone: (608) 883-2100 / WEB www.stallerestate.comSTALLER ESTATE’S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WINES (2014)Reserve La Crescent, a dry, oak-aged white with forward notes of apricot & sweet-cream butter followed by ripe pear, chalk mineralogy and aged vanilla spice. $16.50Blanc de Crescent, a dry, white wine with a hint of apricot and clove. $14.50Rock Valley White, an off-dry, white wine with exotic aromas of tropical pineapple. $11.50Whitewater Rush, a semi-dry with intense grape aroma. $11.50Horizon Cuvee, a semi-dry, full framed white wine with distinct grapefruit citrus aroma followed by a lingering palate of fresh fruit. $9.95Estate Blanc, An excellently balanced, semi-sweet luscious in peach and apple flavors. $9.95Maiden Blush, a semi-dry blush wine with a strong strawberry aroma and subtle floral and citrus tones. $10.95Estate Reserve, a medium-bodied, dry red, slightly spicy with a hint of oak. $16.50Reserve Selection 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied dry, oak-aged with an excellent robust character followed by a leathery linger. $19.95Release 5, a dry red firmly textured with aromas of fresh berry and oak. $16.50Lady in Red, a semi-dry red wine with deep aromas of dark cherry and raspberry. $15.95Richmond Rouge, this semi-sweet wine is made from the freshest Concord grapes, bursting with flavor and antioxidants. $9.95Ouro Classico, a creamy white port aged for two years with flavors of dried fruit and roasted nuts. $16.50Ruby Classico, a red port, bold and bursting with flavors of currant and toasted oak. $14.50Ice Wine, aromas of honeysuckle, apricot rind, a hint of cascade hop all with a sweet, silky feel to the mouth. $46.95

Thank you very much for stopping at Staller Estate Winery, and for the very kind words. We are a family farm vineyard and winery in the lush and fertile farm country of Walworth county Wisconsin, welcoming all our guests as neighbors and friends. We are glad that you enjoyed our wine flight, it is a very relaxing way to do a wine tasting at Staller Estate Winery. We also offer a number of food pairings with the wine flights such as many Wisconsin cheeses, freshly baked bread, cured meats, olive salads, dried fruits, artisan chocolates and we are always adding new and seasonal choices. We also offer winery tours and private wine tastings, just ask for Wendy or Joe and we would love to share our passion with you.

Thank you for the kinds words! We are glad you had a great time, as this is what we strive for.We do offer tours, Wendy and I are always happy to show you around and share our passion for wine, the vineyard and wine growing. Seeing you are a winemaker too, next time you stop out we would love to talk shop with you and go into the intricacies of our process and equipment.We are glad that you enjoyed our cheese, meat and freshly baked bread. We are always adding new cured meats, cheeses and chocolates as well as other seasonal options. This summer, we have two sorbets made with our wine and gelatos to complement our wines and the hot summer season.Hope to see you again soon!!

We love when guests picnic at Staller Estate Winery, thank you for having a great time. There is always a place to put out a spread of food and a bottle of wine, summer, winter or anywhere in-between. Our Sun-room and indoor Gazebo are great when mother nature is not cooperating and when she is, we plenty of outdoor space to for a secluded romantic picnic spot. You are free to bring your own picnic or we can provide great food and wine pairings. We have a vast selection of artisan Wisconsin cheeses, we bake fresh bread daily and many other options. We are also updating and changing our menu to offer new and seasonal selections for all your wine pairing passions.Hope to see you back soon, thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to share your Staller Estate Winery Experience. We are happy that you had a nice time and enjoy visiting us. As you mentioned, Wendy and I are always happy to share our wine passion with visitors and make it a goal to give everyone that visits The Estate, a great winery experience. Christmas is a great time it visit and see the decorations as well as shop, we carry very unique gifts for everyone and our course the wine lover! We also have special event during the holidays, cork craft project days, live Christmas music, holiday inspired wine pairing dinners and much more. Actually, any time of year is a great time to visit Staller Estate Winery and we are open year-round. We have events that feature all the seasons and why they are important to the winery and a great wine experience. We look forward to your next visit!!

Thank you for the great review. Wendy says hello and she had a very nice time sharing her passion for wine with you both!! We are also glad you had a GPS as we are off the beaten path, and quiet seclusion from our busy lives! But we are a 15-20 minute drive from Delavan, Lake Geneva, Whitewater, Janesville, Elkhorn and about 25 minutes from the Wisconsin Illinois border. We are also happy to give easy directions if you give us a quick call. We have followed a unique path in this endeavor, but it all stems from our love for family, passion for farming and appreciation of wine aesthetic. Typically you will find Wendy and I either sharing a wine tasting with a guest, tending the vineyard fields or caring for our growing family. All activities we have a great love and passion for!BTW we also sell at least 5 different types of corkscrews, some with a better price than Wal-mart ;)Hope to see you again soon!

Thank you for stopping back in at Staller Estate Winery. We are very proud of all of the loyal customer that we have and are very grateful to all of you, THANK YOU. The Ruby Classico PORT wine release was a great success and another great vintage. We have numerous events throughout the year; special wine releases that include Wisconsin cheese, artisan chocolate and gourmet food pairings, Wine pairing dinners, private wine tastings, cork craft events vineyard activities and many more. We typically have something going every week. Stop in again soon so you do not miss any excitement!!

Thank you very much for the kind words!! We are very happy that you had a nice time and that we were able to give you a unique Wisconsin Winery experience. You are correct, all our wines are made on-site from cold hardy grape varieties. Your choice, The Horizon Cuvee, is our most popular white wine. We also have other wines types from Port Wine and Ice Wine to dry oak-aged red wines. We also offer light food options to pair with the wines including over a dozen artisan Wisconsin Cheeses, cured meats, olives, fruit and bread baked fresh daily. We are also always adding new wines and food options.We look forward to your return visit, and another Great Wisconsin Wine experience. :)

Thank you for visiting Staller Estate Winery, we are glad that you had a nice time and that you found some wines that you liked. Our goal is to have great wines for everyone and every level of wine passion. We also strive to make a the wine tasting experience enjoyable, educational and completely unintimidating. We also have a multitude of wine-food pairing options from cured meats, bread baked fresh daily and many types of chocolates and truffles. Also, thank you for coming from Madison. We actually have quite a number of customers from Madison that enjoy fresh locally made products. We are off the beaten path our farm Estate is in the quiet country setting but we are centrally located between Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. We are about 15 miles from Lake Geneva, 10 miles from Delavan and Janesville and 5 miles from Whitewater. Thanks again for stopping and we look forward to your return to the winery!!Joe and Wendy Staller