Owner and head winemaker
Wollersheim Winery | Prairie du Sac
Philippe Coquard is the head winemaker and co-owner of Wollersheim Winery, a popular wine destination in Sauk County.
A 13th-generation winemaker, Coquard grew up on his family’s farm in the Beaujolais region of France and holds degrees in winemaking, viticulture and wine marketing. He joined Wollersheim on an agricultural exchange in 1984 and later became the son-in-law of its founder, the late Bob Wollersheim. Today, he leads the business with his wife, Julie.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Wisconsin River in the Lake Wisconsin viticultural area, Wollersheim produces more than 1 million bottles of wine each year and draws more than 350,000 people to Prairie du Sac annually. The winery sources about 85% of its fruit from out of state and grows the remainder on its 30-acre vineyard.
Its most renowned wine, Prairie Fumé, debuted in the late 1980s and played a pivotal role in elevating Wollersheim’s reputation. The winery has expanded significantly over the years, enhancing both its production capabilities and retail presence. The winery diversified in 2015 by opening a distillery, where it produces gin, absinthe, whiskey and bourbon. Today, family members work at the winery and distillery in various areas, including winemaking, distilling, marketing, vineyard and the stores.
Wollersheim was honored with the Winery of the Year award at the San Diego International Wine Competition in 2012 and with the Riverside International Wine Competition’s Small Winery of the Year in 2015.
Wollersheim also owns Cedar Creek Winery, located in Cedarburg, as a sister business.
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Manufacturing | Food & Beverage
Owner and head winemaker
Wollersheim Winery | Prairie du Sac
Born and raised in the Beaujolais region of France, Philippe Coquard joined Wollersheim Winery in Sauk County in 1984 as its winemaker. A 13th-generation winemaker, Coquard grew up working on his family’s farm and went on to earn degrees in winemaking, viticulture and wine marketing.
After moving to the Prairie du Sac winery, Coquard later became a son-in-law of its founder, the late Bob Wollersheim. Today, Coquard co-owns the business with his wife and Bob’s daughter, Julie Coquard. Members of their family work in various areas of the business, including winemaking, distilling, marketing, the vineyard and the stores.
Overlooking the Wisconsin River on a hill in the Lake Wisconsin viticultural area, Wollersheim produces over 1 million bottles of wine annually. The business has expanded over the years with several additions, growing its production capacity and retail operations. Its best-known and most popular wine is Prairie Fumé, which is credited with helping raise Wollersheim’s profile when it was introduced in the late-1980s.
Wollersheim won the Winery of the Year award in 2012 at the San Diego International Wine Competition. In 2015, the business opened its distillery, selling gin, absinthe, whiskey and bourbon. Wollersheim also owns Cedar Creek Winery, a sister business located in Cedarburg.
