Lake Wisconsin AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1994 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Wisconsin, Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 140–160 days |
| Climate region | Continental (Dbf and Daf) |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 29 in (740 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Mixed mineral material, silty or loamy texture underlain by gravelly or sandy loam glacial till or by dolomitic bedrock |
| Total area | 28,000 acres (44 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 23+ acres (9.3+ ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 1 |
| Grapes produced | La Crosse, Léon Millot, Marechal Foch, St. Pepin, Seyval Blanc |
| No. of wineries | 1 |
Lake Wisconsin is the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) designated in the State of Wisconsin located in its south-central region within Columbia and Dane Counties. The appellation was established as the nation's 123rd and the state's initial AVA on January 5, 1994 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Charles W. Dean, Viticultural Area Consultant, on behalf of Robert P. Wollersheim and JoAnn I. Wollersheim, proprietors and landowners of Wollersheim Winery near Prairie du Sac, proposing a viticultural area known as "Lake Wisconsin."
The Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin outline the wine appellation's western and northern borders. The first grapes were planted in the area by Agoston Haraszthy in 1847, before he migrated to California. Most vineyards in the area are planted at elevations between 800 and 900 feet (240–270 m) above sea level. The area soils are gravel and sandy loam from glacial deposits. French hybrid grapes have had the most success in the Lake Wisconsin viticultural area, and the most important grape varietal grown in the area is Marechal Foch.
In 2009, Lake Wisconsin became a sub-appellation within the vast 19 million acres (29,914 sq mi) Upper Mississippi River Valley viticultural area which currently is the largest AVA in the nation. Wollersheim Winery is the sole winery with vintages whose labels bear the Lake Wisconsin appellation name.