Steve De BakerTrout Springs Winery

Wayside, Wisconsin

Part of the

What is an AVA?Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Tax – Sec. 9.3 & 4.25(e)2 and 70.701 (c)

American Viticultural Area – A delimited grape-growing area with distinguishable features.

The boundaries of which have been approved and established by the TTB and published in 27

CFR Part 9 of the Federal Regulations.

Information to establish an AVA must contain:

1. Evidence that the name of the AVA is locally and/or nationally known;

2. Historical evidence of the proposed area;

3. Evidence relating to geographical features (soil, climate, physical & geographical features, etc.) which distinguish the viticultural factors of the landscape as compared to the surrounding area;

4. Specific boundaries of the AVA based on features which can be found on USGS maps of the largest applicable scale, and;

5. The appropriate boundary maps with the boundaries prominently marked.

FAST FACTS:

N/S Distance = 172 Mi.

E/W Distance = 49 Mi.

Area = 3,791 Sq. Mi. or

2.43 MILLION acres

Niagara Escarpment• 650 mile long international landform

• Edge of ancient Michigan Basin• Fractured bedrock geology (karst)

Glacial Tills• unsorted till• boulder clay

• stratified gravel, sand

& clay

Soils

Proximity to Water• Lake Michigan

• Green Bay• Lake Winnebago

• Horicon Marsh

Wind Speeds•Elevation

•Water bodies act as accelerator

Lake Effects•Temperature Moderation

•Acts as “heat sink”•Cools slower in fall

Marine Influence

14.5-15.7 mph!

10.0 mph

Moisture / Humidity•Condensation & Fog

•Open refrigerator door effect•Warm days/cool nights

•Non-measurable precipitation

Climatological Data

Comparisons to Other Stations•Cumulative effects (spring/fall)•Extended growing seasons

•Avg. 44 days longer between all stations reporting•Longer growing seasons on front & back end•of each growing cycle

•Allows grapes to fully ripen with longer hang times

Source: K. Pelkey, 2007

GIS Analysis of ‘terrior”• Soils, minerals

• Permeability• Slope (12-15% avg.)

• Aspect (SW-S)• Elevation (varies)

• Depth to Groundwater (drainage)• Depth to Bedrock (drainage)

Landscape Potential

Grapes don’t like ‘wet feet’!

Amending sites w/drain tile

Higher elevations best

Suitable Cultivars•Cold-Hardy

•Full crop after -30 deg. Winter!

Right Grapes for the right area

Frontenac

Frontenac Gris

Marquette

Pictures courtesy of University of Minnesota

St. Croix

Map of the Wisconsin Ledge Wine Trail

With about 320 acres now planted within the AVA, and another 100 proposed within the next year; The Wisconsin Ledge AVA boasts over 20 bonded wineries, and countless vineyards.

Since it’s inception in 2012, wineries in the state have increased from about 55 to well over 100, as Wisconsin ranks 13th

in the nation with wineries per capita.

Wisconsin Ledge AVA

20 Bonded Wineries scattered within the AVA top to bottom

At least 100 acres of additional vineyards planted within the AVA to supplement grapes to Wineries

AVA Wine Trail area covers 3800 square miles

Area stretches 138 miles in length to 55 miles wide at its widest point

TSW Birthplace of the Wisconsin Ledge AVA

On April 23rd 2012, after 7 long years and countless rewrites, Trout Springs Winery was granted the Wisconsin Ledge AVA appellation of origin.

The Wisconsin Ledge became the 203rd AVA in the US

With just under 2.5 million acres, it is the 12th largest AVA in the US

Over 4000 hours, 200 pages, and 100 exhibits of substantiated documentation was presented to the TTB

Natural wonders in MinnesotaSt. Croix River, Eagle Mountain, Gooseberry Falls, Palisade Head, Artist Point, Devils Kettle, BWCA, Blue Mounds, Ouimet Canyon

Boundary Waters Makes 1 of 50 top Canoe Area Tourist attractions

Minnesota gains a ½ Plant Zone

A sliver of Minnesota is officially in USDA Zone 5, according to the new hardiness zone map released today by the USDA, the first update to the map since 1990. Beyond that corner of Jackson and Martin Counties going officially zone 5 (a place where the lowest winter temperatures don’t sink below -20 degrees F — like say, Chicago), a huge chunk of Minnesota is now rated zone 4b (lowest temp: -25) and the area around St. Cloud has shifted from borderline zone 3 to a firm zone 4a — break out the Japanese maples! 1-25-12

Sustainability & ConservationGreen Masters Certification

Ambassadors of the Earth

We rely on the Earth more than most, toiling in soil and water almost daily to produce grapes and fish. We understand the importance of conservation, and the protection of our environment through sustainable practices is a priority. Our mission is to be environmental stewards of the world we will pass on to future generations.

Because of the sustainability successes listed below, we were granted Green Masters Program Certification from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council in 2016.

Converting to Geothermal EnergyWe once burned coal, wood, and fuel oil to heat our winery and home. Then, during the fall of 2014, after two years of

researching wind and solar renewable resources, we opted to go geothermal.Geothermal energy is heat energy generated and stored in the Earth. We decided to construct two geothermal systems—one for

the winery and one for our adjacent home—to provide both heating and air conditioning. Extensive excavation and retrofitting wasnecessary and the new geothermal systems took nearly 20 months to complete. But boy was it worth it.

Our total carbon emissions dropped a staggering 68 percent! We no longer burn: three tons of coal per month, equal to 11,220 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2); three full cords of wood per month, equal to 22,176 pounds of CO2; 100 gallons of fuel oil per month, equal to 2,240 pounds of CO2.

We also incorporated a duct sealing product that makes sure the conditioned air goes where it’s supposed to.The benefits have been amazing economically as well as ecologically. We have saved an average of $6,000 annually with our

current geothermal system.

Insect Reduction Via ChickensWe have reduced our use of insecticides in the vineyard by incorporating a flock of 30 chickens to curtail insects naturally. These Americana chickens eat any insect that moves and in return they lay blue eggs that we sell in the winery (this species lays blueeggs naturally, not from eating grapes, but it makes for a great story).

Carbon Sequestration in the VineyardWe also have incorporated techniques for carbon sequestration in our five-acre vineyard. Studies have shown that long-term

storage of carbon can be accomplished through non-disturbance of soils, and intake of carbon through vines through photosynthesis.

Approximately two kilograms of organic soil carbon can be sequestered for one foot of soil depth. And 1.87 kilograms of carbon per vine can be sequestered. After 21 years of vines in place, this value increases to 3.60 kilograms of carbon per vine.

Not disturbing the cover crop between the rows of grapes and allowing the vine canopy to grow vertically has led to a yearly carbon sequestration of just under the equivalent of one ton of CO2 per year without affecting our crop.

Minimum Water Usage Achieved in Branch River Trout HatcheryWe were able to achieve minimum water usage in our Class A private trout hatchery. Our artesian well produces about 30

gallons per minute. In the design stage of our raceways, we incorporated a gravity flow through system to utilize all water flowing from one raceway to the next, thereby saving water from just a single pass system through each raceway, something industry leaders said could not be done.

However, in 2012, Branch River Trout Hatchery was recognized by the US Department of Agriculture as the largest private producer of brook trout in Wisconsin!

St. Croix

Chickens at the Coop

Hawk Kites Balloons and Bird Scares All we need is a couple of sheep

Sustainable techniques are labor intensive and somewhat short lived, so timing of these techniques are critical usually after the crop

turns color

Fred and Barney

St. Croix

Raw Skins & Seeds

St. Croix

Capsule MakingTable

Suitable Cultivars•Cold-Hardy

•Full crop after -30 deg. Winter!

Growing Grapes

St. Croix

Fining Powder

St. Croix

Filling Capsules

St. Croix

Finished / LoadedCapsules

St. Croix

Packaged Product

St. Croix

Healthy Choyce Cheddar

St. Croix

Chocolate Wine Bars& Truffles

2012 Winery of the Year Award!

2017 Lake Michigan Business Champions of Conservation

A $500 cash award was given to TSW to donate to a non-profit of their choice.

TSW chose to donate the award to the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network

T H A N K Y O U !

www.escarpmentnetwork.org

Come visit and experience wines

made on “The Ledge” at:

Trout Springs Winery

8150 River Road

Greenleaf, WI 54126

PH: 920-864-7761

Hours: Wed-Sun

11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Tours & Tastings

www.troutspringswinery.com

A proud partner of the

Niagara Escarpment Resource Network