Birth of the Winemakers
Steve & Andrea DeBaker with the
2014 Winery of the Year award.
After spending years in college in pursuit of Equestrian studies, Andrea is in charge of all of the paperwork associated with Trout Springs Winery (TSW). She fills the roles of Winery Manager, events organizer, and everything in between.
Being an avid reader, she is somewhat of a historical scholar in literature of all kinds and can consume large volumes of information like some people eat potato chips. She has become a culinary expert in cooking dishes of all varieties, along with raising vegetable and herbs that she garnishes her delicious dinners with daily. She is also somewhat of a “dog whisperer” having raised both Dobermans, and Corgis for over 40 years.
Every year, Andrea plants around 40 large baskets and planters that adorn the grounds. She has assumed all of the duties of landscaping, including keeping perennial beds clean and mowing one acre of lawn during summer months, and snow removal in the winter.
Andrea keeps up the ongoing maintenance of the Airbnb in the vineyard, and handles all social networking for the business.
Steven is the winemaker, vineyard manager, and technician at TSW. He was the pioneer and visionary in the Viticulture industry in Wisconsin creating The Wisconsin Ledge AVA, establishing TSW as the birthplace of such, and as a national award-winning winery in the United States.
His work in Aquaculture raising trout and salmon for over 40 years also established his leadership amongst peers in that field statewide, often being the first to break the status quo, paving the way for others to follow. Primarily self-educated in all endeavors after technical school, his unending sense of curiosity led him to successful enterprises in taxidermy, equestrian, theater, aquaculture, and viticulture, and as an electrician, author, philanthropist, and many other ventures too numerous to mention.
Steven lives every day like it is his last, and claims he could 10 lifetimes and never accomplish all what he wants to get done. None of it could have been possible without the ongoing support from his most beloved wife, and best friend, Andrea. Between Steven’s creative genius, and Andrea’s nurture enabling, this dynamic duo have created a premier destination for tourists worldwide for an experience they will not soon forget.
Being an avid reader, she is somewhat of a historical scholar in literature of all kinds and can consume large volumes of information like some people eat potato chips. She has become a culinary expert in cooking dishes of all varieties, along with raising vegetable and herbs that she garnishes her delicious dinners with daily. She is also somewhat of a “dog whisperer” having raised both Dobermans, and Corgis for over 40 years.
Every year, Andrea plants around 40 large baskets and planters that adorn the grounds. She has assumed all of the duties of landscaping, including keeping perennial beds clean and mowing one acre of lawn during summer months, and snow removal in the winter.
Andrea keeps up the ongoing maintenance of the Airbnb in the vineyard, and handles all social networking for the business.
Steven is the winemaker, vineyard manager, and technician at TSW. He was the pioneer and visionary in the Viticulture industry in Wisconsin creating The Wisconsin Ledge AVA, establishing TSW as the birthplace of such, and as a national award-winning winery in the United States.
His work in Aquaculture raising trout and salmon for over 40 years also established his leadership amongst peers in that field statewide, often being the first to break the status quo, paving the way for others to follow. Primarily self-educated in all endeavors after technical school, his unending sense of curiosity led him to successful enterprises in taxidermy, equestrian, theater, aquaculture, and viticulture, and as an electrician, author, philanthropist, and many other ventures too numerous to mention.
Steven lives every day like it is his last, and claims he could 10 lifetimes and never accomplish all what he wants to get done. None of it could have been possible without the ongoing support from his most beloved wife, and best friend, Andrea. Between Steven’s creative genius, and Andrea’s nurture enabling, this dynamic duo have created a premier destination for tourists worldwide for an experience they will not soon forget.
Birth of the Winery
The idea for Trout Springs Winery started in January 1995 when aging horses left behind a five-acre pasture. In the spring, an acre-and-a-half plot was prepared for cultivars such as Marashal Foche, Leon Millot, St. Croix, St. Peppin, La Crosse, and Swenson's Red. These first cuttings had to be root stimulated in the greenhouse by placing them on propagation mats set at 80 degrees. Once callused, the leaves and roots sprouted, and they were then transferred to single pots to await the April planting. Not knowing how the young plants would fare, a trellising and irrigation system was set up. Amazingly, they grew! The following year and subsequently each year following thereafter, varieties were cultured, culled, and added to find a few prime cultivars that would thrive in our climate and fill the five-acre site.
Trout Springs Winery realized its first big harvest on Sept. 8, 2001. With over 20 friends and family members prepped and readied, the harvest began that Saturday morning. Expectations were exceeded as approximately 1 1/2 tons of "Reds" and about 600 pounds of "Whites" were gathered. The rest, as they say, is history.
Trout Springs Winery realized its first big harvest on Sept. 8, 2001. With over 20 friends and family members prepped and readied, the harvest began that Saturday morning. Expectations were exceeded as approximately 1 1/2 tons of "Reds" and about 600 pounds of "Whites" were gathered. The rest, as they say, is history.
