Trout Springs Winery

What Trout Springs Winery does

Trout Springs Winery is a privately held estate winery and diversified agritourism destination operating as a division of Branch River Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, approximately 30 minutes south of Green Bay. Founded in 1995 by Steve and Andrea DeBaker with the planting of a one-and-a-half-acre vineyard and producing its first commercial harvest in September 2001, the winery cultivates approximately 12 grape varietals across a five-acre vineyard and produces estate-bottled wines ranging from $14.95 to $103.00 per bottle. The company is the birthplace of the Wisconsin Ledge American Viticultural Area, which DeBaker petitioned the Federal Government to establish in 2012 across roughly 2.5 million acres based on the Niagara Escarpment.

The business model is a multi-vertical direct-to-consumer operation combining estate wine production, exclusive craft beer (created by Fox River Brewing Company), trout and salmon products from the on-site Branch River Trout Hatchery (producing approximately 50,000 trout fry annually), a line of grape powder-based health products (For Goodness Grapes capsules, Wine Bar chocolate with Seroogy's Chocolates, Healthy Choyce Cheddar), and a portfolio of experiential offerings including a tasting room, wedding and event venue (indoor seating for 64), glamping accommodations via Airbnb, fine dining wine events at $51.50 per person, and a newly opened Greek and Roman sculpture garden (Piazza del Stefano). Distribution is constrained to on-site tasting room sales plus shipping to Wisconsin and Minnesota addresses only.

Revenue mechanics span one-time purchases (wine, beer, trout, events) and a single monthly subscription (grape powder capsules), with pricing across tiers from $5 tasting flights to $3,000 per pair for trumpeter swans. The owners personally pour all samples, marketing is primarily earned media and regional partnerships, and the operation has earned multiple sustainability certifications including the Green Masters level designation from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council in 2018. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range with no institutional investors, funding rounds, or outside ownership disclosed.

Name

Trout Springs Winery

Legal name

Trout Springs Winery (operates as a division of Branch River Farms)

Website

https://troutspringswinery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trout Springs Winery is a privately held Wisconsin estate winery and agritourism destination that produces wine, craft beer, grape powder supplements, and trout products on a five-acre vineyard, serving on-site visitors, event customers, and regional shipping subscribers in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Estate winery operations
• Wine tasting experiences
• Viticulture and winemaking
• Trout hatchery aquaculture
• Wedding and event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenleaf

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Estate wines produced from own grapes and imported grapes from California. Wines sold by glass, bottle, and sample flights at tasting room, plus shipping to WI and MN addresses. Wide price range from $14.95 to $103.00 per bottle.
2. Beer Sales: Craft beer created exclusively for Trout Springs by Fox River Brewing Company. Sold by glass and growler refills. Three varieties: Blondie (cream ale), Fishnet Red (amber ale), Black-Eyed Susan (nitro stout).
3. Event Space Rental: Wedding and event venue rental with custom packages ranging from full dinners to receptions. Indoor seating up to 64 people. Non-wedding events at $155/hour with 2-hour minimum.
4. Glamping Accommodations: Little Cabin in the Vineyard glamping experience booked through Airbnb. 240-square-foot cabin on platform with queen-size bed, refrigerator, microwave.
5. Dining Events: Fine dining wine dinner events with multi-course meals. Priced at $51.50 per person. Events include wine pairings with chef-prepared dishes.
6. Grape Powder Products: Dietary supplement grape powder in capsule form (For Goodness Grapes), grape powder-enhanced Healthy Choyce Cheddar cheese, and Wine Bar chocolate created with Seroogy's Chocolates.
7. Trout and Salmon Products: Branch River Trout Hatchery produces brook, brown, rainbow trout, arctic char, and tiger trout. Products include Atlantic salmon fillets ($24/lb), salmon brats ($22.60/lb), salmon pate ($20/lb), and live fish for stocking ($10 each). Trumpeter swans also available at $3,000/pair.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Trout Springs Winery produces estate-bottled wines from grapes grown on its own five-acre vineyard in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, and sells them through an on-site tasting room, by-the-glass service, and direct shipping to Wisconsin and Minnesota addresses. The winery also operates a craft beer program, a trout hatchery (Branch River Trout Hatchery), grape powder supplements, and hosts weddings, corporate events, fine dining experiences, and glamping accommodations as a multi-revenue agritourism destination.

Product overview

Trout Springs Winery is a multi-faceted agritourism destination that operates as a division of Branch River Farms, combining Wisconsin's only licensed fish hatchery, plant nursery, and winery under one ownership. The core offering is estate-bottled wine production from their five-acre vineyard, complemented by craft beer from Fox River Brewing Company, grape powder supplements (For Goodness Grapes), and value-added products including Wine Bar chocolate and Healthy Choyce Cheddar made in partnership with Seroogy's Chocolates. The destination experience includes a tasting room, glamping accommodations (Little Cabin in the Vineyard), a sculpture garden (Piazza del Stefano), wedding and event venue rental, dining events, and the Branch River Trout Hatchery offering live trout and salmon products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Estate Wines Estate-bottled wines produced from grapes grown on the winery's own five-acre vineyard, including red, white, dessert, and ice wines such as Autumn Rouge, Below Zero ice wine, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, Riesling, and various fruit wines. Sold at the tasting room by glass, bottle, and sample flights, plus shipping to Wisconsin and Minnesota addresses.
• Craft Beer Three craft beer varieties created exclusively for Trout Springs Winery by Fox River Brewing Company: Blondie (cream ale), Fishnet Red (amber ale), and Black-Eyed Susan (nitro stout). Available by the glass or in growler refills at the tasting room.
• For Goodness Grapes (Grape Powder Capsules) Dietary supplement grape powder in capsule form containing polyphenols and antioxidants including resveratrol. One monthly supply bottle provides health benefits equivalent to 7.5 bottles of red wine. Available on subscription basis.
• Wine Bar Chocolate A 72% dark chocolate bar made with Trout Springs' grape powder in partnership with Seroogy's Chocolates in Green Bay. Provides health benefits equivalent to three glasses of red wine per bar.
• Healthy Choyce Cheddar Cheddar cheese infused with Trout Springs' grape powder, providing health benefits equivalent to a glass of red wine without alcohol and sugar in just six ounces.
• Little Cabin in the Vineyard (Glamping) A 240-square-foot three-seasons cabin perched on a platform in the vineyard, featuring a queen-size bed, furniture, refrigerator, microwave, and outdoor restroom. Booked exclusively through Airbnb.
• Branch River Trout Hatchery Products Wisconsin's largest private producer of brook trout, also raising brown, rainbow trout, arctic char, and tiger trout. Products include live trout for stocking ($10 each, minimum 30 fish per species), Atlantic salmon fillets ($24/lb), salmon brats ($22.60/lb), salmon pate ($20/lb), and trumpeter swans ($3,000/pair). Transport tank rental available at $40.
• Piazza del Stefano Sculpture Garden A Greek and Roman statue garden featuring 15 marble replicas including works by Michelangelo, Canova, and Giambologna, along with Italian limestone sphinxes and a reflecting pool. Open by appointment at $45 per person with a complementary glass of wine and charcuterie plate.
• Wedding and Event Space Event venue with indoor seating for up to 64 guests, full commercial kitchen, vineyard views, and custom packages for weddings, corporate events, rehearsals, and private dinners. Non-wedding events at $155/hour with 2-hour minimum; wedding pricing by phone inquiry.
• Dining Events Fine dining wine dinner events featuring multi-course chef-prepared meals paired with estate wines. Priced at $51.50 per person with 72-hour cancellation policy. Check-in at 5:30pm, dinner seating at 6:30pm.
• Tasting Room Experience A cozy on-site tasting room where visitors sample five wines for $5, with wine available by the glass or bottle. Located at the winery's Greenleaf, Wisconsin location. Open seasonally with varying hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68% carbon emissions reduction
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wisconsin Public RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 September 2021Co-owner Steve DeBaker appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss how the Wisconsin Ledge was established and how the Federal Government officially identified the region as a prime grape-producing location known as an American Viticultural Area.
• Seroogy's ChocolatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeamed up with Seroogy's Chocolates in Green Bay to create the Wine Bar chocolate, combining their 72% dark chocolate with Trout Springs grape powder to create a decadent treat providing health benefits of three glasses of red wine in each bar. Also created Healthy Choyce Cheddar cheese with grape powder.
• Fox River Brewing CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationCreated exclusively for Trout Springs Winery by Fox River Brewing Company. Three craft beer varieties: Blondie (cream ale), Fishnet Red (amber ale), and Black-Eyed Susan (nitro stout). Sold by glass and in growler refills at the tasting room.
• Wisconsin Ledge Wine TrailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrout Springs Winery is the birthplace of the Wisconsin Ledge AVA. Association of wineries promoting the wine region. The Federal Government officially designated approximately 2.5-million acres as a prime grape-growing region in 2012, just like Napa Valley.
• AirbnbminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlamping reservations for Little Cabin in the Vineyard are managed exclusively through Airbnb under the listing 'Little Rustic Cabin in the Vineyard, Greenleaf, WI'.
• We Are Green BayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSteve DeBaker appears monthly on the Retired Rambler television segment discussing Wisconsin Ledge topics, environmental issues, local events, and winery news. Archives available from 2021-present with diverse regional content.
• University of Wisconsin Sea Grant InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduced a video about the trout hatchery in 2021 showcasing Branch River Trout Hatchery operations and aquaculture practices.
• Wisconsin Food HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDawn Lashua from The Wisconsin Food Hub - a farmer-run cooperative - joined to introduce Tend & Table Boxes subscription boxes sourced from real Wisconsin farms, including the trout farm at Trout Springs.
• Ribbon of Hope FoundationminorOthersNon-profit charity selected by Trout Springs for their annual Wine Run 5K event supporting breast cancer awareness. Featured on Retired Rambler show discussing the partnership and foundation impact.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stone's Throw Winery: Wisconsin Ledge AVA winery producing estate and sourced wines with a tasting room focus. Direct peer within the AVA Trout Springs founded, with similar grape-growing conditions and DTC model.
• Door Peninsula Winery: Door County, Wisconsin winery with a tasting room, wine and food retail, and event hosting. Comparable as a Wisconsin tourism-driven estate winery with multi-revenue offerings and DTC emphasis.
• Black Star Farms: Suttons Bay, Michigan estate combining winery, distillery, inn, farm-to-table dining, and equestrian center. Highly comparable diversified agritourism model with wine + lodging + food + secondary on-site revenue lines.
• Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery: Wisconsin Ledge AVA member and one of the AVA's most visible producers, with estate wines, a tasting room, and event space. Closest direct peer within the same AVA Trout Springs founded.
• Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery: Finger Lakes, New York pioneer of cold-climate vinifera winemaking, family-run with estate vineyard and tasting room. Comparable as a cold-climate viticulture pioneer with owner-led story and premium positioning.
• Chateau Chantal: Traverse City, Michigan estate winery with on-site tasting, B&B lodging, and event hosting. Closely comparable to Trout Springs' multi-experience estate model combining wine, lodging, and private events on a single property.
• Wollersheim Winery: Wisconsin's largest and best-known estate winery, producing estate wines on a hillside vineyard. Directly comparable as a Wisconsin estate winery with a tasting room, retail focus, and similar cold-climate varietal mix.
• Villa Bellangelo Winery: Dundee, New York Finger Lakes estate winery with tasting room and event hosting. Comparable small-to-mid estate winery focused on DTC tasting, estate production, and event-driven revenue.
• Belhurst Estate Winery: Geneva, New York estate combining a winery, castle hotel, and event venue on Seneca Lake. Directly comparable destination-estate model pairing wine production with on-site lodging and private events.

Broad incumbents

• Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards: Long-established Finger Lakes winery with a broad wine portfolio, tasting room, and event hosting. Comparable cold-climate estate winery with deeper portfolio breadth and larger production than Trout Springs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trout-springs-winery

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trout Springs Winery