Lautenbach Old Barn Red
Lautenbach’s Market, Winery & Cider Co. is one of the older surviving wineries in Door County, Wisconsin, but it really makes more sense when you think of it as a working Door County fruit farm that evolved into a winery, rather than a conventional winery that later planted an orchard.
From dairy farm and orchard to winery
Bill and Ruth Lautenbach bought a small farm and orchard just south of Fish Creek in 1955. Initially, the family sold fruit to passing motorists. After Bill and Ruth died in the 1970s, their son Bob Lautenbach and his wife Anne took over. They expanded the orchards, built a farm market and fruit press, and converted the property’s old dairy barn into a winery and cider mill.
Lautenbach’s Orchard Country
The winery, Lautenbach’s Orchard Country, was formally established in 1985, making it considerably older than most of the wineries now operating on the peninsula. Door Peninsula dates to 1974, but Lautenbach predates Stone’s Throw (1997), Simon Creek (2003), Door 44 (2013) and Anchored Roots (2020). The barn itself dates to 1912, according to the Door County Wine Trail.
Today the property encompasses about 100 acres of orchards and vineyards, with cherries, apples, grapes, raspberries, and pears among its estate-grown fruit. So the name Old Barn Red isn’t invented winery imagery. There really is an old barn at the back of the Lautenbach property.
Lautenbach today
The business is still family run. Bob Lautenbach died in 2021, and subsequent generations of the family continue operating the property. It’s now a fairly substantial Door County destination: orchard, vineyard, winery, cider mill, tasting room, bakery, and farm market. The winery says it currently offers roughly 50 wines and hard ciders, ranging from grape wines to fruit wines and blends, from dry through sweet. That breadth is important because Lautenbach occupies a different place in Door County wine than, say, Anchored Roots. Lautenbach’s identity remains firmly connected to Door County agriculture and fruit growing..
Lautenbach Old Barn Red NV
Old Barn Red is particularly interesting because, unlike the cherry and other fruit wines for which Lautenbach’s is widely known, it incorporates grapes actually grown on the Door County property.
This dry red blend contains three varieties, with the local component being estate-grown Door County Petite Pearl. Petite Pearl is one of the cold-hardy hybrid grapes developed specifically to survive climates such as Wisconsin’s. Cold-climate hybrids can survive temperatures and growing conditions that would make traditional European varieties much more problematic.
Petite Pearl tends to produce genuinely red-wine-like characteristics rather than simply tasting like an unusual northern hybrid.
This selection pours a nearly opaque transparent red. The nose features dark berries like blackberry and blueberry. These continue on the medium-bodied palate, joined by sweet cherry and some plum. There is a good tannic grip, but it could use a bit more acidity to really balance things. The medium finish is fairly dry, with the fruit giving way to spice and a light earthiness.
Pair this food-friendly wine with roast lamb or lamb chops, grilled pork, bratwurst, Italian sausage, burgers, meatloaf, mushroom dishes, beef stew, and pizza. ABV is an easy-drinking 11%.
Chilled reds are trending right now, so you might try serving this at around 58 to 62°F, not at 70 to 72°F.
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