Draft:LedgeStone Vineyards


LedgeStone Vineyards is a winery located in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, at the base of the Niagara Escarpment. The vineyard also operates Gnarly Cedar Brewery, a craft brewery with locations in Greenleaf and Wrightstown, Wisconsin.

History

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Founding and early years

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LedgeStone Vineyards was established in 1999 by Tim and Sara Abel on a 15 acres (6.1 ha) property at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment in Brown County, Wisconsin.[1] The founders planted cold-hardy grape varieties including Marquette, Frontenac, and Sabrevois, which were developed by the University of Minnesota's grape breeding program for northern climates.[1]

Change of ownership

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In 2017, the vineyard was purchased by Adam Magnuson and Katrina Cegledi.[1][2] The couple had previously operated a wine and cheese education business in Denver, Colorado, where they taught classes on wine and cheese making.[3] Prior to purchasing LedgeStone, Magnuson worked in telecommunications at Charter Communications and subsequently gained winemaking experience through cellar positions at wineries in New Zealand, Oregon, and Margaret River, Australia.[1]

Gnarly Cedar Brewery

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In 2019, the owners established Gnarly Cedar Brewery on the LedgeStone property, initially sharing production space with the winery.[4] The brewery is named after one of the oldest trees in Wisconsin, located near the property.[1]

Locations

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Greenleaf

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The original vineyard and tasting room is located at 6381 Highway 57 in Greenleaf, in the Village of Greenleaf, which was incorporated in June 2023.[5] The property sits at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, a dolomite geological formation that extends from New York through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.[6] The escarpment region is characterized by karst topography, featuring fractured limestone and dolomite bedrock.[7]

Wrightstown

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In 2023, the Village of Wrightstown approached the owners about acquiring the village's former public works building at 420 Washington Street for a brewery expansion.[4][8] The building, which had housed the village's original water well, was conveyed to Gnarly Cedar Holdings LLC by warranty deed recorded March 25, 2024.[9] A correction instrument addressing the legal description was recorded April 3, 2024.[10]

The Wrightstown location, which includes 184 feet (56 m) of Fox River waterfront, held its grand opening on September 13, 2025.[4][11]

Environmental advocacy

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In January 2026, the owners publicly opposed a proposed data center development in Greenleaf, citing concerns about water usage and environmental impact.[12] Katrina Magnuson stated concerns about groundwater availability, noting that local properties rely on well water.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Julson, Sheila (October 6, 2022). "LedgeStone Vineyards and Gnarly Cedar Brewing a Northeast Refuge". Shepherd Express. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  2. Rugowski, Chris (May 31, 2024). "Gnarly Cedar Brewery set to open summer 2024 in Wrightstown". The Business News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  3. "Wisconsin Winery Interview". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Rugowski, Chris (October 6, 2025). "Gnarly Cedar Brewery now open in Wrightstown River District". The Business News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  5. "LedgeStone Vineyards & Gnarly Cedar Brewery". Green Bay Visitor & Convention Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  6. "LedgeStone Vineyards & Gnarly Cedar Brewery". Travel Wisconsin. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  7. "Brown County Land and Water Conservation". Brown County, Wisconsin. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  8. "Gnarly Cedar Brewery is headed to Wrightstown". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  9. "Warranty Deed, Document No. 3059792". Brown County Register of Deeds. March 25, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  10. "Correction Instrument, Document No. 3060517". Brown County Register of Deeds. April 3, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  11. "Things to do in Green Bay this weekend". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 10, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Business near site of potential AI data center says it is 'death sentence' for Greenleaf". WLUK-TV Fox 11. January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.

Category:Wineries in Wisconsin Category:Beer brewing companies based in Wisconsin Category:Brown County, Wisconsin Category:Companies established in 1999 Category:1999 establishments in Wisconsin