American Wine Project was started in 2018 as a way to explore the possibilities of winegrowing in the Upper Midwest. In 2019, we moved into our current home in historic Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The winery is housed in the former high school Tech Ed building which was later converted into a garden center. In addition to a winemaking space and tasting room, we enjoy an acre of landscaped perennial gardens.
A native of the Great Lakes region, Erin Rasmussen grew up in Madison, Wisconsin experiencing the intense pleasure of seasonal produce and handcrafted cheese. Her interest in flavor grew into a passion for fermentation and wine, and in 2008 she relocated to Napa Valley to pursue a winemaking career. She completed her graduate studies in winemaking and viticulture at Lincoln University in New Zealand in 2012. In 2017 Erin returned to her midwestern roots to explore the complexities of cold-climate winemaking and in 2018 founded her innovative wine brand American Wine Project.