Burr Vineyards is a small, boutique, family winery located in the Lakes Region of Central Minnesota. We specialize in hand-crafted wines derived from the cold-hardy grapes grown right on site.
The History
Florian and Aggie Ledermann purchased the 95-acre farm in western Douglas County near Alexandria in 1999 and in 2006 and 2007, they planted over 2 acres of prime wine grape varieties developed at the University of Minnesota and by the famous grape breeder, Elmer Swenson. 2 more acres of grapes were planted in 2018 and 2019. The wine cellar is now fully stocked with up to 14 different varietals and blends of both red, white, and rosé wines. The Ledermanns value quality over quantity and have been working hard to slowly grow the production while keeping the quality characteristics we all know and love.
All of the 14 varieties in the vineyard are cold-hardy hybrid grapes, meaning they can withstand the frigid winter temperatures of this area without special protective covering. The terroir of Burr vineyards is perfect for growing these unique wine grape varieties because of the rolling hills, long summer days filled with sun, and cool evening breezes floating in from the nearby lakes.
Overlooking Burr Lake, the winery property provides an excellent escape from the outside world, with its winding natural woodland and prairie wildlife walking trails which entice visitors to take their wine drinking experience to a new level. And don’t forget about the resident chickens, who both entertain the customers and help with some insect management!
The addition of the original outdoor brick oven allowed for guests to enjoy pizzas in compliments to their wine tastings, and started the first pizza parties for groups. In 2019, the covered wine tasting patio was converted to a pizza kitchen, and the new brick oven was built and attached. That summer officially started Friday pizza nights, along with public wine tastings. The beautiful indoor tasting/event room was also created that summer, complete with a walk-out deck overlooking Burr Lake, making for the perfect place to enjoy a sunny afternoon.
The Ledermanns have always believed in staying close to the land and enjoying all the benefits of a nice walk, watching birds and wildlife, good conversation, and of course, some very special wines. Because of this, when we are open, we encourage you to explore our vineyard, say hello to the chickens, walk the miles of trails, and smell the beautiful prairie flowers that surround the property.
Meet the Founder: Florian Ledermann
The Founder of Burr Vineyards is Florian Ledermann, father, grandfather, and husband to the late Co-Founder Aggie. He is proud to offer these fruits of the vine and loves to share his talents with friends and visitors. Aggie was a very special person and intimately involved with the early winery experience. She is surely missed, but her spirit will lead us on forever. Florian is now married to a pivotal member of our team, Joann, who is our in-house designer, ideas extraordinaire, and major supporter.
Meet the Owners: Katie and Peter
Katie Ledermann, Florian and Aggie’s granddaughter, grew up visiting the vineyard and after Katie and Peter met in college at the University of MN, Morris, they began helping at the vineyard together. After working as apprentices for a year in 2018 and learning the trade from Florian, Katie and Peter became partners in the business in 2019. In 2024, they became the new owners! They now work to expand the business and provide guests with quality wines, pizzas, and experiences. They are also the ones who hand-label every bottle of wine, keep the sourdough starter alive, and tame the chickens! They currently live in that log-cabin on the property and walk the trails nightly, dreaming up Burr Vineyard’s future. Katie also spends her school years as a teacher and Peter also spends his time as a builder. They are passionate about creating the best quality MN wine and sharing the land with people!