Winery helps Lakeland grads share family legacy
Lakeland graduates Tess (Myklebust) Anschutz ’14 and Lauren Myklebust ’23 have found a tasty way to share their family story with the masses.
Tess, Lauren and their three sisters, Kelsey, Jessica and Grace, are operating the family owned Sognefjord Winery in Baraboo, Wis., near Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton.
The Myklebust family has lived on the land where the winery is located since 1959 when the sisters’ paternal grandparents, Paal and Ragnhild Myklebust, settled on their new farmland.
The winery idea was presented by their aunt, Mia Myklebust, who owns and operates Vennebu Hill, a wedding barn and event space on the property.
“We’ve always wanted to share the beauty of this whole area and have it stay in the family,” said Anschutz, who works full time as a marketing specialist at Elevate97 in Green Bay.
Discussions started in 2020 and included their father, Paal, Jr., who died in 2021. The family formed an LLC in 2021 and plans started quickly taking shape.
The winery is a celebration of their family story, their Norwegian roots and the memory of their paternal grandparents and their father.
The winery is named for Sognefjord, the largest fjord in Norway. It’s a long, narrow body of water that has a special connection to the Myklebust family history. Before moving to the U.S., Paal Myklebust grew up in Hermansverk, Norway, located on the Sognefjord. Ragnhild grew up in Wisconsin Dells, but her relatives lived in Vestreim, Kaupanger, Norway, which is just on the other side of the Sognefjord.
After fighting for Norway in World War II, Paal immigrated through Ellis Island and lived in Cincinnati for work. He was invited to Wisconsin Dells to see Ragnhild Helland’s slide show on Norway and Europe. This is where the two met and 65 years later, the Myklebust farm is still with the family.
The winery offers two reds and two whites created by award-winning winemaker Alwyn "Fitz" Fitzgerald, the former owner of Fisher King Winery. Other beverages, including beer, liquors and soda, are also on the menu. There is a tasting room and a large outdoor space to accommodate visitors.
The winery held a grand opening in mid-August, the culmination of years of work. The event was a hit, Anschutz said, with a steady stream of visitors that kept their bartenders working throughout the event.
“It was really cool to take a deep breath and see everything unfold,” said Anschutz, who previously worked for the PGA and coordinated volunteers for the 2020 Ryder Cup. “There are many stressors that come before being open, so that day was special, especially after how long the planning had been and the hurdles.
“We’ve had and continue to have a lot of support from a lot of people. It took a big village to get this off the ground. It’s pretty neat.”
Anschutz was heavily involved during her time at Lakeland, and this married mother of two said she benefited from the time management skills she learned at Lakeland.
“That’s where I learned how to multi-task, prioritize things and talk to people,” said Anschutz, whose husband, Mikal, is also a 2014 Lakeland graduate who’s working as a market developer for Thrivent. “Lakeland gave us opportunities to do that. At that time, I was definitely not comfortable doing what I have to do now to keep things moving.
“I learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I benefited from those real-life experiences. I like to learn, and this has been a good learning experience.”
Anschutz is convinced that her family spirit is alive and well on the property.
“After the soft opening, we were cleaning up and a deer walked up to an apple tree near the building,” she said. “It was less than 10 feet from me just standing there. It felt like my dad was there. Jessica walked out and I pointed to it and we both immediately started crying, each knowing what the other was feeling.”
Learn more about the winery at: sognefjordwinery.com.
