Meet the Winemaker - Matthew Moersch

No amount of schooling can compare with hands-on experience and Matt Moersch has had his two hands in the family business since birth! Having grown up on the vineyard, Matthew began his winemaking career path while picking grapes as a young boy with his brother Christian. They could be found running between the vines, playing hide-and-seek until the sun went down in Southwest Michigan's vineyards.

Matthew became Round Barn Winery's winemaker and distiller in 2002, learning from his father Richard Moersch, who founded the winery in 1992 and has worked as a winemaker in the area for over 25 years. After apprenticing with his father, Matthew sharpened his winemaking and distilling skills during extensive travels in France, Germany, Hungary and California. Matthew's European training spanned the Burgundy, Alsace, and Champagne regions of France, the Rhein region of Germany as well as touring and tasting throughout Hungary's Tokay Region.

Over the last eight years, he has honed in on his own style, modeled primarily after the French traditions of winemaking and brandy production.

Launched in July 2006, "Free Run Winery" is a sister winery that specializes in producing single vineyard designate wines where Matthew also serves as winemaker and founding partner with his brother Christian.

Philosophy of winemaking

Wine is made in the vineyard. My job is to make sure that our growers are taking the right steps to insure that the quality of fruit coming into the winery is the best that each season can produce. When that happens, my job is simple, let the quality of fruit speak for itself and don't screw it up.