How are you planning to get them through your Wisconsin winter?

Did you check Austin's own list of the most cold-hardy varietes?

Please understand I don't intend in any way to be disrespectful, just that if I lived in a hard-winter climate, it would be the first think I would think of. These roses are not cheap, I would want to get my money's worth.

Here is a link that might be useful: Austin list of most cold-hardy varieties

They all are listed as 'hardy' which the catalog defines as hardy through zone 5. Because of my closeness to Lake Michigan we're actually zone 5b. Austin's cold-hardy list is more focused on zone 3 or 4. Some of the above roses may be more sensitive than others, which I'm curious to hear about, but I think they're all pretty much in the ballpark. Blackspot is also a concern of mine. I've heard some mention that some of the older Austins didn't hold up so well to it and I want to make sure these are newer varieties.

Thank you for the concern though. I'm sure for someone in zone 9 we can kinda look like the frozen tundra. :) I grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and trust me, there's a huge difference between zone 3 and zone 5. I'm living in the balmy south now. lol

I like the Lady Emma Hamilton and Sir John Betjeman

In my particular part of the world, most of Austin's 'most hardy' list didn't make it in their zone 6 display garden. So what you are really asking for is local feedback on how these roses perform. You would probably do better with a thread title mentioning specific names.

mad_gallica
really?? I just bought 4 DA roses including Crocus, Carding Mills, and Strawberry Hills...I live in zone 6 so I assumed they could make it with good winter protection...anybody in zone 6 has DA?

Well, first, in New Jersey, 'good winter protection' is walking away and not doing anything. The mounds recommended in drier climates don't work, and do more harm than good. Second, there are a fair number of Austins that will do well here in 5b, so long as they are kept healthy with a good spray program. However, that list seems to have little to do with any lists in the Austin catalog. It also isn't related to how they do in the upper Midwest.