Vineyard founder, Ken Moyer, 88, dies
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KEN MOYER 1920-2008 |
With high ambitions and a strong work ethic, Ken Moyer's achieved a great deal professionally, but always reserved time to pursue his passions. From fine china to sparkling wines, his taste for the finer things was ever present and the intermingling of his business interests and personal life reflected his appetite for the exquisite.
A late transplant to the area, Ken Moyer was born in Texas. His interest in wine was sparked as a young boy working in his uncle's wine store, however it was not until his 50s that he opened his first commercial winery.
In 1942, Ken Moyer was drafted into the Army and served under General George S. Patton in Normandy and throughout the Eastern theater, eventually attaining the rank of Captain. After his service, Moyer returned to study ceramics engineering at the University of Texas.
On June 28, 1948 Ken and Mary Moyer were married in Fort Worth, Texas. Working for various ceramics companies and developing an appreciation for and expertise in fine china, Ken and the Moyer family travelled extensively while raising three daughters, Kay (Buchmann,) Jeanne and Patricia (Intihar.) After living in several locations throughout the Southwest and abroad, the Moyers resided in Mexico City in 1972 and were looking to make a change. Five-year-old Patricia (who was 17 years younger than her next sibling) was ready to enter school and the family decided to return to the United States. In addition to putting his daughter in an American school, Ken Moyer had wine on his mind.
"We literally travelled around the country for over three months looking for a place to set up a winery," Patricia recalled. "California was too expensive, so we went east."
The family eventually made their way through Adams County and happened upon a piece of property just west of Manchester that was for sale, but was in serious disrepair.
"My dad saw this old place, this old truck stop with junk everywhere," said Patricia. "He saw the location and envisioned what it could be. He bought it without my mom seeing it."
Although some locals were skeptical at the idea of turning what was once an eyesore along the banks of the Ohio River into a winery and vineyard, Ken and Mary Moyer, then in their 50s, began to make the place presentable. The winery soon opened and initially offered a Natural Rose, a Natural White and a Natural Red. (Natural Red was eventually renamed River Valley Red and remains one of the current restaurant's most popular selections.)
"His palate preferred a dry wine, but he realized sweeter wines sell better," said Patricia.
So he compromised, focusing on "semi-sweet" wines that he could appreciate, and that people would buy.
In the planning stages of Moyer's Winery, a restaurant on the premises was not even considered.
"I didn't realize it was going to be a restaurant at the time," Mary Moyer said. "I didn't think I was good enough that people would pay to eat what I cooked."
It was only after the prodding of friends and employees that the first three food selections were put on the menu: a cheese plate, Mary's beef bourguignonne and cheese, bean and bacon soup. The bean soup quickly became a favorite among customers and has remained so for over three decades.
"It's still on the menu today," Mary Moyer said.
Along with an occasional waitress, Ken and Mary Moyer spent many long hours growing the business and collecting a dedicated customer base. Though sometimes strict and insistent that tasks be carried out his way, Ken showed promise as a restaurateur. And once the business began to develop, he decided to try his hand at another of his passions - sparkling wine. In 1980, Ken Moyer returned to Braunfels, Texas and started the Moyer Texas Champagne Company. Like Moyer's Ohio wines, the sparkling wine selections grew quickly in popularity, so much so that Ken Moyer was invited to serve his Texas Champagne at the presidential inauguration of George H. W. Bush in 1989.
The Moyers had considered remaining in Texas after the Champagne Company took off, but Patricia said the family soon realized that all their friends were back in Ohio, so they returned to Manchester, continuing to spend most of their days at the winery.
In 1999, with decades of restaurant work-days and long hours in the grape vines behind them (and some encouragement by their grown children,) Ken and Mary Moyer decided it was time to retire. Moyer's Winery, Vineyard and restaurant was put up for sale, but not to just anyone. According to Patricia, the couple looked for a buyer who could handle the long hours that the business demanded and maintain the style and commitment to quality the Moyer's had become known for.
After several months on the market, the perfect buyer made an offer. As it turned out, the perfect buyer was 11 couples and individuals from the area who were close friends with the Moyers for several years.
"I can't tell you how excited that made us," said Mary Moyer. "They have done such a beautiful job, we were so happy that they're so successful. We're all still best of friends."
Of course, the Moyers continued to help out and maintained a home directly beside the restaurant, overlooking the Vidal and Chambourcin vines. Ken Moyer was called on frequently to consult and became a recognizable fixture at his favorite table near the patio, Merlot glass in hand a warm smile on his face.
Outside of the restaurant, Ken Moyer rarely missed breakfast with his buddies at the 8-Ball Pool Hall, and loved spending time with his family, including five grandchildren in addition to his wife and daughters.
The Moyer family will receive friends at the Restaurant and Winery on Sunday, July 20 from 1-3 p.m. with a memorial service in Ken's honor following at 3 p.m.
Kenneth Moyer's death notice appears in the Obituary section of our website.
Brett Roller, Brown News Service, contributed to this report.