New Wine Businesses Bloom

Despite the economy, wineries open and expand across central and eastern states

San Rafael, Calif. -- While you won’t hear too many pundits opine anymore that the wine business is recession-proof, it’s hard not to feel a sneaking sense of optimism. Here at Wines & Vines, our in-baskets have been virtually overflowing in recent weeks with announcements of new or growing wine operations. Today, we’ll share the joy, starting with a wrap-up of new wine enterprises east of the Rockies.

In Connecticut
In North Haven, CT., The Wine Press began its second crush. The membership winemaking facility sources fresh grapes from California, Italy and now Chile. Last year the winery produced about 2,700 gallons. Individuals and groups invest in customized barrels and participate in the entire grape-to-bottle process under the guidance of owners Frank Martone and Ray Iannucci. Learn more at thewinepressct.com.
 
Dalice Elizabeth Winery held its official grand opening Oct. 9 and 10 in Preston, inviting guests and the public to enjoy live music, displays by local artisans, cooking demonstrations and, of course, wine tasting. Visitors also toured the Dalice Elizabeth Wine School. Owners Blaze Faillaci and his grandparents Mary-Lee and John Wilcox have a gourmet food-distribution operation. First releases include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Old Vine Zinfandel. Details: daliceelizabeth.com.

Southern states

Divine Llama Vineyards opened its tasting room in East Bend, N.C., last spring. Partners Thomas Hughes and P. Michael West Jr. met in college in 1975, and later worked together as architects. In 2006, in conjunction with their wives, they bought 77 acres in the Yadkin Valley appellation, where they planted 5 acres of vineyards and raise llamas and miniature horses. See more at divinellamavineyards.com.

Camp Springs, between Alexandria and Melbourne in rural Campbell County, Ky., has a winemaking history that dates back to 19th century German immigrants. This month, Lonnie and Ann Enzweiler hosted the grand opening of their new Camp Springs Vineyard winery and tasting room, and harvested 3.6 tons of Vidal Blanc grapes from acreage they’d begun planting in 2005. Last year, additional acreage was planted to Cabernet Franc. Son Chris Enzweiler tends the grapes and Kevin is the winemaker. Details: campspringsvineyard.com.
 
In the far northeast corner of Tennessee, Wayne and Linda Gay, former importers of Italian furniture and accessories and grapegrowers for the past four years, are in the process of rehabbing a former schoolhouse. They hope to open their Villa Nove Vineyards farm winery in Butler next summer and expect it to be bonded shortly. With the addition of 600 vines next spring, they will be producing wines from mostly native American and French hybrid grapes. For more, see villanovevineyards.com.

Down in Louisiana, the Landry family established Folsom Vineyards in the southern part of the state in 1999. After Hurricane Katrina, they moved north to West Monroe, where they planted Blanc du Bois, Muscadine and Merlot grapes on a 20-acre plot. The Landrys broke ground on a new tasting room last December and are producing their first Northern Louisiana vintage this year. Details: landryvineyards.com.

Midwest and plains

Blue Water Winery and Vineyard opened a tasting room and sold its first bottles of wine this summer in Carsonville, Mich. Located in the “thumb” of Michigan’s “mitten,” Blue Water is the project of former Chicago computer software developers Steve Velloff and Connie Currie, who have planted 10,000 grapevines on their 16 acre property. For details, visit bluewaterwinery.com. 

Tucker Hill Vineyards in Hinton, Iowa, began as a hobby for owners Barry and Brenda Dittmer, who now make less than 1,000 cases per year of seven different wines, mostly from their own hybrid grapes. The winery is open to the public on weekends. Visit tuckerhillwine.com for details.

In Olathe, Kan., the fifth-generation of Hoff family farmers, George, Frank and Thomas Jr., established Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery in 2007, but plan to open to the public for the first time next spring after harvesting their first grape crop this fall. The brothers planted 3.5 acres of grapevines in 2007, including Cabernet Sauvignon, and George Hoff continues to plant on another 6.5 acres. He expects about 1,000 bottles from his first estate harvest, but purchased 10 tons of grapes from an Atchison grower, and will have 10,000 bottles to sell next spring. For more, see stonepillarvineyard.com.

Finally, the only vineyard in the remote reaches of eastern Montana, Tongue River Vineyard plans to open a tasting room south of Miles City and launch its first wine, “French Kiss,” next September. Owners Bob and Marilyn Thaden have been experimenting with cold-hardy varieties like Frontenac, La Crescent, Saint Pepin, Saint Croix and Marquette on 2 acres for the last five years. With no winegrowing neighbors nearby, Tongue River is a member of the North Dakota Grape Growers Association.

In the near future, Wines & Vines Headlines will report on new wine operations on the West Coast, as well as some less cheery news about recent winery closures across the continent.