Question 1

What varietals are you growing?

Accepted Answer

Riesling, Nebbiolo, and Savagnin are the first grapes we will be growing. We'll be adding about two new varieties per year until the vineyard is planted.

Question 2

When will you have grapes available?

Accepted Answer

The first vines are being planted in 2026. It usually takes at least three years to begin harvesting enough grapes to make a wine.

Question 3

Are you going to make your own wine?

Accepted Answer

Maybe. We will initially share the grapes with winemakers to see what kind of results we are getting. At that time, we will assess whether to continue to simply provide the grapes or to create our own label.

Question 4

Have you done this before?

Accepted Answer

I have an acre of fruit in Wisconsin, including a small number of Concord, Niagara, Einset, and Catawba vines. Mostly, I grow heritage apple varieties along with apricots, peaches, cherries, plums, pears, quince, currants, strawberries, lingonberries, leeks, and asparagus. I'm exploring ways to create value-added products like cider and freeze-dried apple chips, and working with a small baker to explore a line of traditional Austrian and German deserts like Zwetchgenkuchen, Marillenknödel, and Apfelkuchen.

Question 5

What about the dogs?

Accepted Answer

The dogs love spending time up on the vineyard, but despite my attempts to train them, they have not learned to plant or prune. At least a couple of them take on the duty of keeping some animals out. Then again, Summer lays down next to the wild bunnies to protect them, earning her the nickname "Bunny Bear". If we do end up making wine, you can expect one to bear that name, as well as "Little Dog" and an Emma Rosé.

This pack of rescues hails from around the country. Luke (who has passed) was a border labbie from Tennessee. Shadow is a Chihuahua-Rottweiler mix from Georgia. Emma Rose was born in Ohio, and is a short-coated border collie. Summer (who passed on 2025) was a Maremma sheepdog from Florida. Carly is another Tennessee pup. An Aussie mix, she may have been born a herder, but identifies as a livestock guardian. Quail is a Labrador-Great Pyrenees mix from Mississippi. Moqui is a border collie mix from Tennessee. Tilly is the youngest and hails from Oregon. She is a Maremma and Great Pyrenees mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

What varietals are you growing?

When will you have grapes available?

Are you going to make your own wine?

Have you done this before?

What about the dogs?

Get in touch with
any questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

What varietals are you growing?

When will you have grapes available?

Are you going to make your own wine?

Have you done this before?

What about the dogs?

Get in touch with any questions

Get in touch with
any questions