Business

Saint Paul Vineyards releases dessert wine

Tasting room manager Dana Hensley, in the vineyard, shows the new wine.

By Bill Moss, Published: September 21, 2012

Billy Ellis tipped his glass for a sip of blackberry wine.

Someone asked him whether, two years ago when he was growing the berries, he would have expected the finished product to come out of a bottle, tasting semi-sweet.
"Really, I didn't," he said. "It's kind of surprising. About the only way I ever had it was in a pie. That's always been the best. I might have to change my mind."
Ellis is among a small but growing number of local farmers who have a hand — and a little more revenue — in the raising of grapes or berries or even apples that become the new wines in Henderson County newest agricultural industry, wine-making. Wednesday night, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards introduced its Chestnut Gap Cottage blackberry dessert wine to a limited gathering of wine club members.
"It was a complete influx at first," said Dana Hensley, who is helping manage the startup winery owned by Alan Ward. A graduate of North Henderson High School, Hensley earned a marketing degree that she is putting to use at the Chestnut Gap winery off U.S. 64 East. "It's been quite the type. There was only 600 bottles so we've had to spread it around. This is the wine club pre-release party and the public release will be Friday night."
By sunset Wednesday night the tasting room and outdoors deck next to the vineyard were still busy with wine customers eager to try the new wine, which came from a 2010 crop of grapes grown by Billy Ellis and his father Jerry, whose daughter, Beth, is married to Alan. The Ellises started growing blackberries on their St. Paul's Church Road farm to supply Ward's new winery. Apples are still their bread and butter; they raise about 100 acres of apples. Blackberries are ready to pick in late June and early July, which fits well with the apple season.
"This was going to be something to keep us busy till the apples came in," Billy said. "It turned out to be a little more of a project."
Hensley said the receptive was positive for the wine, an opinion that was confirmed by the convivial guests toasting the new flavor. It goes well with chocolate, said Damian Chipriano, one of the servers at the wine bar.
"We only have about 52 cases," Hensley said, "and it's going fast."

Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, at 588 Chestnut Gap Road, winery is open from 1-6 p.m. Thursday, 1-8 p.m. on Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday. For information call 828.685.4002.