Roots — Bud Break
The very first post in the Dale Hollow Winery story - Fall 2012
We are starting a vineyard. We want to grow grapes, make wine, and pursue a shared dream. We want to include family and friends every step of the way.
Our Mission: Growing Wine Grapes Near Lake of the Ozarks
I call that my personal mission statement and an answer to the questions I continually get:
What is going on with this new fascination of wine and wine literature?
What keeps you so busy on the weekends?
Why are you dirtying a glass when the wine is already in a bottle?
This is certainly a dream in its infancy, and did not happen overnight as we do not come from a long line of vintners or sommeliers. However, our family is rooted in this type of work, we associate with hard working farmers, and growing fruit in nature under the grace of God is downright fascinating.
Why Start a Winery in Stover, Missouri?
We also share a love for the community in which we plan to pursue this. We still ♥ Stover.
Our family has deep roots in this Missouri community near Lake of the Ozarks. The land where we're planting our vineyard has been in our family since the 1950s—the same land where our grandfather once baled hay. Now we're transforming it into something new: a family estate winery growing Missouri hybrid grapes adapted to our unique Ozark climate.
Please feel free to check back frequently as this tale is unfolded in as entertaining and insightful manner as possible.
I would be remiss if I didn’t include a quote from the Lord of the Rings at this point, as the idea is blooming and taking shape, because Tolkien has a mystical way of writing and exploiting the heart of this whole human experience:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many path and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
*Originally Published March 29, 2013*
Visit Dale Hollow Winery today to see how this dream grew from first idea to thriving Missouri vineyard. Located at 314 E 1st St, Stover, MO 65078, we welcome you to taste the wines born from this vision and experience our family's journey firsthand.
