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Mortenson, who served within the Military Nationwide Guard in Kentucky for 9 years, has been making his personal wines for about 13 years. Along with proudly owning the vineyard, Stephen and Stephanie each work full-time careers. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma from Wright State College and works within the dental insurance coverage business. Stephen is a self-taught winemaker, and he works as a corrugated field salesman through the day. On the subject of his expertise as a winemaker, he has taken many on-line programs, watched YouTube movies and refined his wines by way of “trial and error” and tastings with household and mates.
“We mainly make wine like all people’s grandma or grandpa used to make. They’d have a grapevine within the yard, and they might attempt to make a batch of wine for Thanksgiving or Christmas, in order that’s what we wish to be often known as,” Mortenson stated, “Everyone appears to like our wines.”
Mortenson, initially from Nebraska, moved to Seven Mile about 14 years in the past. With a enterprise background, and his marriage to Stephanie on the horizon, he stated he sat down and got here up with a marketing strategy. His plan was backed by Farmers & Retailers Financial institution in Miamisburg, which cherished the couple’s story and funded them with a small enterprise administration mortgage. Then, the household began building on the barn.
“I proposed to my spouse in 2017, so we tried to discover a barn to get married in and these barns or wedding ceremony venues are booked stable all the time. We couldn’t discover a barn to get married in, and we checked out one another and stated, ‘You already know what, you needed to take your wine professional, why don’t we construct a vineyard and get married within the barn.’ We needed a timber-frame barn, which is one thing completely different than a variety of wineries have,” Mortenson stated.
The Mortensons have been married in 2020. They purchased the property the vineyard is positioned on in 2017. The barn was delivered in March 2018 and the couple began constructing the barn in April. They didn’t find yourself getting married within the barn as a result of constructing delays, however after about 15 to 18 months, they began constructing once more and accomplished the barn.
“We simply saved our ft to the fireplace and saved transferring, as a result of we knew our vineyard was going to achieve success. The massive story right here is Stephanie and I wish to depart a legacy for our kids and grandchildren, one thing the place they’ll look again and say ‘my mother and father and grandparents constructed this, we’re joyful they did it,’ and hopefully, it stays within the household,” Mortenson stated.
Contained in the vineyard, there’s a tasting room, a wine store and extra. At full capability, the barn seats 96. Throughout COVID, the barn can accommodate about 60 visitors. On nights when there may be reside music, the gang is restricted to about 40.
“I’m most happy with the wines, and that we now have individuals coming in. Now we have a variety of regulars who are available and drink the wine, and a variety of repeat clients. I’m fairly happy with how our wine recipes are being loved by our clients,” Mortenson stated. “I’m glad my spouse has been with me and it’s been an excellent husband and spouse journey. We’ve discovered lots about working collectively.”
Initially, a visit to Grand Junction, Colorado impressed Mortenson’s curiosity in making wine. Whereas there, he visited a couple of wineries and talked with an assistant winemaker, who gave him some recommendation.
“She stated begin rising some grapes. That’s the worst recommendation I ever bought,” Mortenson mused.
“I began rising grapes, and it’s troublesome to develop grapes on this space, so I’ve been by way of my share of grapevines, however I believe I’ve the method down now for our space. It’s a must to have the best grapevines for our winters.”
After a couple of yr of rising grapes, Mortenson continued constructing his dream with some house wine-making kits, the place he integrated his personal juices and pressed his personal berries.
“It’s not wine kits anymore. Wine kits are mainly for house wine makers. As knowledgeable winemaker, you might be beginning with an entire lot greater than two gallons of juice,” Mortenson stated.
At present, there are about 42 grapevines on the property and there are plans so as to add greater than 100 within the subsequent few weeks.
Seven Mile Vineyard operates 4 230-gallon, egg-shaped “Apollo” fermenters and the wines are bottled and labeled in-house.
Mortenson stated he and his household have created an environment the place households, mates and neighbors can collect. Seven Mile Vineyard can also be on the Ohio River Valley Wine Path.
“Now we have a rustic environment in rural Butler County. Come see the sundown. Now we have a lovely sundown each evening on the west aspect of the barn, and you may see it proper above the timber. It’s only a cool setting with a rustic model. Come and get away from town,” Mortenson stated.
Reside music is obtainable on choose nights, which is promoted on Fb in addition to on the Middletown and Butler County Guests Bureau web sites. For extra info, go to Seven Mile Vineyard on Fb at www.facebook.com/sevenmilewinery.
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