A 200-acre farm in Nottingham owned by the Wilson family was not always slated to become a vineyard, writes Emily Kovach for PA Eats.
The land that has been in the same family for three generations was previously a dairy farm and nearly changed owners in the late 2000s. But in 2009, after a deal fell through, the family decided trying growing wine grapes.
Wayvine Winery & Vineyard was started by brothers Zach and James Wilson, who first planted a 4-acre test plot with a dozen grape varieties. The plot provided a good yield, so they planted 3,000 vines the following year.
The results were great, and Zach believes is mostly due to the farm’s past. Since cows grazed on the land for decades, this created fertile soil that helped the vines thrive.
“Initially, we thought we’d just grow and sell some grapes, but after doing all the work and realizing how little money we’d make, we decided to start a separate venture and get our own winery going,” said Zach.
Today, Wayvine Winery & Vineyard is among the more popular wineries in the region.
Read more about Wayvine Winery & Vineyard’s past and future in PA Eats.
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