Anybody passionate enough about something has wondered what it is
like to turn that love into a business.
A farm wife and grandmother wondered that same thing about growing
grapes, selling wine and offering a rich experience in the middle of corn and
bean fields of southern Minnesota. Only, Vicky Vogt wasn’t just daydreaming.
She was serious.
“When she first hit me with the idea, I said, ‘You’re crazy; let’s
not do this,’” said Vicky’s husband, Gary Vogt, a lifelong farmer who has lived
within the same mile his entire life.
Now when people walk in the futuristic, metal building, he’s the
one they often see first – with a glass of sangria and a welcoming hand.
Welcome to Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery.
After a handshake and introduction, it’s quite obvious Gary is
co-owner with Vicky, but he rarely introduces himself that way.
“Hi, I’m Gary, the father of the four daughters,” he says with a
grin and magnetic demeanor.
From there, it’s wine, cider, gourmet food, music, a majestic
setting and peaceful view of the vineyard and gently rolling farmland. It’s not
California or Argentina, but it works well.
“I was never hesitant about it,” Vicky said about clearing the
site, erecting the building, creating a business model and hiring nearly two
dozen people. “I always wanted to do it from the minute I thought of it.”
With the idea tightly wedged in their brains, Vick and Gary
explored more. The couple who met in Rochester in the 70s had traveled
extensively, toured some of the world’s vineyards and sampled their wines.
“Everywhere we went, we always did wine tastings,” Gary said.
In February 2010, they studied more at a grape growers’
conference. The couple studied business models, picked others’ brains,
interviewed architects and considered logo options.
Once the fencing went up and grapes started growing right off the
highway, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, others grew suspicious, as
well. After all, this is Minnesota, and that six acres of wood, wire and vines
was prime crop land.
But they had reached the point of no return – not that they were
going to change their minds. Plus, it seemed like a natural fit, given their
tastes. Yet there was another reason to go through with it, all: family.
“It was to bring my kids home – that was the idea,” Vicky said.
Thus far, that plan has worked like a charm, and family members
have filtered into their own roles, including sons-in-law who are winemaker and
vineyard manager. They’re not just filling the gaps, either. The whole family
loves this stuff.
“We do all like wine,” Vicky said. “We always, always liked wine.”
Grape Stomp 2012!
