Somerset Ridge Winery Harvest

We got there early on September 7th, the crowd started to form. This was my 5th year to harvest at Somerset Ridge. I look forward every year to the harvest. There were about 60 volunteers. They came from miles away. We make so many new friends every year. You can see Christine hiding in the vines.

I think it was six years ago that Patti Armstrong told me about local Somerset Ridge wine. I told her there was no winery in Somerset. Somerset is a vanishing town. Well, I went to the Paola Chamber office to ask about the winery and they got busy. About three hours later I got a call from them, and they had found it. It is only a mile from my house!! The Chamber gave me a phone number and I called Dennis, he was in western Kansas at a ballgame. We talked and a wonderful friendship began.

I have brought many friends and family to pick and enjoy the wines over the years. It is where Jasper and I became close friends. Where we talked of the Slowfood movement, and how this is the type of vineyard that Slowfood is about. It is about local small producers. I remember Jasper saying "This is just like being in Italy". http://www.jasperskc.com/ And I agree.
You come out to the winery and pick grapes during harvest and then have a wonderful lunch on the hill top.

Dennis and Cindy Reynolds have worked so hard to make their dream come true. They are living the American dream. Even if it looks like Italy.

Dennis is my mentor. He is teaching me all about wine grapes and vineyards. We have only 400 vines right now, but I love each and every one of them.