Local couple moves forward with business dream

By: Karen McNew | WSLS
Published: May 06, 2009

H.T. and Rhonda Page own Brooks Mill Winery. Their business is new and the economic timing may seem a little less than perfect.

H.T. Says, "It is a little bit scary we planned this four years ago."

And after three years the blackberries needed to be harvested, so the Pages have been savvy with saving money.

H.T. says, "We'll get relatives to bottle and label.

Kimberly Eaken, owner of Wine Gourmet says opening a winery is always a risk. But, Virginia wine sales are holding up.

Eaken says,"You cannot get that Virginia wine taste and tradition in any other bottle of wine in the store."

Even with that tradition, shoppers are looking for a bargain.

Around the store you'll see a lot of signs that say fat value. Kimberly says she went form carrying 69 wines that were 15 dollars or less last year, to 236 bottles that cost less than 15 dollars now because of the economy.

At ten dollars a bottle the Pages seem to be in line with the latest trend.

Eaken says, "As long as they... They being the wineries that are emerging in these last few years are really focusing on their region I think they are going to be fine."

H.T. Says, "The difficult part is getting traditional wine drinkers to even try fruit wines so far I think they have been pleasantly surprised."

A taste they hope will become a new tradition like so many other wines before it.