WHITEWATER, Kan. — Grace Hill Winery will celebrate 15 years of Kansas wine with an anniversary party on July 8.
Grace Hill Winery opened in the summer of 2008, when Dave Sollo decided he wanted to grow grapes in the country.
"He had more grapes than he knew what do with, so he decided 'you know what? I'm going to make wine out of them,' and then next thing you know, they're opening a winery," Jeff Sollo, managing partner of Grace Hill Winery, and Dave Sollo's son.
According to Jeff Sollo, Grace Hill Winery made about 2,000 bottles in year one and has grown since.
The 15th Anniversary Party will include Library Wine Tastings. Grace Hill Winery will be bringing up wines from their cellar to taste through the history of the winery. This even is a good way to see where the winery has been, and hopefully get a glimpse of where they are going.
There will live music and entertainment on the winery's patio from local bands Sometimes on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and B-Side from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Then in a toast to something new, Grace Hill Winery will be debuting their first-ever sparkling wines. They will have a sweet and a dry.
Jeff Sollo calls Grace Hill Winery celebrating 15 years a surreal experience. He joined his parents' business after college, with the intention of only sticking around for a couple of months.
"15 years later we're still doing it. It's been a fun adventure because it wasn't even an established business or anything, certainly when I came back into it," Sollo said. "It's just really been kind of fun as the whole family has gotten to have more or less equal share, and how it grew and what it did and how it was run and so it's been kind of a really fun family adventure that way."
This event is free to attend, and all ages are welcome. No reservations are needed, people can come and go as they please.
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