Sip wine ‘fireside’

Between Williamsburg and Marengo, local farmers Bill and Rona Wyant have expanded their operation with a whole new crop, grape vines.

For years, the Wyants had grown corn and soybeans. “I've done that since I graduated from high school, and I'm still doing it,” Bill says.

Yet, several years ago, Bill's parents retired to California. When Bill and Rona would go for a visit, they also visited a number of California wineries, and they began to wonder if owning their own winery might be a good way to diversify.

“We've been farming for so long that, at first, changing directions was like, ‘No, that's crazy! We can't do that!'” Rona says.

But a wake-up call came for the Wyants after a close family friend passed away unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident.

“He was 54 and I was 52,” Bill says. “That was our push. If we were going to do this, we had to stop talking about it and do it.”

In 2004, the Wyants started their vineyard. In June of 2007, Fireside Winery officially opened its doors. At first, they produced 22,000 bottles of wine annually. Today, the winery makes more than 70,000 bottles each year. “We still keep running out of wine!” Bill jokes.

Although you'll see a number of vines in and around the winery, located just four miles north of the Williamsburg Tanger Outlet Mall, the actual vineyard is several miles away. The Wyants admit they had originally planned to build their winery next to the vineyard.

“The more we saw traffic on this paved road, the more we thought this location might be a good option,” Rona says.

And the rolling hillsides around the winery truly create a picturesque setting as the sun sets to the west.

The couple's fondness for sitting around a campfire led to the business name and to the abundant outdoor firepits located around the grounds.

Bill and Rona have made their business a family operation, bringing in daughter Cassie Bott, who has a background in management, as the winery's on-site manager. Cassie's husband, Zach, who has a background in animal science and chemistry, serves as Fireside's winemaker.

Different from their other crops, the vineyard and winery have allowed them to provide a social outlet for their friends and neighbors, and the Wyants say that's what they have found the most satisfying.

“We're very mechanized when it comes to farming,” Bill explains. “You might spend 12 hours by yourself during the day. With the winery, locals come in and we get to know them better.”

They give their staff of 15 a great deal of credit in helping to create a warm, social environment. “They're wonderful about engaging people,” says Rona. “We want people to taste the wine, but we want them to come and stay. Our staff is a big part of why people stick around.”

The Wyants have spent a lot of time listening to what their customers want: more outdoor seating, a covered space to hold events, an outdoor tasting bar, and, most recently, a bed-and-breakfast. Fireside Winery now offers The Retreat, a fully furnished, three-bedroom residence adjacent to the winery. The space is currently reserved about two weekends per month, Rona says.

For more information, call (319) 662-4222 or go online to www.firesidewinery.com.

Directions:

Although its address is Marengo, the Fireside Winery is located between Marengo and Williamsburg, on the west side of P Avenue/Hwy. 149, directly north of Williamsburg and the Tanger Outlet Mall.

Hours:

Fireside Winery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (now through September); Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.