The Winery
John and Kristie renovated an army warehouse built in the 1940s for their production space and tap room. The building is located in Chaffee Crossing, a historic district preserving the history of Fort Chaffee, a former U.S. Army Training Center.
The couple used as much reclaimed material as possible in their renovation of the space to keep the history alive and build a sustainable winery. For example, all of the wood floors are original and the wood on the interior walls is reclaimed barn wood.
The walnut bartop is made out of a fallen tree from the family farm in Northeast Arkansas.
The Vintners
John and Kristie first discovered their love of wine during a trip to Northern California, which included an excursion to Napa Valley. John started making small batch beer and wine shortly after, and eventually decided to expand his production.
For their day jobs, Kristie is a retired math teacher and John is a sales representative. You can find them in the evenings grilling or cooking and enjoying a glass of wine on the porch of their renovated 1920s home.
In their free time, John and Kristie are doting grandparents of two grandchildren, both kids of their son, Zach, and his wife Jordan. They occasionally enjoy road trips to visit their daughter, Emily, and her husband, Charlie, who live in Montana.