Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/62409
WineEast weekends. The Roeders set out to create a place where local residents could gather and feel a sense of community. According to Brian Roeder, "We wanted our tasting room to be a place where people come together and enjoy wine with friends, and then we would give them reasons to come back again and again." Roeder designed the 13,500-square- foot winery to meet two needs: to produce the wine and to be a destination for both tourists and local visitors, while at the same time being as "green" as possible. The winery production facility is built into a hill so that it is primarily underground; geothermal heating, cooling and hot water are provided by a geo-exchange loop that is buried deep underground. Low-energy lighting and engineered insulating panels also help reduce energy use. The tasting room on the first floor above the winery features hand-hewn timbers, a large stone fireplace and a tasting bar that can handle simultaneous tastings for 125 people. The tasting room also offers seating for up to 150 people. Outside, tables and chairs are set up on a stone patio for wine tasting and picnics while guests enjoy views of Little Cobbler Mountain and the Blue Ridge mountains. On weekends, the winery often hires live entertainment, and the Roeders encourage families to attend with children and pets. The winery hosts both guided and self- guided tours, and it took only a short time for the tasting room to become a gathering point for the local community. No outside alcohol or wine is permitted, but potluck dinners and picnics are welcome. The winery is open every day from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Friday night (and some Saturday nights) it stays open until 9 p.m. Roeder estimates that in the summer, Friday night sales add $3,000 to the bottom line, while during winter that amount is about $1,500. The wines are priced between $25 and $39 per bottle, and visitors are encouraged to start a tab and pay for tastings and wine purchases at the end of the visit. "We sell our wine all at retail prices," Brian Roeder told Wine East. "We don't Vance_Jan11.qxp 11/23/10 9:29 AM Page 1 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 157