Today we’d like to introduce you to Shriti Plimpton.
Hi Shriti, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Fence Stile Vineyards, Winery, and Distillery was started with my late husband (William Plimpton) in 2006. Our goal was to create a family-friendly, eco-friendly, and experiential environment where guests could learn about grape growing and quality wines. We focus primarily on dry wines, but do have a few sweeter options as well. William passed away in 2015, so my son and I have continued running the facility and added a small distillery in 2021. We craft small-batch wines and spirits, focusing on quality rather than quantity.
We are situated on 53 acres of land with 10 acres in grapes (10 varieties, 8 of them in production). We do not spray for weeds; we dry-farm and hand-harvest with volunteers, guests, and community members. The winery is underground, as are our wine caves, where we age the wine.
We have experiential activities like 5K runs in the vineyards, grape stomps, live music, igloos (seasonally), firepits (seasonally), and tours of our winery and wine caves with a candlelit tasting in the library wine caves. Our goal is to engage and educate our guests with the wine, spirits, and provide experiences over gimmicky events to draw large crowds. We want to get to know our guests and help them feel comfortable with the wine, spirits, and create an experience they will remember and want to share.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Vineyards are subject to nature (especially if you choose not to spray for weeds). We deal with the same issues all farmers do: weather, pests, animals, birds, bees, etc.
Winery work is heavily dependent on the quality of the grapes, and as in the vineyards, our winemaking process is a minimalist approach relying more on time and care rather than additions and alterations.
Perceptions about wine (especially Midwestern varieties and the assumption that it will all be sweet wine) continue to be a challenge. We spend a lot of time on education to explain that the better-known varieties (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc.), do not grow in the Midwest. Since they are at an estate winery, we educate and encourage them to try something grown locally, and in our case, 75% of our wines are dry wines!
Of course, my husband’s passing created the largest challenge for us!
We’ve been impressed with Fence Stile Vineyards, Winery & Distillery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are the oldest vineyard and winery in our part of the city. We were the first vineyard and winery (and now there are several others). We specialize in dry wines, creating offerings that set us apart from others (first in the area to create a Piquette, a white Port-style wine, and an orange wine). We are the only winery in the western half of the state that has wine caves and an underground library wine cave. We are one of the few that make Brandy and Rum.
We are most proud of our guest experience – we work hard to ensure that every guest is met where they are on their wine journey without pretension. We are family and dog friendly, so we have worked to create a safe space to play games, enjoy the afternoon as a family, and create lasting memories. We offer numerous classes (small bites, wine pairings, winery and wine cave tours with candlelit tastings, and wine/spirits education) to demystify wine and help guests increase their comfort level.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Listen to your guests. Start with a plan, but you are in the service industry, so meet your guests where they are and adjust based on where they want to go! Once they trust you, they will also expand their needs and goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fencestile.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencestile/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fencestile/
