In Vino Veritas

Jennifer Polanz

It loosely translates to “there is truth in wine” and anyone who has ever shopped with a buzz knows there’s also money to be parted with in wine. Oak Ridge Nursery & Landscaping in Brandon, South Dakota, has taken on locally produced wines as a new product line and it’s been a great stopgap for off-season sales. They started about three years ago and added on a cozy, cool section to showcase the wines and host tastings and other wine-related events. They bring in representatives from the respective wineries to talk about the products, which range from rhubarb and chokecherry wines to some grape-based vino.

“We carry six different wineries, with three to four being within 10 miles of us,” says Daemon Coughlin, whose parents Mike and Robin Coughlin founded the greenhouse.

Anyone interested in carrying local wines will need to check your state’s requirements to see if you need a liquor license. The type of license may change, too, if you’re going to have tastings, which is a big part of offering wines. But it’s a product line to consider, particularly if you have local producers with a following! GP

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Pictured: Carrying local wines also opens up the door to new opportunities, including wine accessories, home décor featuring wine and gift baskets featuring local wines.