Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery currently has about one acre of grapes planted, which is only a test run for what will be planted in the future. The Vogts will prune these grape vines for another year before using any grapes from them. — Matt Peterson/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

They’ve lived in Minnesota and farmed nearly their whole lives, and now they and their children have decided to think outside the box — outside the wine box, that is.

Vicky and Gary Vogt, who live between Spring Valley and Grand Meadow, have a strong passion for fine wines. It’s something Vicky said their whole family, which includes four daughters, has had an interest in since traveling to many different places and experiencing the culture of winemaking.

Now the family is taking the matter into its own hands by starting a vineyard and winery just two miles from its farm, near the junction of Highway 63 and Highway 16 in Mower County. The family passion has also bred the business name: Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery.

Construction workers pour cement for the 9,000-square-foot building that will include a restaurant and wine tasting room at Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery. — Matt Peterson/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

But how did the passion turn into such a bold business venture?

“We wanted to have something to bring them (the daughters) into farming,” Vicky said, with her husband pointing and hinting at her. “It was something we could all do together.”

And the Vogts are not going into the operation blindly. Vicky said two of her daughters and their husbands are going to be deeply involved in the business. In fact, her two sons-in-law may be leaving their jobs to work at the facility. One has already been going to school for winemaking and will manage the winery. The other, currently an aerospace engineer, will be the vineyard manager.

Another inspiration behind the Vogts’ pursuit was Vicky’s father. She said he passed away last spring, but he knew his way around winemaking. He was also a state representative in the 80s and a key player in getting legislation passed for research on grapes in Minnesota.

As for the other daughters, Vicki said, “We can’t get them back here, but we’re trying.”

The Vogts will continue to run their family farm, as well.

“It takes a lot of money to support a winery,” Vicky said.

The climate may not negatively affect their growing process — It only dictates what types of wines they will grow.

Right now, we’re a little limited on what we can grow,” Gary said. “Yeah, our winters are a little harsher, but making the wine is all the same. Minnesota uses the same growing techniques as Napa Valley.”

That’s why starting this business in Minnesota does not deter them. One requirement of owning a winery in Minnesota is that the business use at least 51 percent of its grapes from Minnesota. There are several different types of cold, hardy grapes grown in Minnesota that they will use, and they will experiment with different blends outside of that, too. As of now, the Vogts have three different varieties planted, but they eventually hope to have eight or more.

Though many Minnesota wineries specialize in fruity, sweet wines, the Vogts have a liking for darker red wines and are going to try a few blends with those, as well.

Part of their plan, as with any winery, is to create something unique. And that’s why they are not revealing everything that they will grow. “We have a lot of different things we’re not talking about yet,” Vicky said.

“It’s new stuff other people aren’t doing yet,” Gary added. He also said it’s interesting how wines will vary in flavor. “The same grape will vary in flavor from one year to the next.”

Vicky added that a different winery could grow the same grapes in the same season but end up with a different flavor. “Everybody’s got just a little different recipe.”

The Vogts have also gotten a lot of ideas for their business from their travels.

Vicky hopes to hold some fun events like murder mysteries and dinner theaters like she has experienced before. The winery will also house a restaurant and enough space to hold events like weddings, parties and reunions.

“We’ll have a little of everything,” she said.

Even though the family won’t be using any of its own grapes until 2012, when the roots of the plants mature; they are optimistic about every aspect of the business.

The location, which Gary has owned for 20 years, has him excited about the outlook. Where the two highways meet, there is a lot of traffic, and the curiosity is starting to stir.

“You’d be amazed at the amount of people who stop in,” Gary said.

The grapes are visible from the highway, and dump trucks and cement trucks are steadily moving in and out of the nine-acre facility.

Construction crews plan to have the building finished by spring 2011, and the family plans to be open that summer.

However, Vicky said, for her, it has already been a full-time venture.