Post Messenger Recorder -

The New Glarus Primrose Winery, after operating first as Mineral Springs Winery in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, starting in 1990 and relocating to New Glarus in 1997 as The New Glarus Primrose Winery, will be passing the "torch" to an amazing Wisconsin winery. Ric and Teresa Joranlien, the owners of Hawk's Mill Winery, have purchased the 500 First Street location of the New Glarus Primrose Winery. Their home base is located in the rolling hills outside Browntown, Wisconsin.

After making homemade wine for many years, sharing it with family and friends and being encouraged to "sell that home formula wine" Bob and Peg made their plan. At that time they looked into the future and developed their dream for the winery - to begin, the anticipation that Baby Boomers (in 1990) had went from a beer drinking stage (60's and 70's) to maybe a Martini and Manhattan stage (80's and 90's) and as they matured, to wine (year 2000 and beyond). Wine can be sipped and enjoyed over a longer time versus Martinis and Manhattans! The Baby Boomer growth in wine enjoyment has proved to be true. And in today's market, add the new comers, Generation-X and Millennials. The dream came to fruition.

Bob and Peg had a great beginning plan and have kept it going along with a few detours in the road. The detours being Peg's health issues – fibromyalgia and arthritis – which kept her from doing what she loved, retail sales and customer service and customer relations. (Given Peg's health issues, she has always said nobody has died from FM, you just hurt 24/7). Another detour, Bob having the opportunity to be general manager for Agri-Services in Belleville, a livestock feed manufacturer and grain elevator. (Grapes, wine production, livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat – it is all Agriculture!). The detours interfered with maximizing what Bob and Peg always believed was a great opportunity for a New Glarus Winery. With limited time for new products (Wedding Wine White and Strawberry Rhubarb to name a couple), production and marketing (a full-time, 5 day a week job does interfere), there was and is so much more to do – A Wine Festival, with a grape stomp, extra events (that Ric, Teresa and there staff are so good at creating). Even though George Burns (the movie "Oh, God!") is Bob's mentor, he worked until he was 100+ because he loved it, it is time to pass the torch.

Ric and Teresa are excited to become a significant part of the historic Swiss Heritage of New Glarus. Teresa has a personal stake in New Glarus. Her great-great grandparents, Nicklas Streiff and Katrina Speich, were married in New Glarus. Her great-grandfather, Karl Knutti, was born in Bern, Switzerland, while her great-grandmother, Martha Streiff, was born in New Glarus. They married in New Glarus in 1916. As a young girl, Teresa remembers watching everyone polka while attending New Glarus festivals with her grandparents. And it wouldn't have been a proper family reunion without her grandmother and great-aunts providing their yodeling prowess! Teresa is proud to say that she has inherited her grandmother's Edelweiss broach that has been handed down through the family, dating back to Switzerland.

Ric and Teresa will bring a unique multigenerational blend of wine and marketing to New Glarus. The imagination and creativity they have shown in developing Hawk's Mill Winery is exceptional. Their "out in the country" Browntown location caters to all ages of guests, young, middle age, Baby Boomers and beyond. This creativity will allow them to reach and exceed the opportunities that the New Glarus market provides. The opportunities are here to see a tremendous growth stage. Please visit Hawk's Mill website at http://www.hawksmillwinery.com, Facebook, and other sites for more details.

Ric and Teresa's licensing for 500 First Street will take three to maybe five months to complete. In the meantime, The New Glarus Primrose Winery will be in operation – business as normal. As licensing is being completed behind the scenes, you will notice maintenance and repair work being done on the outside of the building.

Bob and Peg want to thank our winery guests from literally around the world, the New Glarus local residents, and local communities for your support through the years. The Rhubarb Fest for example, which celebrated 19 years in 2016, has had the benefit of many local residents and residents from surrounding communities bring in their extra Rhubarb in trade for Rhubarb wine. An enjoyable trade for all involved!

Bob and Peg have always believed that for a community business to thrive it must be supported by other local businesses and residents. As Ric and Teresa move forward with their new venture, you will have the opportunity to meet them. They may not divulge all of their plans immediately; rest assured we will be impressed with what we see. Please help us welcome them.