News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crossville’s Chestnut Hill Winery celebrating its 15th Anniversary.
Owner Darrin Stryker said his family first came to own the winery after seeing the potential it had as a real estate agent. He said seeing where he started with no knowledge of the wine business to where the business has grown to today is very satisfying.
“It has been such a great and fun business we’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Stryker said. “And that’s what the big celebration is about on Saturday. For 15 years we’re still there and we’re still serving good wine. People love it, we have people that come from all over the country that come and get our different wines.”
Stryker said to help get the business off the ground, they hired professionals who had knowledge of the business. Stryker said that running the winery hasn’t always been easy. When they first opened in 2007, Styker said new liquor stores had just opened in Cumberland County and the United States economy tanked shortly after opening.
On the other side of that struggle now, Stryker said the best part of the winery has been its customers. He said getting to know the community and connecting with them has been very gratifying.
“The customers are absolutely the most enjoyable people in the world because they come to the winery with a very calm attitude,” Stryker said. “And our employees are very personable and the customers really, really, enjoy that.”
Stryker said since they first started the business, they’ve gone to create about 16 of their own signature wines. He said in celebration of 15 years, they plan to release a new wine on Saturday.
