ebrations in their tasting room. Those who have entered the room expecting “a bar” are delighted to receive what the winery offers them: “rest, relax and tour.” Their wine, Nancy said, has given
Jim and Nancy Schade, Volga, S.D., not only have fun making wine, they’ve turned their vineyard and winery into a place of welcome for learning about communion and caring for God’s creation.
admits Jim on a tour of the vineyard. What happens in the tasting room
(attached to their home), vineyard and community is ministry.
Let’s stomp some grapes In August, 40 confirmation kids were part of the Milestone Ministry Grape Stomp. Ascension Lutheran Church in nearby Brookings has sent young people out to participate for six years. Every half hour there’s a vineyard tour and a eucharistic lesson in which they’ll learn about “in, with and under.” Then they help stomp hundreds of pounds of grapes and bring back wine for Confirma- tion Sunday, which is later this month.
From preschoolers to confir- mands to the Red Hat Society— locals and visitors find table hospi- tality at Schadé Vineyard & Winery, often discussing Scripture (espe- cially John 15) and learning about stewardship of God’s creation. “One of the biggest concerns was how to make selling a bottle of wine ministry, but God opened a door and the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and others,” said Nancy, recalling moments of family cel-
them a window to “tender, tender moments.” In their tasting room she learned of a serviceperson soon to be sent to Afghanistan. She offered the tearful mother a complimentary bottle to be opened when the son returned. Recently he came home and the bottle was opened. They also offer an after-baby
bottle of wine to pregnant women who promise to abstain from alcohol use while pregnant. Indeed, part of their ministry is to advocate for—and model—respon- sible drinking. Their success could be measured by the support they’ve offered—and received—from the local Christian school. The Schades offered wine for the church’s fund- raising and hosted a Bible study at the winery. “We’re trying to do education
that’s respectful of everyone,” Nancy said. “This is an opportunity to change attitudes about drinking. Our message is that you don’t have to abuse alcohol. We teach children a valuable principle that responsible enjoyment of wine for adults is a good thing and one of those fine things in society. Like a
good cup of coffee.” A trip to the vineyard can be a
family affair, she said. One of her favorite memories is of a grand- mother who brought her grandchil- dren to gather fruit for grape juice. The 4-year-old had a gallon pail of grapes in each hand and juice from a mouthful of grapes running down his chin. “He was so proud,” Nancy said.
The Schades are also proud of what their winery offers in the way of economic development to the community and state. They recently opened a second tasting room in Deadwood, S.D., and they not only sell their wine at 162 stores in the state (and in 24 states), but they buy local fruit (grapes and berries) and employ college students and occasionally agriculture researchers from South Dakota State University, Brookings.
They have 22 part-time employ- ees and two full-time ones. At har- vesttime, a part-time bottling crew works an assembly line that corks 16,000 bottles in three days. It’s not exactly like Lucille Ball’s famous candy assembly line, but fun just the same, Jim said. The reality, he said, “is that most
people don’t get to Napa Valley. So they come here. Relax and enjoy. That’s the South Dakota vineyard experience.”
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