PAGE 10
MADE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
September 28/29, 2021
panding our outdoor area to include a permanent pavilion which will be as big as our indoor capes offers something for everybody, thanks to the development of Minnesota wine over the tasting room once it’s complete.” The winery hosts food trucks, live music and past few decades. events on weekends. Upcoming crafting classes “We pride ourselves on being able to serve something for everyone,” said Ashley. “No mat- include ter what type of wine drinker you are — even if fallyou’re not a wine drinker yet — we’ll find some- themed sucthing you’ll like.” Ashley, who leads the winemaking while Dan culent 8950 Dodd Road, Kilkenny plantmanages the vineyard, is particularly proud ers and of their Marquette red. Dark fruit flavors and holiday Contact the tasting room smoky spice make this especially enticing during business hours at porch heading into fall. It’s also been recognized by pots. the International Cold Climate Wine Com507-334-1936. For more One of petition with two gold medals and a “Best in Ashley information and a schedule Show.” of upcoming events, visit and Grapes for the 2021 Marquette, to be harDan’s vintageescapeswinery.com. vested this fall, will be the first Vintage Esgoals capes wine made only with fruit grown on the was to create a place where people could share property. The property has about 10 acres of special moments and “escape” daily life. viable vine growing land. Ashley and Dan cur “It’s the most heartwarming thing, to see rently cultivate three, with plans to expand as people come out and be able to enjoy themthe business grows. With the volume of wine selves, take in the countryside and escape their they make, Vintage Escapes will always need daily worries,” said Ashley. “That’s what drives additional grapes for many of their varietals. us, to see that our wines and our space can Ashley and Dan try to buy as locally as posmake people happy.” sible. Winemaking is done entirely onsite. Vintage Escapes is located 10 miles west of “Our tasting room is vintage-inspired, very Faribault at 8950 Dodd Road, Kilkenny. The warm and welcoming inside. We also have a large patio with gorgeous lake and countryside tasting room is open Fridays 3 to 9 p.m., Saturdays noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 views — especially in the fall, when the leaves start to change colors,” said Ashley. “We’re ex- p.m. for the season. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
IF YOU GO
Ashley and Dan Reller’s love of vino inspired them to open Vintage Escapes Winery, but it was the birth of their son, River, that gave them them the impetus. (Photo courtesy of Vintage Escapes Winery)
PAID CONTENT
APT Machining: running strong after 30 years By PAT BECK
U ATP Quality Control Technician Cole Miller inspects a product that must meet precise measurements. (Pat Beck/southernminn.com)
sing steel, aluminum and/ or plastic, APT Machining can manufacture precision products for most any type of application. The Kasota-based company manufactures products for all types of industries, including transportation, agriculture, construction, power generation (generators), consumer goods, medical components, and oil and gas manufacturing, across the United States and Mexico. That diversification has been good for business. “Throughout the years we’ve always stayed busy because we are so diversified,” owner Brian Mayo said. “We’ve got a larger customer base which keeps us busy even when one cus-
tomer is slow, we stay busy with others. Like if agricultural is slow then the construction side may be busy. If if construction is slow, the power generation may be busy. Right now it seems like everybody is busy.” Medical manufacturing is up now because of COVID-19, Mayo said. “There is money to be spent there. People are buying.” APT’s work can be found most anywhere. “We do a lot of parts for dump trucks, construction vehicles, farm equipment or a bolt or a hub,” Mayo said. The process begins with APT getting a drawing or print of the part. Then the information is entered into a computer. APT has nearly 30 CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and another 10 random
