F O C U S on business
New Cottonwood Owners by Kyle Marksteiner
MICHAEL AND SUSAN MAHAN
made one pretty big change when they took over Artesia’s Cottonwood Winery a couple of months ago – they started making and selling beer. The Mahans purchased Cottonwood from Dale and Penny Taylor, who owned the winery for nine years. Dale Taylor first opened Cottonwood in 2004 after a doctor recommended that he drink more wine for his heart. But the Mahans were no strangers to the winery. They live just down the road and often help at special events such as the winery’s Time Change Rib Cook Offs. When the Taylors decided it was time to retire, the Mahans decided they were ready to get out of the flooring business and get into the business of running a winery and brewery. Michael said he’d suggested adding beer to the mix several times, but the previous owners were not interested. He didn’t waste much time once the
opportunity presented itself. “When we bought this, we decided we’d love to add a brewery to it,” he said. Beer, under the name Desert Water Brewing, is created in the back of the establishment and served on tap. The Mahans brew an amber, a pilsner, a stout, a wheat and an Irish red. They are one of a handful of wineries in New Mexico to also carry a small brewers’ license. “We worked with the Sandia Chile Grill in Albuquerque,” Susan said. “We went on a brewery tour, and they were PHOTO LEFT: Susan and Michael Mahan are the proud new owners of Cottonwood Wine And Brewing LLC and the Desert Water Brewing label.
Wishing Artesia a Safe and Happy 2014!
Wishing Artesia a Happy New Year! Offices in Artesia, Carlsbad & Roswell
101 South Fourth Street • Artesia, New Mexico Phone: 575-746-2796 • Fax: 575-746-4244 OP E N M ON DAY- F R I DAY, 7 A M - 5 P M
www.jswardandson.com
14
FOCUS ON ARTESIA | WINTER 2014
Standard Energy Services, LLC
Serving all of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico 806.741.1080 • www.thestandardenergy.com