What did it feel like tearing down the old Country Pub in Kasota to build your winery?
KENT: It was actually kind of nice. (Laughter.) The building wasn’t in good shape. Talk about doing things I’m not used to doing: I was in the basement ripping out copper before they tore it down, just to salvage something. As for the winery, it has a good business plan. I am not going to run Schwickerts forever. What kinds of grapes are you growing? KENT: It’s a cold, hardy grape the U of M developed genetically. About eight varieties were planted. KIM: When we have it built and have an open house, I want to be the one pouring wine. One for you, two for me. (Laughter.) KENT: And you can carry him out the door. (Laughter.) The cream of the crop in this industry has gone out of their way to share best practices with us. You never see that in our (TECTA’s) industry. You were involved with what happened at Phenix Biocomposites, an unsuccessful business in Mankato that originally made granite-like products from soybean flour and recycled newspaper. What happened? KENT: We lost on both ends
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