About Us
We refer to this part of our farm as Brickyard Hill Vineyard. In the 1800s, a brickyard was located near this site, and people around Marengo still refer to this area by that name. In addition to the beauty of the grapevines and the history of this land, our vineyard also features a three-acre pond. This is a truly magical place, and we want it to be one that our family and yours can enjoy.
The care we have taken to build our vineyard and winery also extends to the types of grapes weve selected to grow to produce Fireside Wines. With Iowas winter, it is necessary to plant cold hardy varietals instead of the types of grapes grown in California, where the climate, soil and growing conditions are vastly different. While most people do not think of Iowa as a grape-growing state, in the early 1900s, it was the fifth largest producer of grapes in the nation. In 1919, more than 12,000 tons of grapes were produced; in 1929, more than 15,000 tons but by the year 2000, the Iowa grape harvest had been reduced to 3,000 tons per year. However, the grape trade for which Iowa was once so well-known is slowly reclaiming its stake in Iowa agriculture, and Brickyard Hill Vineyard and Fireside Winery are proud to be a part of that transition.
