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Winery was retirement dream for 3 nurses
Lessons learned in the nursing industry helped trio of friends in a new challenge: a winery
Date published: 10/2/2008 By Rob Hedelt WICOMICO CHURCH --When visitors ask the three former nursing professionals about creating Athena Vineyards and Winery, most assume they had lots of help."Planting vines that first year, 2002, it was the three of us with shovels, an augur and some help from my nephew for a few days," Ada Jacox said of the 40-acre property overlooking the Great Wicomico River. "It was tough." Even harder times followed for the women, all in their 60s. "About the time we got that first planting done, along came [Hurricane] Isabel," said Ruth Harris. "We spent months and lots of money recovering from that. We had more than 500 trees down" and drainage issues. After that came a learning curve that had the women studying everything from grape varieties to fertilizer, diseases and eventually, wine-making techniques and equipment. "Our careers in the health-care industry gave us the skills needed," said Carol Spengler, "how to educate ourselves on the business, budgeting and planning and then dividing up the operation in a way that makes sense." With the completion of Athena now grows 20 varieties of grapes on 14 acres. The vineyard produces more than a dozen wines, ranging from "Galleon Treasure Red" in The trio is quick to credit the contributions, advice and support from the Flemer family at Westmoreland County's Ingleside Vineyards, as well as the work of Athena wine-maker Jacques Recht and vineyard manager John Stebbins. But visit the softly rolling hillsides of the property on any business day and you'll see all three partners at work: greeting customers, helping out in the winery or, yes, pruning and picking. Among the three, they have decades of experience as top administrators at hospitals and schools. And they've endured their share of hardships.
Date published: 10/2/2008
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