Rimsie McConiga
Special to the Citizen
Jason and Colleen Gerke recently announced the sale of their business, Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery in rural Platte County. New owners, Jason and Kit Lacy, who are brother and sister, took over the business Aug. 15.
The Gerkes opened the winery in 2006. Both had roots in agriculture and vineyards. Jason grew up on a cattle and row crop operation in Missouri and he majored in agricultural journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Colleen grew up in a wine country region of California and studied agricultural communications in college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She took a chemistry of winemaking class at the college.
After the couple met at a beer tent at the Kansas City Zoo they married and settled in Kansas City. For fun, they began making wine in the basement of their house.
The Gerkes purchased the winery property in 2003 and planted 250 Norton grapevines in 2004. In a few years they took the next step and got their license and began making wine commercially. They produced 100 cases of wine their first year after offering their products at wine festivals and wholesale markets, stores and restaurants in the area. They then began selling directly to customers.
Nine years ago they built a 1,440-square-foot stand-alone winemaking and sales facility situated next to the vineyard. A few years later the Gerkes began leasing extra warehouse space off-site but transported products between two facilities for several years. That led to the couple to undertake a large expansion at the winery to enable the consolidation of their event space, storage and production in a single location.
The winery has grown to include a vineyard, tasting room, event space and wine distribution across Kansas and Missouri.
The new owners have the same passion for wine as the winery’s founders. Kit Lacy has worked for a public accounting firm for the last five years. She is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri and Rockhurst University. Jason is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and has worked in the financial and investment industry for 10 years.
They believe their business experience will help to take the winery to the next level. Their aim is to make Jowler Creek a favorite destination for family and friends to celebrate special events and spend quality time together.
They want to expand the Jowler Creek wine brand extensively in the Midwest. “Jowler Creek Winery will continue to produce award-winning wines, offer family friendly public events, local live music, festivals, hayrides and private events in and for the community,” said Jason Lacy.
The Lacy family knows that with 3,500 grapevines on seven acres in their vineyard their days will be busy.
The Gerkes’ aim was to produce great wine and ensure the vineyard and green-built wineries were sustainable to protect the environment and sustain the business for future generations.
The Lacy family will continue green and sustainable production methods and they know they have some big shoes to fill. The Gerkes earned many awards and honors including the Jefferson Cup honor in 2012 and 2014 and Gold Medal honors at the Missouri Governor’s Cup contest. The Gerkes were the Platte County Farm Family of the Year in 2007, Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award Winners in 2009, and were the first winery in the state of Missouri to receive the Missouri Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program across six categories (specialty crop, energy, farmstead, livestock, grassland and forestry).
Jason and Kit’s grandfather, Bob Lemons was in the grocery business for more than 50 years and his grandchildren’s goal is to continue in his entrepreneurial footsteps. They both admired his love of family, business and community.
During the transition period the Gerkes and the Lacys will work closely together. The Gerkes will remain on-site and work in advisory roles with the Lacys.
The winery offers nine award-winning wines in styles ranging from dry to sweet. Jowler Creek Winery offers free live music every Friday and Saturday night as well as entertaining events year-round.
For more information about tastings or upcoming events, contact Kit Lacy at 858-5528.