by Denise Etheridge
White County News
What began as a backyard hobby grew into The Cottage Vineyard & Winery, an agri-tourism destination that offers fine wines, sweeping views and a tranquil spot to honor veterans. The vineyard and winery is off Highway 129 in Cleveland.
Nathan Beasley owns the winery established by his stepfather and mother, Jim and Sandra Penner. Beasley says he was drawn into the family business 12 years ago when he was playing basketball and studying sports medicine at Huntington University in Montgomery, Ala.
“I came up for the grand opening in February 2013,” Beasley said. “I helped out that weekend because they wanted me to see it. By May of the same year, I decided this was something I really enjoyed and would give me a part of something my family created.”
Beasley said he left school and moved to Cleveland.
“There was nothing wrong with it [sports medicine],” he said. “But, for me to be happy, I like to be doing something different every day. I wanted to be able to learn as the business grew.”
Beasley said his stepfather, Jim Penner, was introduced to fine wines and the winemaking process when he was stationed in Germany with the Air Force.
“He’s one of those people who is going to give everything he has to it,” Beasley said.
Years later, a twice-retired Penner planted 100 vines in his Cleveland backyard. It wasn’t long before the Penners planted The Cottage’s first vine, built a veterans memorial and then a tasting room.
Beasley said he and his parents had expert guidance from winemaker Joe Smith. Smith owns Serenity Cellars, off Laurel Ridge Road in Cleveland.
“Without his guidance we’d have had to learn the hard way,” he said.
The vineyard and winery did leave the family’s hands for a brief period, according to Beasley. They sold the business in 2022 to “focus on family.” They bought it back two years later. Beasley took over operations at the end of July.
The 29-acre property normally has 6 acres of grapevines planted, but currently has 1.5 acres of vines. Beasley said the vineyard plans to replant 4.5 acres over the next 18 months. He said they’ve experimented with different varieties of grapes and now know which ones do best on their land.
“Our property may produce a specific variety of grape better than a winery five miles down the road,” he said.
The Cottage produces and bottles their own reds, whites and rosés.
The winery also has some craft beers on hand, confirmed tasting room manager Christine DeWoody. DeWoody said the winery has movie nights planned throughout August, and often hosts wedding rehearsal dinners and other gatherings on their spacious tiered deck.