Winemakers face withering sales during coronavirus crisis
Connie Swinney/The Highlander
Brent Pape, a co-winemaker and viticulturist at Perissos Vineyards and Winery in Hoover's Valley, is one of five staff members caring for crops as the business was forced to temporarily close its tasting rooms and reduce the number of employees to adhere to coronavirus prevention restrictions.
By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer
Even though COVID-19 restrictions have left the Hill Country grape-growing industry high and dry, local venue operators are coming up with ways to pique the interest of wine lovers.
“Typically, this time of year, you'd look out over the vineyard, and you would see maybe 15 to 20 employees, seasonal labor for us, coming out working,” said Brent Pape, a co-winemaker and viticulturist. “COVID-19 isn't impacting vines, but the people working the vines.”
Pape is one of five staff members at Perissos Vineyard and Winery, 7214 Park Road 4 West in Burnet County, left caring for crops. …
Find the rest of this story in the Friday, April 10 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email connie@highlandernews.com. To subscribe, call 830-693-4367 or click here to subscribe to our e-Edition online.
