Madison east-sider Dave Mitchell was instrumental in sparking the local craft wine and beer scenes

By Amie Hoag, Eastside News

After 48 years in the grape-growing business, one local vintner is hanging up his pruning shears. Dave Mitchell, who began living on Oakridge Avenue in 2007, owner/operator of Mitchell’s Vineyard in the town of Rutland — near Oregon — is planning to retire.

“My partner and I have plans to travel, and we’d like to do it when the weather is nice,” Mitchell said. “For the last 48 years, we’ve only been able to travel in the winter. COVID taught everybody they’re not going to live forever.”

Mitchell has been involved in the local wine- and beer-making scene since 1972, when he opened the Wine Makers Shop with Bob Wollersheim. The two were in business together for a little less than a year before Wollersheim purchased the land that is now home to the renowned Wollersheim Winery near Sauk City and began his own wine-making journey.

Mitchell purchased property for Mitchell’s Vineyard in 1976 and planted his first vines. He continued to run and expand the Wine Makers Shop, eventually adding hops to the mix when beer making took off in popularity. The shop was then renamed The Wine & Hop Shop. This experience led him to co-found Capital Brewery with Ed Janus in 1984. In 2012, Mitchell sold The Wine & Hop Shop to longtime employee, Ben Feifarek, who is also a co-founder of Working Draft Beer Company.

For the last 14 years, Mitchell’s professional focus has been on the vineyard, where he’s surrounded by a community of winemakers.

Mitchell’s Vineyard grows nine varieties of grapes — red and white — for wine making and juice. Hobby winemakers, as well as small vintners are regular customers of the vineyards.

On a cloudy Tuesday morning, a handful of employees and grape pickers were on the 4 acres of land between Oregon and Stoughton, harvesting grapes and pressing them into juice while sharing more than a few jokes. Mitchell was self-effacing and charming, and the admiration and respect the regulars at the vineyard had for him were palpable.

Mitchell’s Vineyard is currently for sale, and Mitchell reports there are a few interested parties. He’s hoping to help the new owners get up to speed this winter and spring and then set off on his retirement next summer.