Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery Fine Kansas & American Wine, Wine Accessories, Gifts and Wine Maker Dinners

Project Overview-The 2005 Expansion Project
The realization that the winery was close to capacity came about two years ago. Reaching 16,000 gallons production a year, and beginning to experience difficulty meeting the demand for our most popular wines year round, dreams turned to discussion and now, discussion is becoming reality. During visioning sessions with the K-State Ag-Innovation center consultants in 2004, the dream to specialize in world-class wine with an on-premise cuisine center was conceptualized. The first phase of the project commenced on Friday, April 8, 2005 with the official groundbreaking ceremony. (click here for groundbreaking photos)
TASTING ROOM AND SALES AREA
Presently, the tasting room is often shoulder-to-shoulder with just 225 square feet to accommodate the tasting room staff, guests and gift inventory. The existing tasting room, kitchen, dish room and business offices will be converted into one big tasting room and gift shop and will measure well over 1000 square feet! The expanded gift shop will feature wine art and expanded lines of glassware and wine accessories. Look for the addition of coolers that will make Kansas produced sausages and cheese available for on-site picnic snacks on the grapevine draped veranda or near the new wine-barrel fountain near the herb garden, or the newly plant-scaped wine garden. The will be room to comfortably host a dozen guests at once with a greatly expanded wine-tasting bar.


EVENTS FACILITIES
The remainder of the original facility will be utilized for private and public dinners and events. What is now the winery in the north part of the original building will be moved into one of the new production buildings. The inside dining and events area will nearly triple in space to over 2600 square feet. Additionally, the area can be utilized as an area large enough for a large wedding party, reception and dance, or, a smaller, more intimate area can be created for smaller business retreats or private parties. Improved access to the expanded deck and veranda will provide even greater space and flexibility. (click here for project illustrations) The kitchen and dish rooms will be relocated and combined into one large space, more than doubling in square footage to 950. The kitchen will boast a triple door commercial refrigerator, a six-burner range with grill, a double oven and a host of culinary preparatory accessories that will make Norm's preparation of the Winemaker's Dinners much more efficient and likely, a better working experience for the master behind the meals...which will likely translate into even more creative and mouth-watering experiences for our guests!
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Two new buildings are slated for construction which will allow wine production to increase from 16,000 gallons to 25,000 gallons. The wine production that is currently in the north end of the existing building, the bottling in the warehouse, the warehouse tanks, the lab and the offices will move into the two new buildings. With an additional 905 square feet, there will be room for the tanks required to expand to the 25,000 gallon production level in this phase of construction. An additional phase will eventually allow production to increase to 50,000 gallons, which currently is the maximum production level allowed by Kansas law for a Kansas winery to maintain farm winery status.
EXTERIOR AND GROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS
The exterior of the new construction will create the ambiance consistent with a midwest farmstead with many buildings. The entrance, drive and parking areas will be expanded and improved. Extensive landscaping with herb gardens and additional grape vines, soft exterior lighting near the building and improved lighting in the parking areas for increased customer access and safety.

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