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On a beautiful sunny day, I travel down Highway 6 from Lincoln to Ashland, Nebraska, in search of the Cellar 426 Winery located at 1402 Dennis Dean Road. It is nestled in a countryside setting surrounded by a wooded area with great views of the rolling hillsides. Inside the cabin-style venue I find the owner, Amy Hilske, standing on a ladder painting a wall in the new expansion room of the winery. She tells me, as she continues to paint, "This used to be our bedroom". With loving care they gradually have converted their home into this winery. I find myself admiring the heart, soul, and actual sweat she and her husband Richard have put into this place. This is their true labor of love.
After meeting years ago, they started traveling across the country visiting wineries and grooming themselves on the art of wine making. They tested wines in their home before branching out and planting their first grapes in 2006. It takes about 3 to 5 years before those grapes mature fully and can be ready for harvest. So finally, in 2012 their dream of opening a winery came true and Cellar 426 (named after exit 426 on Interstate 80) opened its doors. Most days you will find Amy pruning and weeding the grapes, serving customers, and running the daily tasks of the winery, while Richard takes care of business operations and continues to work on crafting their award winning wines. To date, their wines have won over 100 international competitions, and have put their winery on the map for the Midwest.
I was most impressed with how they harvest the grapes. Six times a year when the grapes are ready, they invite their customers to "Harvest Helper Parties". For 3 to 4 hours everyone works in the vineyard and picks the grapes. Afterwards, they are treated to lunch and a well-deserved glass of wine. These events have become very popular and folks are eager to lend a hand.
Cellar 426 is open 7 days a week with varying hours of operation. They serve wine, ciders, food, and non-alcoholic drinks. On weekends during the summer months, they provide local entertainment with live music. Please check out their website at https://www.cellar426.com/ for more details on their menu, hours, ticket prices for the entertainment, and to book a special event.
I invite you to come visit Cellar 426. Sit back and enjoy a glass of wine in a picturesque setting, and say hello to Amy and Richard. You will be very glad you did.
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