GSW History Series Part 4 – The Start of Grinder’s Switch Winery

After making his first award-winning wine, Joey had to decide what he wanted to do next. The experience had lit a huge spark—but was it just a hobby, or the start of something bigger?

“It was at this point that I had to decide if I was going to continue with just a few vines or expand into a larger, commercial-type vineyard. I knew that I wasn’t getting any younger, so the next year, 2005, I planted about 3 acres of vines.”

With a passion for winemaking and the knowledge to back it up, Joey took the leap.

“In 2006, I decided to open a winery since I knew how to make wine. It was very small but exciting. My first harvest of grapes would come in 2007. I didn’t allow the vineyard to produce any fruit—I wanted all their energy to be directed to the roots. That’s where the grapevines need to mature.”

As the seasons changed, his young vineyard began to show promise.

“As the weather warmed and the buds began to appear, I was happy with the way the vineyard looked. Many shoots with lots of young grape clusters. March 2007 was the warmest March on record and the vines were exploding.”

Then mother nature reminded him that she held the reigns in the vineyard.

“Unfortunately, the first weekend in April 2007 was the coldest on record. It destroyed the vineyard. But the winery was open and it had to be replanted. It was 2010 before we had an estate wine.”

From a few vines to a full-fledged winery, Joey’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and a deep-rooted belief in the process. His first estate wine wasn’t just a product—it was a milestone, years in the making.

Read part 5 of our History series to learn how this small venture turns into a family legacy.