Photos: The final days of Botham Vineyards near Barneveld
After nearly 38 years, the winery is closing, and the land will be returned to prairie.
Botham Vineyards
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The 1904 barn at Botham Vineyards is seen in the distance along Langberry Road off Highway K. The remaining vineyards, at left, will be converted to prairie and will blend with the Nature Conservancy’s Barneveld Prairie that abuts the Botham family’s 38-acre property in Iowa County.
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
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Sarah and Peter Botham, and their son, Mills, right, will have more time to relax on the front porch of their 1906 farmhouse. They are unsure what they will do with their barn and winery building once they close their business next month.
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Peter Botham began planting his vineyard in 1989 in a former pasture south of Barneveld. Today, only a few acres of vines remain at Botham Vineyards and by next spring the remainder will be removed. The business will close in December.
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
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Peter and Sarah Botham, and their son, Mills, walk along their driveway near their 1906 farmhouse and toward a barn constructed in 1904 that now holds the tasting room for their winery. The Bothams will have more time to enjoy their Iowa County property as they are closing their business, Botham Vineyards.
Botham Vineyards
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Light pours through gaps in the walls of the barn at Botham Vineyards near Barneveld. The space is used for special events but the Bothams have chosen not to change their business model to compete with other wineries that have added restaurants, distilleries and regular music. The family will close their business in December.
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Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
Botham Vineyards
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The tasting room at Botham Vineyards is located inside a former dairy barn constructed in 1904. Wood for the structure came from the property and limestone for the foundation was quarried just up the hill.
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The stainless steel tanks at Botham Vineyards are empty and are being sold. At its peak, the company produced nearly 30,000 gallons of wine a year.
