Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Brockway.
Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2007, I had just graduated from high school and was off to the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University. That summer, my job was quite a unique one for Minnesota: helping my parents plant a 1,700 acre vineyard in our backyard! They had always wanted to to grow their own vines and make their own wines, and with the newly released hybrids from the University of Minnesota, their dream was made possible! Then in 2011, I graduated from college with a teaching degree while my parents grew the vineyard from a hobby to a business with The Next Chapter Winery, LLC! For the next three years, I taught English during the school year and then came to the winery to work in the vineyard and help my parents welcome tour groups on the property. We didn’t have a tasting room or set hours at that time. Then in 2014, I married my wonderful husband Jeff. With his unwavering support, I left my teaching career to open a tasting room at the winery. My parents have always been entrepreneurs, and they believed in my ability to grow the winery and make it a success. We had substantial growth in the first five years, which made me realize how much the business needed my husband Jeff as part of the team. He took the leap in 2019 from a master auto-mechanic to a winemaker and vineyard manager. His ability to take things a part and fix things, as well as his steadiness and work ethic, have been invaluable. Although COVID wasn’t easy, it did let us take the time we needed to slow down, breathe, and figure out our trajectory. We closed down our kitchen to focus more on weddings and cocktails–a decision we are so grateful for! And now we continue playing around with cocktails, digging more into events we host ourselves (like murder mystery dinners and game shows), and making the winery an inclusive place for all!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with every journey, we definitely hit some bumps. First, there was simply the insane amount of growth we had in the first few years, resulting in growing pains that involved knowing how to staff, discovering more efficient ways of running a tasting room, and making some winemaking mistakes. Second, was figuring out who we wanted to be. We operated a kitchen for a few years before realizing that it was absolutely not a passion (or even a “like”) and that food trucks and guests being able to bring in their own food was a much better option for us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Next Chapter Winery?
How we describe Next Chapter Winery: A place to gather & sip wine, cocktails, local craft beer, or mocktails; A wedding venue where your love story can bloom; An entertainment venue hosting murder mystery dinners, game shows, trivia, adult book fairs, & more located in New Prague, MN! We are known for hosting a variety of community events, most recently an 80’s Adult Prom, Boozy Easter Hunt, Puzzle Contest, and a Wine and Wellness event. Although our Hot Mess Express dry white wine and the Blackberry Delight fruit wine are quite popular, our fun flavored vodka cocktails are really what shine. Lastly, the fact that we gear ourselves to families has been such a vital piece of who we are. We recently added new playground equipment, and we can’t wait to see the adventures to be had from both kids and adults!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For our success, my husband Jeff and I have relied heavily on our willingness to try new things, have fun, and be creative, with a focus always on family.
Pricing:
- Wines: $19-$50
- Private Events: $100/hr-$200/hr
- Weddings: $2,000-$7,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nextchapterwinery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextchapterwinery/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextchapterwinery
