Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Kopperud
Hi Krista, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our story started back in 2011 when Andy and I purchased the property where Painted Prairie was already started. The vineyard was planted; the Red Barn had already been remodeled as a tasting room and the view was breathtaking. We fell in love with the property and with a carpe-diem look on life, we jumped in! Over time, we have built a new tasting room and have continued to expand our offerings as a winery/vineyard. It has been quite the ride over the past six years since we opened the new tasting room, but we love sharing our spaces and property with visitors! We live onsite with our three daughters, Annika, Elysa and Britta.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When you operate a business, nothing is straight-forward! We were just getting started in the new tasting room when COVID hit and we were shut down for months. We found ways to adapt and survived, but it has been a weird world since that time. Every year is a new surprise and consumer-ism has continued to change. The challenge for us is to stay relevant in the world of unknowns.
We’ve been impressed with Painted Prairie Vineyard, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a farm winery located in Southwest Minnesota. We proudly grow and purchase all Minnesota-Grown fruits for our wines/ciders. We are open year-around and serve a food menu as a part of our offerings. We are located in Murray County and close to the Lake Shetek recreational area in addition to Walnut Grove, which is known for Laura Ingalls Wilder.
We offer a wide range of events onsite and in the fall, we do a corn maze. We try to utilize our property to enhance the prairie experience and connection to agriculture. We believe in social connection and encourage folks to explore and find places to connect and just “be.”
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I believe the most important lesson I have learned along the journey is to continue to remember your why and the mission of your business. It is easy to forget and get caught up in the “everybody’s doing it” mantra. It’s important to stay true to yourself.
Pricing:
- Wine ranges from $22-$30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paintedprairiewine.com/
- Instagram: Painted Prairie Vineyard
- Facebook: Painted Prairie Vineyard
