In 2011, my husband and I walked into a DeWalt store on a holiday mission: find the perfect tool he could unwrap on Christmas morning. I figured we’d be in and out. I was wrong.

As he settled in for some serious retail therapy, I realized this was going to take a while. But I had noticed something interesting next door: a shop called The Winemakers Toy Store. Intrigued, I made a hasty exit — and walked straight into what felt like a magical new world.

Discovering the Magic of Winemaking

Though I wasn’t a wine drinker at the time, I was instantly mesmerized. Shelves were lined with wine kits, corks, bottles, flavorings, tools I didn’t understand… It was like Diagon Alley’s apothecary for grown-ups. (Yes, I have read all the Harry Potter books.) The owner, George Cornelius, welcomed me like an old friend and immediately launched into stories and tips from his years of winemaking. His passion was contagious.

Right then and there, I decided what I wanted for Christmas: a winemaking kit.

The Birth of Checkered Flag Vineyards

After a bit of persuasive insistence, my husband finally agreed. We left the store with supplies, a Riesling kit, and a shared sense of excitement. Checkered Flag Vineyards was born.

Eight weeks later, we uncorked our first bottle, expecting magic.

Instead… we got yeast soup.

It was awful. So awful, in fact, that it became a running joke in our family. We just shoved the remaining bottles in the back of our guest room closet aka our wine cellar and moved on. We weren’t deterred — we were hooked.

Take Two: Strawberry Wine and Sweet Redemption

We returned to George’s shop, This time, we chose a Strawberry wine kit, something sweeter and fruitier — much more our style.

Success! The strawberry wine was a hit, and from that moment on, winemaking became part of our lives. We’ve made hundreds of bottles since then — blueberry, watermelon, even blends with fresh fruit purées, spices, and peppers. Every bottle is a little adventure.

Blending Day = Our Favorite Day

One of our favorite parts of the process is blending day. That’s when we turn into chemists in our kitchen — mixing syrups, adjusting sweetness, and sampling (and sampling some more). Shot glasses of experimental blends cover the counter. Some are amazing. Some… not so much. But that’s the fun of it.

Wine for All Occasions

Over the years, our wine has made appearances at birthdays, weddings, and art shows. (My sister, an incredible artist, features our wine at her gallery events — check out her whimsical art at The 3rd Flamingo. Trust me, her work will make you smile even on your worst day.)

We even gave my brother and sister-in-law a full case of blueberry wine as a wedding gift!

The Legacy of the Winemakers Toy Store

George Cornelius, the kind and passionate soul who introduced me to winemaking, passed away in 2018, and the shop has since closed. But that first visit remains vivid in my memory. Without George — and that spontaneous decision to leave my husband alone, shopping in a DeWalt store — none of this would have happened. (For wives with handy husbands, you know how risky that was – we were lucky not to come home with a truck bed full of tools.)

What’s Next: Strawberry Watermelon & Christmas in July

Right now, we’re working on our newest creation: Strawberry Watermelon wine. It’s fruity, refreshing, and I’m hoping it’s ready in time for my annual Christmas in July party (which is an entirely different adventure — more on that in a future post!).

Oh — and that original Riesling? The one that tasted like regret?

After about three years, it actually became drinkable.
Just goes to show: some things really do get better with age.