Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Herron.
Hi Lori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In the heart of a 150-year-old red barn, Social Vines was born from a blend of craftsmanship from my husband, who holds a builders license (amongst other hobbies), passion for wine, thats me, the owner & managing partner, and the resilience shaped by the 2020 pandemic. The barn has always been the centerpiece for developing our boutique vineyard as it stands today.
During the pandemic,I shifted from a 26-year career as an occupational therapist to viticulture, planting cold-climate hybrid grapes from the University of Minnesota grape breeding program in May of 2022 with the support of family and friends. I earned my Viticulture Certification in 2023 from a program called VESTA international. These were online courses that were taught by MSU professors and industry people, I mentored locally with vineyards to have the hands on experience and I began making wine in 2023 with consultants and a winemaker assistant. Now we hold all necessary licenses, produce and bottle our wines on premise, and look forward to getting our agritourism permit.
Using IPM (integrated pest management techniques), we farm sustainably with a mix of biological and non-restricted sprays. We use organic soil management techniques and are working more towards regenerative practices. We refine our winemaking craft everyday, and pour passion into every glass. Our vineyard is a place of resilience, love for the land, and connection, designed to bring people together through our favorite agricultural product, wine grapes!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it has been a completely smooth ride, but I also think that’s understandable given the nature of the project. We’re in a highly regulated space, and because we’re one of the first operations like this in our area, there has been a learning curve for everyone involved. The local approval process has taken longer than expected, including delays with the road commission and permitting, but we’ve continued to work through it professionally and patiently.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Social Vines Vineyard and Winery?
our goal is to bring people together. We do this by making premium wine that’s grown locally, crafted sustainably, and shared in a setting that feels like home. We see wine as more than something in a glass; it’s about connection, stories, and creating memories with the people around you. Rooted in a neighborhood setting that sits between Ann Arbor and Dexter Michigan, we want our vineyard to be a place where community grows right alongside our vines.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hmmmm, I think we’re cautious risk-takers. Brian and I have definitely used that term with our kids and friends. 🙂 We’re willing to do big things, but we don’t just jump without thinking. Brian’s background in the automotive industry has given him a very practical view of risk. There are always unknowns, but you manage them by being prepared and staying calm when problems come up. He’s amazing at that. I’m similar in that I’m open to adventure and new experiences, but I still like to understand what we’re getting into.
This farm has probably been one of the biggest risks we’ve taken. It required a lot of investment, a lot of patience, and a willingness to keep going even when the timeline was much longer than we expected. We knew there were no guarantees, but we believed in what we were building. To me, that’s what healthy risk-taking looks like: you don’t ignore the risk, but you don’t let fear stop you either.
Pricing:
- Wines range from $25-$33 a bottle currently
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.socialvines.com
- Instagram: socialvinesdexter
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/socialvinesvineyard
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@socialvinesvineyard
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@socialvinesdexter
