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| Cascade Winery: Drink to That |
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| By Erica Burke | |||
| Tuesday, 26 February 2008 | |||
 Cascade Winery is a three-person operation that includes owner Robert Bonga’s son, Roger Bonga (pictured).
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cascade Winery crafts and sells bottled wines to both retail customers and restaurants. Bonga started the company five years ago, after working for 25 years managing production and maintenance for a large Grand Rapids corporation. When Bonga grew tired of working in the corporate world, “It dawned on me that my passion is wine,” he remembers. “[I] made my hobby into a business.” He explains that his interest in wine grew from the visits he and his wife made to wineries while in Ontario, Canada. “Every time we were near a winery, we’d stop and taste and buy a few bottles of wine,” Bonga remembers. “It always intrigued us.” Fruitful Business Cascade Winery has matured into a fine producer of award-winning wines, offering more than 50 varieties and selling more than 2,000 cases per year. Cascade Winery received five awards in 2007 for its fruit wines at the prestigious Indy International Wine Competition, and the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition. “People often think of fruit wines as being syrupy sweet-like a grown-up Kool-Aid,” says Bonga. “But fruit wines have a long and distinguished history. Apples, cranberries, pears and other fruits can create richness and complexity of flavor if they are used correctly.” The secret to making an award-winning wine lies in the fruit. “We start with homegrown Michigan fruit – lots of it,” Bonga continues. “The cranberries, apples, pears, blueberries and other fruits we use are all tree-ripened right here in Michigan orchards. Our fruit just tastes better than the stuff that’s ripened on a truck.” For restaurant owners, Cascade Winery offers a tasty twist on both traditional and new varieties of wine. Its fruit wine vintages in particular are intriguing, flavorful and popular in both the bar and in the kitchen. “The restaurants that carry our wines are pleasantly surprised by their versatility and price point,” Bonga notes. “The nice thing about it is, customers have our wine at [restaurants] and the next thing, they’re calling up, asking if they can get it right here,” Bonga says. “That’s very rewarding, [to have] someone traveling great distances to get your wine.” Passion for People Cascade Winery offers a tasting bar for customers, as well as personalized services, such as custom labels, gift baskets and hosting for events. “Our customers enjoy the urban winery experience and the personal attention they receive at our store,” Bonga says. “We provide a welcoming environment where our customers can sample and explore a rich variety of wine.” Cascade Winery also hosts events such as the Wine and Chocolate Extravaganza, where customers can relax with friends, savor wines and nibble gourmet chocolates. The company is a three-person operation overseen by Bonga, his wife, Rose Bonga, and their son, Roger Bonga. Robert Bonga says he has enjoyed watching his son grow into the business. “He’s developed a really good knack for wine making,” Bonga says. Roger Bonga was part of the team from the beginning, managing the store in the early days while Bonga Sr. transitioned from his full-time job. “Roger is the inquisitive one,” the elder Bonga says. “He experiments with different ingredients and flavors to create one-of-a-kind wines that continue to delight our customers.” Quality Sources Since Cascade Winery does not have a vineyard, it must rely on suppliers to provide the high-quality juices from which to craft its wines. Cascade Winery purchases some juices directly from Michigan vineyards, and also works closely with distributor R.J. Spagnols. “We are thrilled to work with R.J. Spagnols,” Bonga says. “I especially appreciate their focus on quality, and their willingness to answer questions.” R.J. Spagnols is a well-established supplier of juices, corks and other winemaking supplies. It sources juices from around the world, making them available to boutique wineries such as Cascade Winery. A New Place Cascade Winery is planning for growth. The company soon will move from a 2,000-square-foot facility in Grand Rapids to a 7,000-square-foot facility in Kentwood, Mich. “The new place is going to have a larger tasting bar [and] areas for customers to come in to sit down [and] have a glass of wine,” he says. “Cheese and crackers and wine [are] a perfect way to finish an evening off after work.” In addition, the new facility will feature an 800-square-foot area that can be rented out for banquets or other events, and where Cascade Winery can teach its customers how to make wine. “I want to bring the world of wine to everybody,” Bonga states. |
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