Altus, Arkansas -- When Johann Andreas Wiederkehr arrived in the Arkansas River Valley with his bride, Katherina, in 1880 it wasn't with the intention of founding the winery that today is the oldest commercial "Vitis Vinifera" (European-type) vineyard-grower east of the Rockies.

He planned to farm, to raise crops, cattle and make wine for himself and his neighbors. Like most Swiss farmers of his era, Johann was amazingly self-sufficient, able to produce almost everything he and his family needed by growing or making it. Cheese, sausage, wine and furniture were all made by the resourceful Swiss farmer.

Trained as a shoemaker, Johann also made and repaired shoes and boots. The Swiss are known for their quality workmanship whether it be fine leatherwork or Swiss watches and Johann, a quality conscious man did everything well. He had brought his young family to America to build a new life on the frontier.

Like many Swiss and German immigrants who settled in the fertile valley, the Wiederkehrs were drawn by railroad advertising extolling the area as ideal for horticultural farming. The railroad sought to create new markets for their services by drawing farmers to the area, who would then contract to ship the produce they grew to market by rail.

 

The first Wiederkehr wines were sacramental wines produced according to the church's exacting standards for use in the Mass, but the enterprising farmer soon found a ready market for the sausage, wine and other goods they grew or manufactured among the coal miners employed in the area's booming industry.

 

Following the discovery in 1880 in Spadra, Arkansas of smokeless anthracite coal (highly sought after as fuel for the steel mills of Pittsburg), mining was a principle industry for the Altus-Denning-Alix area. Alix (near Altus) once boasted a train yard 30 tracks wide, with one mine alone shipping out over 100 cars of coal per day.

 

Many of the miners were German and Swiss immigrants who planted vineyards and grew grapes to sell to the Wiederkehr's growing winery.

 

Al Wiederkehr says he can remember his father loading about 50 cases of wine on his truck to peddle to surrounding areas. Eventually the wine distributing chores were turned over to beer and wine wholesalers so the Wiederkehrs could concentrate on what they did best, which was to make quality wine.

 

Al Wiederkehr (right) tells some of his fascinating family history to North Texas e-News roving reporter Allen Rich.

  

Dine in the historic Weinkeller Restaurant, once Johann's hand-dug wine cellar, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Voted most romantic and best ethnic restaurant numerous times in the Arkansas Times' People's Choice, the Weinkeller serves Old World Cuisine in a candle-lit atmosphere. 

 

Wiederkehr Village is located at exit 41 off I-40. Follow the signs to the grounds of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. Call 1-800-622-WINE to order tickets.

 

www.wiederkehrwines.com   

 

This ornate bar at the Wiederkehr Winery was imported from Europe.

 

 

Discover the Swiss winemaking heritage of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. Also discover the tantalizing taste of authentic Swiss and continental cuisine in the candlelit Weinkellar Restaurant. Located in the original wine cellar, hand-dug by Johann Andreas Wiederkehr in 1880, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The oldest and largest winery in mid-America, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is located on the southern slopes of the Ozark Mountains. Here atop St. Mary's Mountain is where the Wiederkehr family carries on a tradition begun in 1880. Lovingly tended vineyards surround the winery, designed in the Swiss alpine style overlooking the Arkansas River valley. courtesy photo by the Arkansas Department of Tourism

Dennis Wiederkehr, 4th generation.