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KANAWHA - Business was booming Saturday afternoon at the Old Bank Winery in downtown Kanawha.

A steady stream of customers lined up to sample and purchase the winery's 12 signature wines made on-site, and while business is always good, Saturday saw a few extra customers coming through the doors.

"They've all been out at the vineyard," said Nancy Litch, who along with her husband, David Litch, own the Old Bank Winery and its vineyard just south of the Hancock County community. "That's bringing them in today."

A larger crop of grapes than usual has prompted the couple to open the vineyard to the public to make the most of the bountiful crop and to ensure none of their grapes go to waste before the cold weather comes, David Litch said. Vines that produced 4 pounds of grapes last year have produced 20 pounds this year.

Dave and Judy Neuberger, of Garner, decided to make the most of the crop as they harvested enough grapes to fill two 5-gallon buckets to take home with them.

"I'm 70 years old and have never picked grapes before," Dave Neuberger said. "We're going to use them for jam making."

Richard Ayala and Toni Schmalen, of Fort Dodge, jumped at the opportunity to harvest fresh grapes Saturday morning. "We pick grapes anytime we get the chance," Schmalen said.

Schmalen and Ayala use the grapes for canning and jam making.

"It's great for Christmas gifts," she said. "We sent some of the jam to my son's mother-in-law in Arizona and she loved it."

"The grandkids love it for their peanut butter and jelly, too," said Ayala.

As a new grape grower, Buford Foy, of Thornton came to check out Litch's grapes to see if he'd grown them correctly.

"I planted grapes this year," he said. "I just want to see if I've done it the right way and if I am using the right equipment. It's a hobby for me."

In his sixth year growing grapes, David Litch said it takes about three years to get a good crop ready for harvesting.

"It's taken a few years to get excess grapes," he said. "We have three different age groups of grapes right now and four varieties."

Nancy Litch said the winery produced about 700 gallons of wine last year made from the vineyards grapes and other fruits.

"We hope to double that this year, she said. "And sell out to other stores a little more, we want to branch out."

The Litches started the winery after moving back to Nancy Litch's family farm near Kanawha from Colorado, and saw the farm as the perfect opportunity to grow grapes.

"We were experimenting," Nancy Litch said. "But it grows on you, it's great when you can work doing something you like to do."

Contact Emilie Nelson at (515)573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net