Hello and welcome to my webpage.  When I was born in January 2007, I didn’t know that I would grow up to have so many responsibilities.  Oh, I’m sorry let me introduce myself – I am Lili (pronounced Lil – ee).  I am a Labradoodle (Lab/Standard Poodle mix) and I pretty much oversee everything that goes on at Brooks Hill Winery, the little winery up the hill.  Everything except the winemaking, I leave that to Butch, our winemaker, and Mike.

My humans, Mike and Karen, brought me to Louisville in March 2007; I was 8 weeks old.  It took me a couple of days to adjust to my new home in Louisville.  I don’t remember the first day I came to the winery but, I do remember it didn’t look like a very nice place to me.  I tried to ignore how it looked and just run and romp and play.  However, it soon became apparent to me that if we were ever going to get this dream of Mike’s off the ground I was definitely going to have to start taking charge of the place.  Anyway that is when I started supervising clean-up and construction and before you knew it we were opening our doors in September 2007.  It was a chore but we did it and we are still chugging along and having lots of fun!

We have had a very busy winter and spring at BHW.  Mike and I made the decision (with a tiny bit of input from Karen) to build a new production building.  We need the room to expand our winemaking capability and a larger space for storing our wine.  We also decided to build a nice crush pad outside the new building.  The building is up and we are now working on the interior and wiring, once it is completed we will gradually transition the tanks and barrels to the new building. Our next project is to renovate the current space into a nice area for private tastings and indoor events.  Karen and I are particularly excited about this part of the project!

Building the new building has been particularly fun for me!  First, all that loose dirt for me to dig in.  Then the spring rains brought terrific mud puddles which were constantly in need of exploring by a puddle expert like me!  Of course all that fun did have its consequences – almost daily baths! Yuk!

Karen had a birthday party for me in January – I turned 4!  Wow – what a beautiful day!  The weather was wonderful and so many of my old friends came by along with many new friends.  It was so much fun and I even managed to sneak some chocolate cake when Karen wasn’t watching!  I definitely hope I get another party next year!!

The rain has been terrible for some with all the flooding and I am sorry for those problems but, the vines absolutely love the water right now. They are growing well and looking beautiful – we even have tiny bunches of grapes on them!  The spraying cycle has begun as well and thankfully this year Mike has help from another Mike (I really like him).

May brings the beginning of our Summer Concert Series!  We have some wonderful talent coming this year – Mother Jane, Bluestown, Ray Glenn, AJAR (Girl’s Nite Out) and Potluck Ramblers are all back again this year.  They are going to be joined by several other talented folks including, Norma Jean, Brandon, Sharendipity, Dennis Hill and Jonathan Rideout to name a few.  Mike and I, with the help of Zack, work tirelessly keeping grass cut and the pavilion clean for the concerts!  If you get the chance and want to have an enjoyable evening with fun-loving people, come on up, you won’t regret it!

At the concerts this year I will need your help, Mike and Karen are keeping an eagle eye and a leash on me – so please walk by and drop something delicious in my vicinity.  I am really fast and I will be able to enjoy your gift before they know what happened!!!

On the wine front, we now have 2 new dry white wines –Sauvignon Blanc & Morning Sky.  They are both made from 100% Kentucky grown grapes and are delicious.  The Morning Sky is a blend of 3 grapes – Traminette, Vignoles, and Chardonnay (the Chardonnay is from our own vineyard).  Butch and Mike are working on a new dry red wine made with grapes from California –Old Vine Zinfandel- and Blueberry Wine–a new sweet wine!  We are also anticipating bringing back Cranberry Wine by Thanksgiving.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, the Bullitt County Fiscal Court has allowed us to taste and sell wine on Sundays now!  There are a few restrictions but nothing we can’t handle.

I certainly hope that you will becoming to Brooks Hill Winery real soon!  I love meeting new humans and seeing my old friends as well.  No matter where my duties have me on the day of your visit, I will stop to greet you either in the parking lot or at the door.  Maybe while you are enjoying a bottle of our wine you will pause to take a walk in our beautiful vineyard or hike through the woods.  Whatever you choose to do during your visit, you will be glad you came and so will I!!