Rick Corcoran, who is a retired power company employee, and Dana, a senior bus operator in Parsons, are the owners of Cork’s Turkey Knob Wines in Hambleton, a business that was created from a simple observation.

“We have a cabin in Mackeyville and in 2015 me and my wife were driving into it and I saw a bunch of wild grapes,” Corcoran said. “Normally these grapes are up in the top of trees and stuff, but these grapes were down about six feet off the ground and they were in a 20-foot path about 12 feet high.

“I was telling my neighbor about it and he told me if I would pick those grapes he would teach me how to make homemade wine… So that’s sort of how we got started.”

After learning how to make wine and gaining knowledge on how to run a business from other wineries in the area, Cork’s Turkey Knob Wines officially opened for business in January 2021.

Cork’s Turkey Knob Wines has been in operation in Hambleton since 2021.

“It’s basically just me and the wife running the business,” Rick said. “We bought all the equipment we needed after learning what we needed to do and we are still going pretty well today.”

Rick and Dana, who both grew up in Tucker County, currently offer eight different varieties of wine at Cork’s Turkey Knob Wines. 

“We are doing one now that is a peach/apricot that we started last year as a summer wine, something different, but it was such a hit that we are bringing it back,” Rick said. “I put some together this past weekend and we are hoping it will be ready by Memorial Day weekend. We should have enough to sell it all summer.”

Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato, Frontenac, Pinot Noir, Cotton Candy, and Made from Scratch Blackberry are some of the other flavors of wine available at the business, which is located at 513 Blackman Flats Road. 

“The Cotton Candy we pretty much have year-round now,” Rick said. “The first year we couldn’t get cotton candy grapes like we can now. So we bought another freezer and we get those grapes ahead of time to make sure we have Cotton Candy all year around.”

Rick said all of the winery’s Blackberry wine is made from berries grown in his own backyard.

“We have two blackberry cages in our backyard and that is where we get the blackberries from,” Rick said. “Most of the wines are in the middle when it comes to sweetness, but the Blackberry and Cotton Candy are definitely sweet. We have a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy, no matter what their taste is.”

Customers can also purchase wines in gift baskets that Dana puts together throughout the year. 

“She can make a lot of baskets for Christmas and the other holidays,” Rick said. “She can make gift baskets for anybody at any given time.”

Cork’s Turkey Knob Wines is open on Friday and Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. Appointments can also be made to pick up wine and visit the business throughout the week. For more information or to make an appointment, call 304-704-2144.