Ann Tessneer at the winery
Ann embodies all the traits of a woman living her dreams in the second half of life. She’s winding down a successful career as a lawyer while building a loyal customer following at their North Folk Winery in Stark, MN. Ann is generous, kind, and great supporter of local authors and artists. How did she step from courtroom to winery owner?
“Mike and I started making wine at home about twenty years ago. We used local fruit in the process, and people remarked how good it was. Then one night–one crazy night–about nine years ago we decided to start a winery. We thought it would be a fun way to enjoy our retirement years. Little did we know we’d be working harder than we’d ever worked before!”
Going forward with those “crazy night” plans, Mike and Ann had their post and beam winery built at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. It was then shipped, piece by piece, to their land near Stark, MN.
North Folk Winery
Everything about the winery, the wine, and the warm hospitality is directly proportional to Mike and Ann’s values. They wanted a gathering place where people can create moments and memories, and they have succeeded. In addition to their wines, North Folk Winery has a outdoor pizza oven, locally sourced menu-items, a fire pit, featured local art, and a schedule of live music, author readings, and events.
When asked if she would recommend that other women “reach for their dreams” in the second half of life, Ann smiled.
“It can be risky, yes, but go for those dreams. It’s about living the life you want. It’s about living in, and from, your heart.”
To see a calendar of events at North Folk Winery, go to http://northfolkwinery.com
North Folk Wines
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