Seven Mountains winery to sprout for summer

By Nick Malawskey

About a mile off U.S. Route 322 in the Seven Mountains, something special is growing up around the wines of Scott and Mary Ann Bubb.

Travel down Decker Valley Road a piece, and rising out of the ground is a lodge-style building with a vinyl sign in the front yard that reads: “Seven Mountains Wine Cellars.”

In the basement, the first batch of 20 varieties of wine is fermenting and will soon be bottled for sale to the public.

And after garnering 42 national awards in five years, the Bubbs certainly know their grapes.

The pair, the owners of the winery, have 33 years of experience in wine making.

Scott’s fascination and love with

wine making began as a hobby, using the grapes grown in his grandmother’s backyard.

Over the years the two have worked to perfect their craft and are now looking to take their hobby commercial.

“We wanted to do something for the rest of our lives that we enjoy,” Mary Ann said. “And we enjoy making wine.”

For the past two years the business has been in the planning stages and soon it will be ready to open to the public. The lodge will host tours, wine tasting and a reception area that will be available for parties or other events.

In the backyard is a soon-to-be-completed wine cave, where the Bubbs will age their wine in oak barrels.

“We believe that no matter who comes here ... we’ll find a wine they will love,” Scott said. “We’re trying to bring a little bit of Napa Valley to Centre County.”

A grand opening is tentatively scheduled for July. More information is available on their Web site, www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com. Future of pub uncertain

The High Street Pub and Grill in Bellefonte recently posted signs saying it was closed.

Since then, I have received numerous phone calls and e-mails inquiring if the closure will be temporary or permanent.

I asked one of the owners, Jeff Varcoe, that question. He said that, unfortunately no one is sure at the moment.

“A lot of that stuff is just up in the air right now,” Varcoe said. “The future is uncertain.”

What is certain is that in the short-term many folks in Bellefonte (and elsewhere) will miss the restaurant and will continue to wonder what the future holds. For the moment, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

“I guess sometime in the near future there should more information available,” Varcoe said.

Work from home?

A “Home Business Expo” is being planned for next weekend at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church on Whitehall Road in State College.

Beth Quinn, one of the exposition’s organizers, said that the event is geared toward those seeking opportunities, particularly a second or extra income, in the area of direct sales business.

“This will be an opportunity for people to find out everything they want to know ... but were afraid to ask,” she said.

Businesses at the event are expected to include Tastefully Simple, Usborne Books, Premiere Designs and Tomboy Tools.

The exposition will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Nick Malawskey can be reached at 235-3928 or nmalawsk@centredaily.com. He also writes a business blog at www.centredaily.com.

Scott and Mary Ann Bubb plan to turn their

hobby into a commercial venture when they open Seven Mountains

Wine Cellars in July.