Local winery, brewery plan expansions

SANDPOINT — Local beer and wine enthusiasts will have plenty to celebrate this year with both Pend d’Oreille Winery and MickDuff’s Brewing announcing expansion plans.

Since buying the Belwood building in September 2011, Pend d’Oreille Winery owners Steve and Julie Meyer have been slowly forming expansion plans.

After months of construction and hard work, they are finally set to complete their move by Sept. 13.

“We’ve been crawling along to sort out the unknowns in this project, and now patience is finally paying its dividends,” Steve Meyer said.

The transition created an opportunity for another pair of local artisans, Mickey and Duffy Mahoney of MickDuff’s Brewing Company. Brewery officials reached an deal to lease the old winery’s former site as the primary brewing center, doubling capacity. That will allow the brewers to meet demand at their current downtown location, which will remain its tasting room and restaurant, as well allow the brewery to expand regionally by shipping kegs to drinking establishments in places like Spokane.

“We have a product that’s working locally, and we’re hoping the regional area will take a part in it, too,” said Mack Deibel, marketing manager for MickDuff’s.

All that remains to be accomplished for both businesses is a completion of the work in the historic Belwood building. First constructed in 1909, the venerable structure has seen many owners over the years, and the Meyers aim to honor that legacy in their renovations. Ivan Rimar of Mountain Construction Management and Tim Boden of Boden Mountain Architecture are training a special eye toward maintaining the historical character of the building while updating it for increased efficiency and LEED certification.

In another nod toward sustainability, the wood and metal that have been cleared from the building are being repurposed for other uses, like providing material for the flooring. Materials that can’t be used in the building are going to organizations like Habitat For Humanity and Pacific Steel. The end result will be a Pend d’Oreille Winery tasting room, gift shop and Bistro Rouge Cafe with increased capacity and an improved aesthetic. Special lofts will also be available for businesses to lease office space.

“It’s just going to blow people away when they’re finally able to get in there,” Meyer said.

Meanwhile, wine production will move to a facility near the Sandpoint Airport, which will be a logistical improvement for the business, Meyer said. While the winery makes the transition, MickDuff’s will make its move during the summer with the move completed by the end of June, according to Deibel. By the time the winery opens its new location in September, the brewery will have free reign of the old facility.

“This is going to be a really neat addition to downtown Sandpoint, and of course, we’re thrilled to do it,” Meyer said.