Prairie Berry Winery, Miner Brewing to close at year’s end

After 25 years in business and over a thousand awards, it was announced Oct. 24 that Prairie Berry Winery will be closing at the end of 2024. 

“We are grateful to have shared the last 25 years with our customers and guests. We had a vision of creating a world-class winery and brewery experience in the Black Hills of South Dakota and our customers and staff made that a reality. We will treasure those memories as we close Prairie Berry Winery, Miner Brewing and Addie Camp General Store,” read the farewell Facebook post. 

The response was almost 2,000 comments and shares as well as over 4,000 reactions. In the comment section, people mourned the loss, said they would miss the wines, reminisced about their time at the winery and offered their thanks to the owners. 

It was said that the Black Hills was “losing an icon” and it was the “end of a fabulous era.”

Amongst all the disappointed comments and sorrowful well wishes, there were also many speculations regarding the reason why the business was closing and whether or not it was being sold. 

One commenter said the owners have been trying to sell the winery, but could not and decided just to close. 

However, in the article “Prairie Berry Winery, Miner Brewing to close by year-end” published on SiouxFalls.Business Oct. 24, Jodi Schwan said the property would be sold. 

Schwan wrote that in response to a follow-up question, owner and manager Matt Keck said, “The real estate will be offered as three different parcels, and the listing will be coming in the next week or two.” 

Keck, along with Sandi Vojta, owner, director of winemaking and head brewer, were asked to comment on why they decided to close Prairie Berry Winery after all these years and to confirm if the property was being sold. 

In response, Vojta said, “We have been struggling with replying right now because we realize we are not ready. We will remain in touch when ready.”

“Starting the winery 25 years ago was incredibly hard, and winding it down will be equally as hard,” said Keck in their official press release. 

Vojta started making wine with her dad, Ralph Vojta, in 1976. According to the winery’s website, “Ralph and his daughter, Sandi, picked berries together. She loved to mix things and experiment, so Ralph let her have a bucket of juice and yeast and she made her own wine. She was allowed to taste the homemade wine at holidays and when she was sick.”

In 1999, Vojta started making wine on a commercial level. 

“We started the winery in my dad’s 500-square-foot basement and created a South Dakota destination with Prairie Berry and Miner Brewing Company,” Vojta said in the official press release.

Five years later after some transition, the winery and tasting room moved to its final destination about three miles northeast of Hill City on Hwy. 385 in the summer of 2004. Miner Brewing Company opened in 2013 down the hill and is celebrating 11 years in business this November. Meanwhile, the Homestead was added in 2014 and was later converted into Addie Camp General Store in March of 2023. 

“From the beginning, our vision was to provide a memorable South Dakota experience that people couldn’t find elsewhere,” Vojta said in the press release. “We wanted our wines and beer to be more than a drink. We wanted them to be part of a beautiful day, time spent with a loved one, a place that was meaningful or a memory they cherish. We’re so grateful for the customers who trusted us to share that with them, and the staff who saw and supported that vision.” 

Keck said, “We have 25 years of great memories thanks to our customers and staff.” 

Addie Camp General Store officially closed last weekend. Business at Prairie Berry Winery and Miner Brewing Company will continue as usual through the end of 2024 as long as inventory holds out. 

Per the official press release, “The business will continue to provide the same products and services until the inventory is gone. They will be releasing a few more wines and beers that are still in the tanks, but Vojta won’t be starting anything new.” 

Keck said, “Our kitchen, tasting room and brewery are still open and our hours are the same, so we invite people to come up and enjoy those experiences.” 

Future updates will be shared on Prairie Berry Winery’s website and Facebook page.