Kopperud Family
The Kopperud farm has had many owners and a variety of agriculture practices over the years. In 2005, Ben and Kim Hause purchased the property and began seeing a vision of grape-growing and winemaking. In 2005, 2006, and 2009, three cold-climate grape varietals were planted, and the farm’s Red Barn was transformed into a tasting room. Painted Prairie Vineyard was officially established in 2011. Three years later, Andy and Krista Kopperud purchased the operation from the Hause family and reopened Painted Prairie Vineyard in 2015.
Andy and Krista own 15 acres of land on the actual farm site and 13 adjacent acres. The couple has Marquette, La Crescent, and Frontenac grapes growing on-site. They planted a small plum orchard last summer and hope to have a corn maze this fall. The original tasting room in the Red Barn is used for special events in the summer. Three years ago the Kopperuds opened a new year-round tasting room/production facility. All the fruit produced on the farm goes into wine production.
Andy is the winemaker and works in the vineyard. Krista is the tasting room manager, works in the vineyard, handles marketing and advertising, and the financial work. The couple’s three young children, Annika, Elysa, and Britta are future helpers but do lend a hand where they can.
Andy has served on various boards and is an internal and pediatric physician serving Westbrook, Tracy, and surrounding communities. Krista is a board member of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota; she’s president of the Loose Goose Gravel Festival; co-chair of the Grace Lutheran Church Council; and treasurer of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association.