It91裸聊视频檚 a special year for the owners of Gray Monk Estate Winery.
Founders George and Trudy Heiss are celebrating a unique year of anniversaries as they look back on 55 years of marriage, 45 years of the vineyard and 35 years of the winery.
The duo said their success comes from years of hard work and getting along with each other. But their story doesn91裸聊视频檛 start with plucking grapes from a vine, it starts with hairdressing. George91裸聊视频檚 father and mother were both hairdressers, and when he moved from Austria he kept the family tradition. He also kept the taste for wine, sampling wines and beers from a young age.
91裸聊视频淚 grew up with wine on the table or beer. It was dependent on what my mother cooked,91裸聊视频 he said.
Trudy is originally from East Germany, and she met George at a hair show in Edmonton. She was modelling for a hair company and was in the middle of turning her hair from red to blond.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 when he saw me, I was in the orange stage,91裸聊视频 she chuckled, recalling the in-between stage of her hair dye.
They married in 1962, and cut hair for a living, owning two salons in Edmonton. But they desired something more.
91裸聊视频淕eorge said he never wanted to be a grouchy old hairdresser,91裸聊视频 said Trudy.
Eventually, Trudy91裸聊视频檚 father purchased property on what is now Gray Monk, which prompted them to move to the Okanagan. They started the vineyard in 1972, living in a shack on the property. Trudy remembers the cold breeze that would blow through the floorboards and around her legs.
They grew grapes for the commercial wineries and cut hair on the side to keep money coming in.
91裸聊视频淲e were a lot slimmer then because we worked harder,91裸聊视频 said Trudy with a laugh.
Not everyone can work with their spouse, but the Heisses said their traits complement each other, in the beauty salon, on the farm, and in their business.
91裸聊视频淚 think we both realized what each other91裸聊视频檚 strengths are, and we let each other run with that strength. Even in the business, I don91裸聊视频檛 want any part of what she91裸聊视频檚 doing,91裸聊视频 said George.
George handles the finances while Trudy is involved with advertising, staff and promotions. She also looks after the flowers in the summer. George teased that Trudy91裸聊视频檚 finger is permanently bent from sticking it in pots to test the soil.
91裸聊视频淥ur personal life is so intertwined with our business, we91裸聊视频檝e never had an argument over personal reasons,91裸聊视频 said Trudy. 91裸聊视频淲e think very much alike. We just click. We have a good sense of humour, never lose your sense of humour. When things got tough we grew closer.91裸聊视频
The couple has three sons and one grandson, each son is currently working in the business. Gray Monk has made headlines in the newspapers for decades, winning awards and producing wine through hard economic times. But the Heiss91裸聊视频 did their homework and worked hard for their 75 acres of vineyards.
91裸聊视频淧eople say 91裸聊视频榦h you know you91裸聊视频檙e so lucky91裸聊视频 but the harder we worked the luckier we got,91裸聊视频 said Trudy.
Knowing what the consumer can afford is important too, said George. Even though the winery has won numerous awards, Trudy said her biggest award is her customers, who buy the wine with their hard-earned dollars.
The couple celebrated their 55th anniversary earlier this week.
To find out more about Gray Monk visit their .