Robert R. “Bob” Ramsey

Bob has been fascinated with wine since childhood.  By the age of nine he was helping his Grandpa Ramsey tend to their Concord grapes, making wine, and even consuming the wine — so long as Grandma didn’t know about it.  Grandpa’s primary focus was on sweet red wine, but occasionally they made blackberry, and on one occasion made some rhubarb wine, which was not to their liking.  In college while becoming certified to teach Biology, Chemistry, and General Science, Bob’s interest in the fermentation process was renewed.  This was reinforced when he became of legal age and discovered that wine was indeed one of the very special “simple pleasures of life”.

After a brief stint as an Army officer in the Medical Service Corp. and four years of night law school, Bob returned to his home in Fentress County to practice law.  It was then in 1975 that he had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting Fay and Kathy Wheeler. While sharing mutual stories of their early family experiences with grapes, wine and some homemade corn spirits, they began discussing Fay’s interest in staring a winery.  Fay and his friend Judge William O. Beach of Clarksville, TN began serious discussions of how this could be accomplished.  Over the next couple of years Fay and Judge Beach and a few others spent hundreds of hours formulating a proposed law to encourage grape-growing and commercial wine making in Tennessee. Bob played a minor role with some of the State and Federal legalities and the establishment of vital legislative contacts. The law came to pass in 1977 as the Tennessee Wine and Grape Act, which permitted the establishment of wineries in Tennessee, even in “dry” counties.  The efforts of Fay and Judge Beach literally enabled what has become a thriving industry for commercial vineyards and wineries in Tennessee.  Hence, Fay is known as the “Grandfather of Tennessee Wineries”.  Fay gives Bob credit for “keeping them out of jail” so that making, selling and the enjoyment of wine would be a lawful enterprise.

In 1980 Fay and Kathy, and Bob and Belle opened Highland Manor Winery, which was the first legal Tennessee winery in modern times.  After winning many awards including an international Gold Medal for quality, Fay, Bob, Dr. Lloyd Hassler, and Martin and Jamie Clark opened Stonehaus Winery in 1990 at its current location. Bob has been active in winery operations for over 30 years.  After practicing law for over 34 years, on January 1, 2010 Bob came to Stonehaus Winery on a full-time basis when the winery became an entirely “family-owned” business.  Bob oversees several aspects of the day-to-day winery operations and tremendously enjoys his role as a “coach” for the wonderful Stonehaus team of management and staff. He loves discussing wine and sharing it with others. The most enjoyable part of his job is conducting tours and presenting Stonehaus wines at tastings and events. Bob’s motto is: “Drink what you like! Wine is like music, to be enjoyed in many settings, forms, and flavors. One can really enjoy a broad spectrum of music, from Rock to Classical to Blue Grass.  Wine is no different. We can find pleasure in a wide variety of wines, from a big bold dry Cabernet to a luscious sweet and fruity Labrusca. Just as you would not let some music critic tell you what music you should be listening to, don’t let some wine snob tell you what you should drink!”

Bob and Belle were high school sweethearts and have been married for more than 56 years. They have two fabulous children who are also owners in Stonehaus Winery and four wonderful grandchildren who may someday be interested in carrying on the winery tradition.  They also consider the Stonehaus employees to be a part of their family and several of them have been with Stonehaus for many years.