It’s a family affair — Wollenmann home to open as winery and bistro

Back in 2010, seven individuals who quite possibly could have been diagnosed as lunatics, agreed they did not want the Wollenmann home, an icon in the Ferdinand community, to tumble.

The house, built in 1903 by Dr. Alois Wollenmann, was unique in that it replicated a Swiss chalet similar to what the good doctor remembered from his native Switzerland.

When Dr. Wollenmann died in 1912, the home passed to his son Werner, who, with his wife Irene, raised 11 children there. Werner’s daughter, Verna, granddaughter of Dr. Wollenmann, lived there until 2010 but it was just too much house for a single woman to manage on her own.

Enter the seven above-mentioned individuals who decided to purchase the house. The paint was peeling, the electric system antiquated and the heat and air inadequate. But all saw beyond the cosmetic problems to what it had once been and what it could be again. They worked with the Ferdinand Historical Society and agreed that if a grant could be obtained, they would donate the house to the Society.

Several grants later and the house, now restored to its former glory and in the possession of the Historical Society, is ready for a new life. That new life will be exposed for all the world to see — and to visit — starting October 28, when Monkey Hollow Winery and Bistro at the Wollenmann House opens for business.

Dan Hedinger, his wife, Anita, daughter, Jaime Zellers, sons Andy and Dan Hedinger Jr., Dan Jr.’s wife Faye and even Dan Sr.’s ex-wife Rita are ready for this next challenge. They own and operate Monkey Hollow Winery, located in North Spencer County and have entered into a lease with the Society to turn the home into a restaurant and satellite winery.

Dan Sr. said he was inspired by the beauty of the house, its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and, most importantly, “We wanted to be in Ferdinand.”

Currently Monkey Hollow Winery also operates another satellite operation in the Kringle Haus Werkstatt in Santa Claus, but this will be the family’s first venture into food service.

To that end they have hired chef Rebecca Fields, who is currently completing her culinary degree at Sullivan University. On Sunday, Fields prepared soup, salads, sandwiches and sides for the Hedinger family to sample — and sample they did. A rich, creamy, loaded baked potato soup garnished with cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon and green onions was positively sublime. So was the chicken salad, laced with fresh dill, mandarin oranges, grapes and sunflower seeds. Ditto for the tuna salad, with a hint of curry and peppered with bits of Granny Smith apples and walnuts, dressed with spinach and swiss cheese.

The menu will include wraps and paninis, reubens, a black forest ham sandwich topped with brie and dressed with apricot preserves and an ever changing array of soups and seasonal offerings. Salads will be based on what’s fresh and available locally — in fact that is how the entire menu will be designed with a few items ever present.

Think cold watermelon soup in Summer and possibly sauerkraut and polish sausage soup in Autumn. One of Fields’ specialties is tomato and grilled cheese soup — not tomato soup with grilled cheese on the side but a soup that melds both delicious tastes into one.

And then there will be desserts — pies, fresh baked cookies, a variety of scones and cakes, all made using the freshest local ingredients available.
Andy Hedinger, an attorney whose name you may recall as a partner in another new venture, St. Benedict’s Brew Works, explained he fell in love with the Wollenmann House while looking for possible locations for the brewery. While the Swiss chalet did not suit for that purpose, he saw endless possibilities for the home that Alois built.

His inspiration and vision for this venture formed by touring the California and Finger Lake, NY wineries with bistros discovered while seeking ideas for Monkey Hollow. “Some of our experiences there shaped an idea of what we want to do here,” Andy explained.

The Hedingers are still in the process of obtaining a wine permit, expected to be in place by mid-November. But they wanted to open as soon as possible, allowing guests to sample the menu and possibly help decide on future additions. Other beverages will be available, from lemonade, tea, coffee and soft drinks to Perrier. The only wines to be sold will be produced by Monkey Hollow and no other alcoholic beverages are allowed. “But expect some twists on wine, such as specialty wine-based cocktails,” Andy added.

“Blended drinks and specialty wine labels too,” says Dan Jr.

Also twists with the menu. “Having the bistro will give us a creative outlet with food,” Andy concluded.

During 2014 Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt, November 15 and 16, three other vendors will join the Hedingers in the Wollenmann house, which will also serve as one of the shuttle stops.

But they also plan to sell unique gift items made by local artisans year-round, again following the seasons.

And, when the weather is right, they hope to have musicians performing on the patio.

“When I think about the Wollenmanns they were a big family,” Dan Sr. mused. “We’re a big family too, not quite that big but big, and a place like this, it feels kind of homey. This is definitely a family affair.”

Starting October 28, everyone can experience that homeyness — and dine on some delicious food offerings.

Monkey Hollow Winery and Bistro at the Wollenmann House will be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with extended hours on weekends.