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Life, Business Has Been Fruitful For Lithia Grape Growers

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2008

LITHIA - Bob Paulish cut the engine of his grape harvesting machine to take a 20-minute break with Bonniejean, his wife and fellow grape-grower.

The recent fall harvest at the couple's Blue Heron Vineyards produced 30 tons of red and white Muscadine grapes. The crop, purchased by a Central Florida winery for about $500 a ton, will yield about 10,500 bottles of wine.

The couple, both retired from corporate computer consulting jobs in Chicago, bought their 25-acre property in 1995, planted a few grape vines and built their home there a couple of years later. Today, with 2,200 vines spread over 10 acres, they say their life and business have been fruitful.

The faltering economy hasn't affected the business, but Bob Paulish said weather is another story. Parts of the vineyard are still recovering from the 2004 hurricane season.

With the labor-intensive annual harvest behind them, Bonniejean Paulish said there is little to be done in the fields until January.

The long hiatus creates a block of free time the couple fill by volunteering as ushers at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, coordinating the Florida International Wine Competition at the Florida State Fair, and logging frequent flyer miles.

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