Amrhein wines are sure to sell out

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control “is asking us to destroy it,” winery spokeswoman Jackie Amrhein Sells said.

Bent Mountain Winery and Vineyards announced last month that it was closing after 26 years in business. Rather than let the wine go to waste, the owners are marking down their inventory. As of Monday, white wines were priced at $6 and $12 a bottle, and red wines were priced at $14 a bottle, with prices dropping by $2 each week through the end of the month, Amrhein Sells said.

Bottles will be available for sale on the winery's website, at AmRhein's Fine Jewelry of Roanoke County through June 21st, and in the tasting room on weekends through June 30th.

Owners Russ and Paula Amrhein plan to live on the property and take a break from working in the vineyards and winemaking in retirement, but the family said their priorities have shifted to caring for Russ Amrhein, who turned 73 this month and suffers from Parkinson's disease.

No buyers have been found for the business, property or equipment, according to his daughter. Last winter was dormant and the vineyards did not undergo their annual pruning.

“Eventually, whether it's two years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now – who knows – we'll sell it,” she said.

When asked about its disposal obligations, ABC responded, “Because ABC Winery's Virginia permit includes the right to possess and store alcoholic beverages, when that permit expires, so does our right to possess those products in our previously permitted locations.”