North Loop Winery’s Name Revealed
This summer, we introduced you to the Waconia couple building an urban winery in the North Loop, Aaron and Ashley Schram.
Now, they’re announcing its name: The AxeBridge Wine Company. The winery, with a barrel room, production facility and tasting bar, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2020 in the 400 block of Washington Avenue North, next to the Washington Avenue bridge.
Ashley Schram said the location played a big role in the naming of the new winery. While literally being situated next to a bridge, they’ll also try to build a metaphorical bridge to those who haven’t traveled to the country to visit a local vineyard and sample Minnesota wines.
“Making wine in Minnesota and having an urban setting winery are two things that may still be met with skepticism,” she said. “We want to ‘cut down’ any preconceived notions of what a winery should be and ‘build the bridge’ from agriculture to city and bring them closer together.
The new name also has a personal connection for the Schram family. “Our two kids are named Axel and Bridget, making it a serendipitous union of a Minnesota urban winery story, a piece of local character and a personal family connection,” Ashley said.
In the coming months, wine barrels and tanks will start arriving at the new facility to produce wine from Minnesota grapes. The Schrams said the facility will have multiple seating areas, private event rooms and a wine club VIP area. The only thing missing from an ordinary winery visit will be the vineyard.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop Neighborhood Association
