In 2001 we adopted a building much as a person would adopt a stray puppy. We wanted to move back to Nancy’s family home town and didn’t know where we would live. Then we discovered that the old Farmers State Bank building was for sale for a “take it away price”. Dave with his construction experience went out to check it out and in no time it was ours. The small price was just the beginning of the expenses of redeeming this historic building. Built in 1918 it served many combined uses over the years as a bank, hardware store, dental office, doctor office, insurance office, and two apartments, but as we first knew it, it was abandoned, with falling down plaster from the leaking roof and grass growing out of its carpet. The work to turn around this neglect was never ending at first but now the renovation has slowed and running Old Bank Winery has taken up most of our time. The bank lobby is the main tasting room, and the wine is produced on the rest of the main floor and stored in the 3000 square foot cellar. We live up stairs and also have a fancy Bed & Breakfast Suite where the dental office used to be. Many past residents come to sample the wine and climb the twenty four stairs as they did when they were children to see the doctor or the dentist. I learn something new every time they come to visit.

Nancy and David Litch run the Old Bank Winery in Kanawha Iowa. They grow three acres of grapes on the family farm and produce wine from grapes and many other types of fruit in the Old Farmers State Bank building in town.

They may be reached at 641-762-3406 and PO Box 276 Kanawha IA 50447