SALEM IS MOPO MAKERS Brothers Mike, Nick and Matt Radtke — along with their father, Lee — home-brewed together before founding Gilgamesh Brewing. At the “Campus” in South Salem, they produce award-winning beers, plus seasonal creations. Also check out the Independence location. When Ricardo Antunez, Matt Dakopolos and Ben Mendoza realized their shared love for beer making and Mexican food, they launched the state’s first Latine-owned brewery, Xicha Brewing, in West Salem and North Salem. Brewmaster Dakopolos creates their Mexican-style lager, which pairs with chef Antunez’s pork tacos. Rob Miller and John Vendeland of Salem’s Minto Island Tea Company planted their first tea plants back in 1988. Today their small-batch organic teas might be the freshest you’ve ever tasted. Visit the farm stand July makers and artisans Raise your wine glass — or tea mug or fork — and taste the unique culinary creations of these Salem-area makers. through October or order online. Jason Greenwood and his wife, Jennell Ives, are the founders of Divine Distillers in Independence, which specializes in brandy, tequila agave and seasonal amaro made from locally sourced fruits and herbs. Swing by for a Divine-infused cocktail. Salt Creek Cider House’s Carter and Lindy Rickert moved back to his family’s farm outside Dallas in 2016 and planted 1,100 cider-apple trees, converted an old cattle barn into a production space and tasting room, and started producing handcrafted ciders in small batches. Self-taught winemaker Jason Hanson and his wife, Marlene, take an old-world-winery approach at Hanson Vineyards. They grow the grapes for their estate wines on their fourth-generation family farm near Woodburn, and Minto Island Tea Company TravelSalem.com 28
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==