What’s old is becoming new again in downtown Bessemer. As work to restore the historic Lincoln Theatre continues, another long vacant building is now bustling with new life as Chateau Bevvy Winery prepares to open its doors on September 26 as the first and only Black-owned urban winery in Jefferson County.
Outside, the historic building built in 1910 looks unassuming. Inside, visitors are greeted by exposed brick walls covered in farmhouse decorations and seating areas furnished with vintage pieces.
Further into the building, there’s a large custom-built wooden table made with remnants of the building found during renovations, like floor joists, columns and old beams. Towards the back of the building is where the magic happens — side rooms contain vats for winemaking and storage for labeled bottles of different types of wine, like the Riesling that owner La Fran Marks makes himself.
The Art and Science of Winemaking…