Make yourself at home with the Moodys’ German heritage and warm southern hospitality, and maybe even try your hand at..
Making wine with Bobby & Bobo “We had 78 of our church senior circle group come to visit for our first grandson’s birthday,” says Dale. “Family is the most important thing to us, but everyone is family when they come to visit.” The Moodys’ deep German roots extend back to the Peinhardts in the late 1800s. Having such German heritage means having a “taste” for making great quality wine. Bobby’s grandmother, Alma Peinhardt York, was a wine connoisseur and the inspiration for his adventure into wine making.
Story by Steve A. Maze Photos by David Moore
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realized I had arrived at my destination when I was met in the driveway by Bobby and Dale Moody and their Blue Tick hound, Bobo. Situated off Logan Road, the beautiful 40 acres the couple have called home for more than a half century was part of an inheritance from Bobby’s mother, Evelyn York. It felt like … home. The outdoor gathering spot for friends and relatives is the 80-plus-year-old water well situated at the end of their driveway. The well was originally covered ike the Moody by a one-room log cabin family, many people in but now sits underneath an Cullman County have attractive gazebo. German roots. Bobby “We actually used the learned the wine making well when Dale and I first process from Eddie married,” says Bobby. “The Peinhardt, but was inspired windlass that draws up the by his grandmother, Alma bucket was actually built York. Most German families by Hilmar Peinhardt, one of grew grapes, scuppernongs, Cullman’s first settlers.” muscadines, etc., when they Though the Moodys don’t use the old well in their yard since Under the front lip of first settled the area. they got running water years ago, but, as Bobby demonstrates, the gazebo are two ladder“As a teenager, I helped they can still crank up a bucket of good, clear water. back rocking chairs. To be Eddie with making wine, and he probably learned invited to sit in one is to it from his dad, E.O. know you are welcome. were comfortable here,” Bobby says. Peinhardt,” Bobby says. “You’re home when “They called us Mr. Bobby and Mama “I remember Eddie driving a horse and you come here,” Bobby says, as he Dale, and they still stay in touch.” wagon down the muddy Section Line Road waves one arm around the water well and It didn’t stop there. Wine ends up being (now Logan Avenue) to the warehouse immaculately kept grounds. part of the reason. district in Cullman to sell his grapes.” When their son, Brad – now a local Wine isn’t just mashing up grapes. The surgeon – was in college, up to 26 of his ost of those friends now have tending, harvesting and Mother Nature fellow students and friends would crash their own families and homes, but other have a lot to do with the quality of taste. in the Moodys’ basement during the generations also visit the Moody’s to enjoy “The amount of rain received in June holidays. I’m sure they felt at home, too. their hospitality. determines the quality of the berries and “We treated them as our own and they
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