Bitterroot winery, Hidden Legend Winery, receives state boost: Funds to help business produce carbonated mead

When Ken Schultz started turning Bitterroot Valley honey into rich mead wine about 10 years ago, he knew that much of his business’ success would rely on his ability to reach customers in larger markets.

Now, a state-run grant program aimed at strengthening Montana’s agricultural industry is giving business owners such as Schultz resources to do just that.

"Our research tells us that any major endeavor in Montana’s history has either succeeded or failed directly in proportion to the out-of-state markets they were able to develop," said Schultz, owner of Hidden Legend Winery http://hiddenlegendwinery.com/ near Victor, which recently received more than $40,000 through a Growth Through Agriculture grant from the Montana Agriculture Development Council.

By WILL MOSS Ravalli Republic

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/business/local/article_55d06ebe-2547-11df-a4b3-001cc4c002e0.html