Growing Business Hires Two New Staff Members
Laurie Monteforte
Friday is Eyewitness News Reporter Laurie Monteforte’s last day with WBRE/WYOU. Monteforte will take on a new role as the Director of Community Relations and Marketing for Mountain View Vineyard, Winery & Distillery Monday.
The business in Monroe County is rapidly expanding. The owners, Randy and Linda Rice, plan to break ground on a new 7,000 square foot winery building in March. The space will allow them to host weddings, reunions, fundraisers, and other special events.
Monteforte joined Eyewitness News in August of 2005. While there, she earned two Emmy awards and three Outstanding Broadcasting awards from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.
Leslie Geer
To keep up with the growing demand for locally produced Pennsylvania wine and spirits, Mountain View Vineyard, Winery & Distillery also hired a new assistant winemaker. Leslie Greer will work with proprietor Randy Rice to prepare the new winemaking and tasting room facility.
Like Monteforte, Geer is also making a career change. She had a successful 30-year career as a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.S. in Biology. Her skills will lend themselves well to the art of winemaking.
About Mountain View Vineyard, Winery & Distillery
A trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York State inspired Randy Rice to try his hand at grape growing. He started with 6 varieties and 70 vines on the split rail fence along his driveway.
When those vines flourished, he and his wife Linda cleared their nearly 6 acre property and planted a vineyard. After more than a decade of hard work, they have grown to 9 grape varieties and over 2000 vines.
The winery is an eco-friendly operation with geothermal and solar energy.
For more information contact 570-656-3767.
