Isaac Savaryn is a viticulturist — “basically a fancy term for a grape grower” — for Sovereign Estate Winery in Waconia, which his family runs.

He told “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley that he received his degree in viticulture and enology from Washington State University in Washington. He was inspired by his family’s decision to establish a winery.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living, so it was a great opportunity to get involved in this new family business that we were starting and try to grow our small winery.”

Savaryn said the University of Minnesota worked to develop grapes that can withstand the Minnesota cold. When the University of Minnesota released this varietal in 2006, Savaryn’s father and stepmother decided to combine two passions.

“My dad is an avid outdoorsman, he loves growing trees, planting trees,” Savaryn said. “And my stepmother has an Italian background (and is a) lover of pasta and wine. This new opportunity for them to start a project together arose. And we gave it a go in 2007, and planted some vines and grew our vineyard first, and then made our first wine in 2010, and then eventually opened our doors in 2011.”

Currently, the winery has “nearly 40 acres of fruit,” Savaryn said.

Faith informs Sovereign Estate Winery’s details — from landscaping to labels, said Savaryn, a member of St. Joseph in Waconia. Examples include a wine called Ave Rosé and “a garden dedicated to the Blessed Mother” at the winery.

“We want to represent what our gifts are, and God, and our core values, (and) our faith in our family, and we want to do everything to glorify that,” Savaryn said. “We’re proud to be Catholic and we’re not shying away from it.”

Visit Sovereign Estate Winery’s website at sovereignestatewine.com.

For more about the wine-making process and how Savaryn’s grandparents ultimately settled in Waconia, listen to “Practicing Catholic” when it airs at 9 p.m. Feb. 9 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, or when it repeats at 1 p.m. Feb. 10 and 2 p.m. Feb. 11.

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes a discussion with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams about Church community, including how it works and how the faithful need to be part of building it. Plus, Kate Walsh Soucheray, a licensed marriage and family therapist emeritus and a columnist in The Catholic Spirit, talks about how to prepare for, and act purposefully during, the season of Lent.

Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.