Wine Hobby Turns into Growing Ohio Valley Business
What began as a pastime for Skynyr Kelley and two friends has grown into a company whose wines are now sold in dozens of retail locations.
Kelley, along with Tony Hall and Tyler Weaver, all pipeline workers, founded Torque Cork Wines in 2019. Since then, Kelley and his wife, Markell Kelley, have taken over full ownership of the business.
Kelley said the trio initially started making wine casually, but after producing batches they enjoyed, they realized they might have a business idea.
“We had never made any wine before, so we thought we’d try it, and we started making it in just a five-gallon water bottle with a balloon on top,” Kelley said. “We made a couple of those, and they were really tasty. We thought, ‘Wow, this is something.’”
The group applied for federal permits, including TTB filings (required to pay excise taxes), receiving approval in 2020.
Torque Cork Wines made its first sale in April 2023 at the home Barnesville location and has since expanded to more than 40 locations across three local counties and with retail availability in several Ohio Valley communities.
It can be found locally at the Blue Moon Tavern, Chestnut Lanes, Route 40 Lumberjaxe and various retail carry out locations. Shipping of online sales is currently limited to Ohio locations.
The company outsources its wine production and ingredients, focusing on a lineup of sweet wines. Current flavors include sangria, strawberry, mango, black currant and elderberry. Photo Provided via Torque Cork Wines Facebook.
Kelley said production evolved from buckets to six-gallon fermenters, then to 20-gallon and 42-gallon systems and continues to grow.
Looking ahead, the owners plan to expand into screw-top bottles and introduce new flavors, including raspberry and watermelon.
Kelley’s daughter created the name Torque Cork Wines, inspired by the family’s interest in custom cars, hot rods and motorcycles. Each bottle is finished with a cork, tying into the brand identity.
“It’s just a unique name,” Kelley said. “We really liked it, so that’s what we stuck with. It stems from our hobbies.”
Originally from northern Idaho and northwestern Montana, Kelley discovered Barnesville while traveling for pipeline work and ultimately decided to establish the business in the area.
Kelley said he is available to provide sales sheets and pricing to businesses interested in carrying the wine. More information is available on the company’s website, and the business may be contacted by phone at 817-733-3160.
“We like to share our wines with folks,” Kelley said. “We just started making good wine.”
Barnesville Area News Needs Your Support!
We're dedicated to providing coverage of the local happenings in Barnesville and the neighboring communities.
As a non-profit entity, we rely on the donations of readers like you.
Make a donation today and you'll be helping keep local news alive in the Barnesville area.