What started as a diversion from his day job, blossomed into community-centered wine

In York County, Mark Rhodes goes by many titles: entrepreneur, diversity trainer, Human Relations Commission and Confronting Racism Coalition committee board member, and in recent years – winemaker.

Back in the 90s, Rhodes was first introduced to diversity training by Harley-Davidson, where he would speak with bikers about race and race relations.

“I thought: 'What’s diversity?' Well, back then, diversity was a term no one really used,” he said.

After spending two years training with Harley, earning certificates and learning all aspects of diversity training, Rhodes decided to branch out and start his own diversity consulting company.

Though it was a topic he was passionate about, Rhodes said it was not always easy.

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The need for a 'diversion'

“Race and race relations will wear you out," Rhodes said. "People’s attitudes, thoughts and mindsets will wear you down."

In 2016, after a long day of work, Rhodes needed a diversion from his day job and looked to his wife, Val, for support.

Both wine lovers, the two have gone to wine tastings around the country, and while visiting their daughter in Delaware, Rhodes picked up a winemaking kit.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to try for a while, so we found a kit, brought it home and it was Pinot Grigio – and it was GOOD,” he said.

That’s all it took for Rhodes to discover a new passion for winemaking.

“After that, we got hooked. I was like, 'We gotta do this again,' ” Rhodes said.

With Val’s support, the two began making wine for fun in their basement of their York County home, filling their shelves with dozens of bottles of different reds and whites.

Although he was still involved in race relations and training, Rhodes said winemaking was therapeutic.

Family members and friends would come over for dinner, try a glass of their homemade wine and come back asking for more.

“People were telling me: you should sell this,” he said.

That’s when Rhodes contacted the state, and applied for a limited winery license, where he could make and sell his wine at farmer’s markets across Pennsylvania.

In 2020, Rhodes received his license, which allows him to make 200,000 gallons of wine per year, and sell his product in open-air markets, and to bars and restaurants.

Their wine is made using fresh grape juice from Lancaster Home Brew, which is fermented with additional organic fruit juices. Once fermented, Rhodes adds yeast and flavoring, and checks the alcohol content and calculates the numbers.

The wine is then bottled, labeled and ready to be enjoyed.

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Mark and Val's Wine

With a vision to share their wine and support the York community, the Mark and Val's Wine brand was created, and they opened a market stand at Penn Market in April 2021.

"Even though it was the middle of the pandemic, people loved it and we couldn't make the wine fast enough," Val said.

Their mission has been welcomed with open arms by York County and beyond, with many local business owners and wineries offering Rhodes with supplies, resources and products to make his winemaking journey, possible.

"If I need something, I have plenty of connections who have been willing to help. John in Jackson Square, Jeff Brown in Logan's View - I mean, you start connecting with your town this way."

One thing that sets Mark and Val's Wine apart from other winemakers is their labeling.

"We put pictures on the bottle. We'll include family, friends, customers and influential women in York," Val said.

Occasionally, Mark and Val will surprise a special woman they know, and with their permission, use their face on a bottle.

"It's fun, and when people see it they feel like they won the lottery. When you come to the market and see your face on a bottle - it's special," Val said.

In addition to their visual concept, another aspect that's setting their wine apart from the average white or red is the flavors they offer.

Divided by sweet and dry, flavors such as hibiscus, blood orange sangria, and green apple are offered, as well as hemp and dandelion.

Recently, Rhodes attended York High School to speak with the students about running a business, and offered students a chance to create artwork that would be showcased on a future wine bottle.

One student showed Rhodes her paintings and told Rhodes her pricing, to which he responded: "You're undervaluing yourself."

Several days later, the student and her mother met Rhodes with her finished product, excited to be paid for her work, and featured on a bottle of wine to be enjoyed by many.

"It came out nice, and we were ecstatic," he said.

Rhodes and Val said they are thankful for the outpouring of support they have received from the community, which continues to make their mission and dream possible.

National Wine Day is May 25.

Mark and Val's Wine is located at 380 W Market St., York

Lena Tzivekis is a reporter for the Hanover Evening Sun/York Daily Record. Email her at etzivekis@gannett.com, or message her on Twitter at @tzivekis, and say hi, or let her know where to get the best cup of coffee!