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Jim Young, vintner and owner of Sand Hollow Winery and Sand Hollow Speakeasy, opened Sand Hollow Winery in 2012.(Photo: Sara C. Tobias/The Advocate)

HEATH Sand Hollow Winery lies nestled on a quiet country lane, tucked in a small valley among 83 mostly wooded acres. Its easy to get that it-hardly-seems-like-Im-in-Licking-County feeling. Its an idyllic setting for wine and nature lovers alike.

Interestingly, however, owner and vintner Jim Young originally had a different idea when he bought the property. I was looking to get away from people, he (sort of) admitted, and ended up entertaining them. Go figure.

Young, by the way, is known for his dry sense of humor. Jims art of telling tales has endeared many a wine customer, noted his wife, Cindy Steen. Hes able to draw people into his stories even if hes talking about paint drying!

Speaking of drying paint, theres another, newer location for Sand Hollow Winery. This one is in downtown Newark, where you can take a step back in time to the prohibition era.Young (aka Mr. Speaks) likes to call it a speakeasy and you need a password to gain entry. (Check his web site to get the password, and dont tell anyone you dont trust!) Its all vintage Jim Young humor and creativity.

Sand Hollow Speakeasy offers whiskey, wine, and beer behind their bar in Newark.(Photo: Sara C. Tobias/The Advocate)

Now 68, Young grew up in Newark, graduated from Newark High School in 1969, went to Ohio State to study finance and then went to work for his father in his construction company.

The construction business, he said, gave me the knowledge that, if you start with a good foundation and build on that, you will have a good chance, not great, to be successful.

He switched gears when he started publishing niche newspapers in Newark 50 Plus and Our Town among them. In the midst of his publishing phase he started making wine. He opened Sand Hollow Winery in 2012.

The winery was just another chapter in my entrepreneurial book, he said, though he did add, A winery was my first foray into a retail business.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?

A. Meeting new customers that were recommended to us by old customers or our social medias 4.8 star rating. Being able to give that new customer an exceptional wine tasting experience that matches up to their expectations. Converting devoted sweet drinkers to our very drinkable dry white and red wines is an added bonus. If they smile or laugh during that process it makes my day.

Q. What are you most proud of about your career?

A. In the 8 years we have been open, definitely the returning customers and their recommendations to others to try us out.

A copy of a prescription for alcohol hangs in Sand Hollow Speakeasy in Newark. (Photo: Sara C. Tobias/The Advocate)

Q. What has been the biggest challenge in leading Sand Hollow Winery?

A. Fortunately the challenges have been few. Keeping up with the growth of the winery and speakeasy is definitely the biggest challenge. The exceptional staff from Andy, Char, Sam, Theresa, Tracie, my creative wife Cindy and one-of-a-kind customers that pitch in at crucial times make it all work!

Q. What would you like people to know about Sand Hollow Winery they may not know?

A. We have the best 5 cheese pizzas west of Italy to go along with our Italian style wines.

Q. How has Sand Hollow Winery changed through the years?

A. The biggest change was the addition of another winery, a 1920s style speakeasy in the newly restored downtown Newark area across from the historic jail. You walk up to a peek hole in the door, give the password and enter into the past, enjoying not only wine on draft, local craft beer and prohibition era whiskey and gin. You can also get your picture taken in a clawfoot gin tub with the appropriate props.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. Paint Your Wagon. Its a musical made in the late 60s with Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood singing, not very good I might add, during the California gold rush era. Brainless entertainment but with a strong message about loyalty.

Q. What is your favorite TV show?

A. The Blacklist. Actor James Spader is an immoral criminal that does good. He has the best sense of humor while preparing to kill his victims.

Q. Whats your favorite type of music?

A.All genres.

Q. What is your favorite book, one youd recommend others read? And why?

A. Atlas Shrugged a 1957 novel by Ayn Rand. This fictional story about the struggles between socialism and capitalism could be very easily true today.

Q. What is your favorite sport or activity to participate in?

A. Hiking Just got back from a trip to the Grand Canyon and Red Rocks in Sedona.

Q. What is your favorite sport to watch?

A. OSU football, especially when they win.

Q. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A. Flying

Q. What is your favorite meal?

A. Turkey with homemade noodles piled on top of mash potatoes.

Q. Who is the person you most admire in your life, and why?

A. Gib Reese. He was always doing something to unselfishly help individuals or the residents of Licking County.

Q. Who is a public figure you most admire?

A. Ben Franklin

Q. Whats your dream vacation?

A. Anywhere, but away from a crowd of people.

Q. If you could be in any other job or profession, what would it be?

A. College professor

Sand Hollow Winery is located at 12558 Sand Hollow Road in Heath. The Sand Hollow Winery Speakeasy is located in downtown Newark at 57 S. 3rd St.For more information, call 740-323-3959 or log on http://www.sandhollowwine.com.

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With a glass of wine and a dry joke, Jim Young entertains at Sand Hollow Winery - The Newark Advocate