By WLFI-TV, West Lafayette, Indiana

The holiday season is a chance for many families to come together. For one Monticello family it is wine making, not the holiday season, that brings their family closer. The Pampel family opened their new Whyte Horse winery in Monticello just 12 weeks ago and already business is doing well. Although the secret to their success might be their wine recipes, the Pampels will tell you that family teamwork is what keeps this business running.

Co-owner Larry Pampel said, "On any given week you'll find 4 or 5 Pampels around this area which is kind-of unique because we all get back together." Four generations and fifteen members of the Pampel family work everyday to keep their new winery running.

Darcy Pampel, 18, said although she is still in high school she is putting in more than just schoolwork. "Over the summer I was in the vineyard with my sister taking care of the grapes, doing all of the pruning, spraying for the bugs and everything," she said.

Owner Larry Pampel said right now they have more than 400 acres of grapes and seven different types of wine. "What enthralled me about making wine is ten different winemakers could take the an art form than a science," he said. Getting all 15 members of the family to agree on a taste, takes some discussion. "What it is is we are a democracy here so everybody votes, and I get out voted a lot," said Larry.

Many of the Pampel family wines age anywhere from 15 to 20 months before the wine is ready for tasting. The winery's customers agree the wait is worth it. "This is a really good wine," said Arun Bahalla. "Sometimes it leaves a real aftertaste or it’s to biting and this one is very, very smooth. It didn't leave an aftertaste, smooth throughout," said Bahalla.

The Pampels plan on adding three more wines by February.

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