Harpersville, AL - The vines at the Morgan Creek Winery in Harpersville don't have any fruit yet, but sales have been plentiful despite the economy.

"It's back to, 'Well if I can buy something for $9 to 14 and it tastes just as good as something I was paying $20 or more for, why would I spend more money for something that's not necessarily any better,'" says Charles Brammer, Jr. He is following in his father's footsteps, winery founder Charles Brammer, Sr.

"Our wine is a big value," says Brammer, Sr. "We've been growing it 30% a year for nine years.We're having a hard time keeping up with it."

The low cost plus a word of mouth campaign have added to the business.

"I've given them as gifts to people as far away as Texas and California, and they seem to like it, too, and when I come back they ask me to bring them more," says customer Jimmy Ozment.

The Brammers realize it's time to branch out. The winery will add a new line of peach wines very soon, and also plans to expand the vineyard by adding another one; however, the winery is not immune to the economy's ills. The Bruno's bankruptcy filing led to the closing of ten stores.

"I hated to see it because our first store we ever put our wine in was a Bruno's," says the younger Brammer.

The economy may be pruning the cash flow, but Morgan Creek hopes to keep giving customers quality without a lot of cost.

"Most bang for the buck," says Brammer, Sr.

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