Purple Toad Winery and Distillery opens location in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For Purple Toad Winery and Distillery founder Allen Dossey, this new location is more than just an expansion – it’s a homecoming.

The Cave City native is opening a tasting room and event venue on a 10-acre property that’s now open to visitors.

The Western Kentucky University graduate says the Warren County tasting room is five times larger than the company’s Paducah location and is designed to draw visitors from across the region.

The 20,000-square-foot venue also includes a wedding and event space that can hold up to 400 people.

A pavilion is also currently under construction to host more events.

Dossey says, “Of course, this is our flagship tasting facility now. All the production is still in Paducah, but here, we’ve got a 65-foot bar for wine and spirits. We have a 25-foot bar strictly for our spirits — our bourbons, vodkas, tequilas and more. When people come here, I hope they get a little wow effect, because when I look at it, it kind of wows me. We want a really nice experience. That’s what we try to do in Paducah — this is just a much bigger facility.”

Purple Road has grown into one of Kentucky’s biggest names in wine.

Out of the state’s 72 wineries, Dossey says it accounts for roughly half of Kentucky’s wine sales.

The company will celebrate its 17th anniversary on July 1.