RAPID CITY, S.D. — “The only constant in life is change,” says an oft-quoted saying from the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus. The sentiment seems especially true when looking around Downtown Rapid City, where a new addition is making its mark:
Uplifted Winery
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Uplifted Winery in Downtown Rapid City
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Located at 725 St. Joseph Street, Uplifted Winery is the realization of a longtime dream for Adam and Emily Martinez. The couple opened their tasting room after years of planning, blending traditional winemaking with a welcoming, community-focused atmosphere.
“We’ve been thinking about it for a while. It’s been a dream,” said Adam Martinez, Uplifted’s winemaker. When it seemed the winery might not happen, the couple faced tough choices. “At first, we thought either we give up wine or we give up the Hills. We spent a month kind of depressed thinking of that, and then we just decided, neither. We’ll open a winery in the Hills. So the best of both worlds,” Adam continued.
For Emily Martinez, wine has long been a passion nurtured alongside her husband. “My love for wine came from drinking it,” she said with a laugh.
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“But also, with Adam being a winemaker, I got to help with fermentation in the production room over the last nine years. I gradually got more involved and developed a real passion for it.” The couple owns the winery together, with Adam as General Manager and Emily as Administrator.
Adam and Emily craft a diverse range of wines from both traditional and fruit varieties. Their collection includes classic Vitis vinifera wines like Cabernet, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo, as well as sweeter options such as Riesling and a rhubarb-strawberry blend.
“Most of our grapes come from Washington State, a little bit from Oregon,” Adam said. “We’re actually taking care of a local vineyard too, trying to revive it after Mother Nature destroyed it last year, so we’re growing some grapes right here in Rapid City.”
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Visitors to Uplifted Winery can expect a casual, welcoming experience. “We want this place to feel like home. Friendly, comfortable,” Adam said. “You don’t need to know everything about wine. Just come and enjoy your favorite taste or flavor. The best wine in the world is your favorite wine.”
The winery also hosts events to bring unique wine experiences to the community. On September 6, Uplifted Winery is planning a “Douro Valley Night,” featuring two wines sourced from the region paired with tapas and Portuguese snacks. Adam and Emily are exploring future dinners highlighting local harvests and wild game, paired with their wines.
Emily said, “I’m excited to see how people enjoy our Douro Night and the different events we’re planning. We want to make wine accessible and enjoyable for everybody.”
Uplifted Winery in Downtown Rapid City
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The couple’s philosophy is reflected in the winery’s name, which stemmed from three ideas. “First, there’s the geologic uplift of the Black Hills,” Emily said. “Then, we want this to be a place that uplifts people and the community. And thirdly, we couldn’t have done this without help from friends, employees, and the community, so we feel like we’ve also been uplifted.”
What sets Uplifted Winery apart locally is its focus on traditional vinifera grapes alongside fruit wines. “You can get all the old names here—Cabernet, Malbec, Syrah, Chardonnay—made right here in Rapid City,” Adam said. Emily added that Adam enjoys creating single-varietal wines from grapes typically used only in blends, such as Sezão.
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Adam, who describes himself as a nomad before settling in the Black Hills, says the region feels like home. “The people are friendly. Everything’s comfortable. It’s a wonderful place to be,” he said.
Uplifted Winery is open Tuesday through Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and by appointment on Sundays and Mondays. Their tasting includes five wines that showcase the breadth of their offerings.
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“It starts light with a nice Chardonnay, then the Scarlet and Stem, which is our sweeter one. Then we move to Sangiovese, a very non-traditional Malbec, and our Cabernet Sauvignon. So it showcases a lot of what we have to offer,” Adam said.
Though still building recognition in the community, feedback has been encouraging. “Our wine club grew faster than we expected, which was very encouraging,” Emily said. “We’ve only been open for two weeks, and already it’s bigger than we hoped by the end of the month.”
For Adam and Emily Martinez, Uplifted Winery is more than a business—it’s a place to share their passion for wine and the Black Hills community. “A wine for everyone is the goal,” Emily said simply.
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