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Odessa American

ODESSA, Texas (AP) - Amy Anderson likes to take weekly getaways to a winery — in the middle of an Odessa strip mall.

"It's just calm and peaceful," the teacher and mother of three said. "It's a place where I can have a nice relaxing time."

Anderson and friends gather each week at Homemade Wines, which John Solla and his wife, Vicki, opened April 12.

John Solla, 53, gave up his job of 31 years as a district manager for Pizza Hut to start the winery.

There he makes more than 30 varieties by letting the wine ferment for between four and six weeks, first in plastic buckets similar to what you'd see on a construction site, then in clear plastic jugs.

"See that one over there?" he asks, pointing to a wine nearly ready to be bottled. "Two weeks ago it didn't look like that. It was very cloudy."

Solla grew up in southern Italy, where wine is a part of life. He started making wine for friends seven years ago, but eventually decided it was time to get into it full time.

"After 31 years, it was time. I just had to have a change of scenery," he said. "I wanted to build a place where people could just visit and enjoy a glass of wine."

Solla sells wine by the glass or bottle. The bottles include a label designed by Vicki Solla with a vineyard full of pumpjacks.

In order to open the business, Solla needed licenses from federal and state agencies. He said it took a week of e-mails just to get the necessary information on the label correct.

"They have their own lingo," he said of regulators. "You have to figure out what that is so you can communicate."

Anderson said Odessans would be addicted once they try Solla's wines. One of the most popular varieties recently was the watermelon white merlot. Another recommendation was cranberry Chianti.

"I love the wine," she said. "I like everything about it — it's just smooth. And John's a really friendly guy."