Seven years ago, Frank Cleary asked his family – and particularly his son Rich – if they would be interested in going into business together. Without hesitation, Rich was quite interested in learning about wine and becoming a professional winemaker for his family’s Fridays Creek Winery of Owings, Maryland.

Originally, Rich owned his own home improvement business but made a tremendous shift to winemaking. Perhaps it was his love of chemistry and the process that goes into producing wine that made his father’s proposition so inviting. However, it should not go unmentioned that Rich is also a full-time firefighter in Anne Arundel County, on top of the extensive hours he puts in at the winery.Fridays Creek produces Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Blush, Seyval Blanc, Vidal, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and two blends, Patio White and Friday Afternoon."

I am pretty much a chemist here at Fridays Creek – I test, I taste and check for development," Rich adds. But in the end, it’s drinking wine – once bottled and ready – that Rich claims to be the most enjoyable aspect of his job.