About Us

Cindy Monroe owns Five Points Farms with her husband, Jeff, in Five Points, Alabama. In 2010, after attending an Alabama Cooperative Extension System Master Gardener program in Randolph County, a fire was lit in Monroe, leading her to develop a vineyard and soon-to-be winery. Walking through her grapes in the early morning and watching them grow, Monroe loves what she does. Looking at the rows of green canopies, she can feel the energy, and it is easy for anyone to see the energy she brings to her craft.

Monroe decided to pursue the vineyard and winery industry in 2013 as a long-term project. Monroe and her husband chose grapes because they are the highest value-added producer crop.

“Make no mistake; this was about money,” Monroe said.

However, to get into the business, she had some catching up to do. Going back to school, Monroe earned a dual master’s degree in plant science with a concentration in viticulture and enology. Some of the classes she took were ones that she hadn’t studied in years, like microbiology and chemistry. While this might be daunting to some, Monroe has an enthusiasm for learning about what she loves.

Her most impactful experiences were not in the classroom but in the field. Monroe strongly believes that nothing can replace hands-on experience. Monroe recommends that if anyone is interested in learning more about a field, they should get out there and see what the actual work is like. Monroe has done her fair share of hands-on work on her vineyard, as she recalls planting and pruning every one of her plants up until 2019.

“The bottom line is that you have to be out there, you have to put your hands on it and you have to do it,” Monroe said.

Not only is Monroe a hard worker but she is also a fighter. She was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2018 but is now cancer free. She expressed gratitude to her family and those who worked for her as they supported her through that troubling time. This is not the only battle Monroe has fought, as she was at the forefront of the fight to amend alcohol laws in Alabama. With the support of the Alabama Farmers Federation, new laws were passed in 2021 to allow wineries to qualify as small-farm wineries if they own eight acres and if 50% of the wine produced comes from Alabama fruit.

“This was a victory that has the potential to change the industry in our state,” Monroe said.

Monroe believes women should learn the skills they need to be successful on the farm. Admitting that there may be some physical limitations for some women in this setting, Monroe thinks they should still learn to do things like drive a tractor and hook up implements but not be afraid to ask for help. She said running this vineyard is the hardest work she has ever done but it is also the most fun she has ever had. With the help of mentors along the way and hard work, Monroe has created a legacy for those who come after her.

Monroe’s granddaughters, Emma and Lea, have already found a sense of ownership at Five Points. They not only love the vineyard like their grandmother but they also have Monroe’s same spunky spirit. Riding around the vineyard with their grandmother, they are eager to help, pruners in hand. The next generation of farmers is growing up with women like Monroe to look up to. It is women like her that will rewrite the narrative of the stereotypical farmer.