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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2005 > October > 04 > Entry
Ohio Wines Quietly Opening Some Eyes — and Minds
Ohio Wines are quietly gaining momentum - and a bit of national recognition.
The Ohio Wine Producers Association reports that more than 36,000 people
attended its Vintage Ohio event in August at Lake Metroparks Farmpark in northeast Ohio, and more than 7,300 lined up for samples of Ohio dessert wines in the Ice Wine tent, a new feature this year. And the folks at Valley Vineyards in Warren County say their annual three-day wine festival drew somewhere around 30,000 people.
Meanwhile, the Kinkead Ridge winery in Ripley is basking in the warm praise in Tom Stevenson’s paperback wine guide, “Wine Report 2006.â€? The book names Kinkead Ridge’s 2003 Viognier/Roussanne blend as one of the “100 most exciting wine finds in the worldâ€? and selects the winery as an up-and-coming producer in the Atlantic northeast region. The ‘03 is sold out at the winery, but the KR folks proclaim the ‘04 vintage is even better.
Some Dayton-area wine shops have Kinkead Ridge wines on their shelves; last week I tried the winery’s 2003 Syrah ($19.95), which is one of the best Ohio reds I’ve sampled. It’s a lighter-styled syrah with appealing flavors, a wine that shows the state can make red wines that can compete with the big boys as some of its white wines already do.
Eleven wineries at the other end of the state (in the Akron-Canton area) have banded together for a second annual “Halloween Haunt� event. For more information, link to The Ohio Wine Producers Association or call (800) 227-6972.
Interesting things are happening in the Buckeye state, wine-wise. Stay tuned.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
Comments
By Meg
October 5, 2005 5:40 PM | Link to this
If you’re interested in sampling all of Ohio’s wineries, check out Ohio Wine Country Excursions by Patricia Latimer. Published in September by Emmis Books in Cincinnati, It’s the only comprehensive guide to Ohio’s 65 wineries. Detailed maps, hours of operation, tours, events, winemaking procedures, recommended wines, and nearby places to visit, as well as gorgeous color photographs and reproductions of each vineyard’s label, help readers to make the most of their excursions. Latimer also offers a very interesting overview of Ohio’s wine growing history. The book is available at local bookstores or online at www.emmisbooks.com .By Marta
October 5, 2005 2:11 PM | Link to this
I agree. As a minor-league “winer”, I’ve traveled all over the country - and world - sampling wine. No one area needs to feel superior. The right grape in any adequate terroir with a caring and experienced winemaker can be great. Kinkead Ridge is leading the way in an area that is converting from the family farm winery to legitimate business. People with training in fermentation will make all the difference in years to come - especially in the rising vinticultural area in southern Ohio. Another winery, Woodstone Creek, is an exceptional example. Their winemaker actually has educational credentials. This winery, however, is more unconventional. I think they will rise to the top with their ports. They’ve got a pot-still, a first in the state. They actually make their own brandy, which sets them apart from other wineries in Ohio that have to buy their spirits from column-still manufacturers out of state. The complexity of Woodstone’s ports turned me into a believer. Before my tasting at Woodstone - I wouldn’t even try a port. The winemaker’s wife talked my into it and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Their Niagara port won a gold medal from Taster’s Guild and the honey port won bronze at Indianapolis International. Goes to show, folks, Ohio wine is no slouch!!! Open your minds and your wallets - support these guys. MartaBy Don
October 4, 2005 11:21 PM | Link to this
I agree with Mark—there are some interesting wines in Ohio. Have not tried the Kinkead Ridge but have heard it mentioned by others. If you like champagne, try Ravenhurst champagne cellers out of Mount Victory, OH. Killer champagnes that have beaten the French in tastings before. A short road trip form the Miami Valley.By Joe
October 4, 2005 3:38 PM | Link to this
So many wineries have been established in Ohio for more than 30 years. The Ohio wine boom of the 70’s saw a great expansion of wine making families. Schuchters in Morrow-Valley Vineyards, Ferrantes -Ferrante Winery and Ristorante and Debevcs -Debonnee Vineyards both east of cleveland, as well as many more. I’d like people to know that Ohio has a very long, rich history of winemaking. The wineries are producing wines that rival the worlds best, from Vienna to L.A., Paris to Chicago. Many of these family owned wineries distribute in our local area. Also, these wineries grow, and harvest their own vineyards. This is something that is held from generation to generation, the tending of the vines..the early mornings late nights, blood sweat and tears all go into every bottle of wine that is produced from Ohio vineyards. so please check to see if your Ohio wine is estate grown, and not trucked in from California, or New York. These are wines from the earth, produced by families who care about both the quality of the wines, and preservation of the family legacy. For more info on these places and more, check out www.OhioWines.org