They were married in 1979, shortly after Borda was transfer to Australia by Ford. The next four years the Bordas developed a love affair with wines.
When the Borda decide to start a winery, they looked for land in Virginia. The price of land there was high. Then Jean Stuck, Karen’s mother, spoke up, “If it doesn’t workout you could try on my farm,” said Borda.
Stuck has owned the 35 acres of farmland for 26 years. “We loved the natural beauty and had to have it, so we bought it on site,” Stuck says.
Eight years ago, Karen Stuck planted the first 1,200 vines by hand. Borda says, “It’s sort of an insane hobby because it’s really hard work.”
Everything stopped for a couple of years when Karen Stuck died, once regrouping things began to move forward again. At first, they sold grapes to other area wineries. “Grapes are easy to sell, wine is not, there are many regulations governing the selling of wine,” Borda says.
Patricia Chalfant, a 1999 graduate of Springboro High School, is the wine maker and vineyard manager. She holds a bachelors degree in biology from Ohio University, and a masters degree in horticulture and crops from Ohio State University. She served her internship at Caesar Creek Winery.
According to Chalfant, last year’s harvest brought in 24 tons of grapes that made 13,000 liters of wine, which translates into 17,000 bottles. “The winery community is very supportive,” she says.
Caesar Creek Winery earned the designation Ohio Quality Wine for two wines, the 2012 Traminette and 2012 Chardonel. The grapes are hybrids that endure Ohio cold temperatures. “You can grow very good grapes in Ohio. With good grapes you get good wine,” Borda says.
“The winery is event driven, we have had a number of events that have boosted the winery,” Borda says.
Events have included a 5k run that let the participants run between the rows of grapes. The winery is looking to book wedding receptions and group events, and for entertainment they are bringing in musicians to play various types of instruments and genres.
Contact contributing writer D. Anthony Botkin at (937) 272-2893 or botkin.10@wright.edu
How to go:
What: Caesar Creek Winery
Where: 962 Long Road, Xenia, Ohio, 45385
When: Thursday – Saturday
Time: Noon – 9 p.m.
More Information: Now booking wedding receptions and group events.
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