Valley Vineyards bringing back Wine Festival this weekend

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HAMILTON TWP. — Ken Schuchter was trying to branch out in 1969 and grow some “exotic” fruits and vegetables for the roadside stand he operated outside of Morrow.

He over-ordered on one of his new crops and found instead of having enough grapes for one or two acres of grapevine, he had enough for 20 acres.

Surveying his situation, Schuchter took the only rational step one could when confronted with an overabundance of grapes — he started his own vineyard.

Like a fine wine, Valley Vineyards has aged well in the ensuing 41 years, becoming a multi-generational operation that produces more than 250,000 bottles of wine annually.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize that Valley Vineyard wine is not just made but grown here,” said Joe Schuchter, Ken’s grandson.

Today three generations of Schuchters operate Valley Vineyards. The original 20 acre vineyard has grown to 100 acres, producing 33 types of grapes that make 24 types of wine. The family has plans to expand both its acreage and grape selection during the next decade.

To celebrate its success, Valley Vineyard is bringing back its annual Wine Festival after a four-year hiatus this Saturday. The event will feature live music, tours of the facilities and, naturally, wine.

Ken, the patriarch of the family, is technically retired, but still lends an active hand at the vineyard. Ken’s son, Kenny Joe Schuchter, runs the operation and his wife, Dodie Schuchter, oversees the restaurant that was built on the grounds in 1984. Their two sons, Joe and Kyle Schuchter, also work at the vineyard. Joe oversees marketing and is a driving force in the vineyard’s statewide growth. Kyle is active in planning events at the site.

In 2010, Valley Vineyards produced 84,000 gallons, Joe said. Besides their Hamilton Twp. headquarters, the wine is being sold at grocery stores, wine stores and other vendors in the state.

Valley Vineyards is one of the leaders in reinvigorating Ohio’s wine business. In the early 1800s, the wine business boomed in Ohio and the state was one of the leaders in U.S. wine production.

Valley Vineyards has received national awards from the Ohio Wine Competition, the American Wine Society and the International Eastern Wine Competition.

The vineyard specializes in producing “accessible wines” that go great with a variety of food, Joe Schuchter said.

“It’s the easiest thing to do to take yourself too seriously,” he said. “We try to embrace everyday table wines, which, not surprisingly, are our best sellers.”

One of Valley Vineyard’s most renowned traditions was its wine festival, started to celebrate the annual grape harvest. In 2007, the family put the kibosh on the festival.

“There was a time when I think the whole family believed it would never happen again,” Joe Schuchter said. “It just got so big, it became unwieldy. Everybody had a good time, but it was running us ragged.”

In June 2010, Joe and Kyle organized a 40th anniversary celebration of Valley Vineyard to honor their grandfather and the family began to see ways to bring the festival back.

The festival was scaled down from three days into a more manageable, but still large, one-day affair.

It was moved from its usual fall time frame, which unhappily coincided with the harvest season.

The festival is subtitled “A Taste of Warren County” and will host a variety of foods from around the county.

The Schuchters have actively sought local businesses, particularly eateries, to take part in the festival.

“The mission is for everyone here to eat, drink, have a good time and learn what you’re drinking,” said Kyle Schuchter. “It’s been cool to bring it all together. There are a ton of places in Warren County worth going to that don’t always have the means to let people know about themselves. This festival will let them get their name out.”

The festival also will have a 5K Walk/Run through the vineyards to benefit Hamilton Twp.’s Shop with a Cop program.

Visitors will be able to tour the wine cellars, starting at 1 p.m.

An education tent from the Ohio Wine Council will teach visitors about wine.

Bands will play at the wine festival throughout the day, including the Holly Spears band and DV8.

Joe Schuchter said the festival used to draw 50,000 people during a three-day period.

Last year’s anniversary celebration brought 1,500 with just two weeks promotion.

For this year’s festival, the family ordered 6,000 wine glasses, an indication of what they expect attendance to be like.

The festival is free, but parking is $5.