Publisher's note: This is the second in a three part series on how wineries structure successful events Lacking the dramatic backdrop of vineyards, urban wineries, such as family owned Easley Winery in downtown Indianapolis, bring in customers with music, art, festivals and performances, and, of course, with wine. Because urban neighborhoods can change rapidly, successful city wineries … [Read more...]
Lynita Delaney and daughter Laura Roessler credit the price of Coca-Cola in Italy as one reason they started making wine together in Wisconsin. The two were pursuing their passion for curling at a competition in Italy when they discovered Coca-Cola was expensive, but wine wasn't. As a result, says Delaney, "We enjoyed trying the wines and visiting the vineyards there." Inspired by Italian … [Read more...]
Publisher's note: In this three-part series, Midwest Wine Press will explore how wineries in Northern Michigan, Indianapolis, and Columbus, Ohio structure successful events that are coordinated with the operations of the winery and tasting room client expectations. Hosting events can expose wineries to new patrons, diversify an existing customer base by offering a variety of activities, … [Read more...]
The old Niagara vines, planted in 1980 by Owl Creek Vineyard founder and Midwest wine pioneer Ted Wichmann, still produce wine in Southern Illinois' first post Prohibition vineyard. Owl Creek's current owner, Brad Genung, is carrying on the pioneering tradition as he develops the first hand crafted hard ciders on the Shawnee Wine Trail using local apples as the raw material. The new … [Read more...]
It's possible that winemaker Nan Bailly's kin enjoyed native Minnesota wine during canoe trips through the state in the 1820's when it was still wilderness. Bailly, owner, winegrower and winemaker at Alexis Bailly Vineyard, has a picture of her Minnesota voyageur ancestor, also named Alexis Bailly, in the tasting room of the winery. The original intrepid Bailly explorer would be proud … [Read more...]
For Northeast Ohio vineyard owner Gene Sigel, it’s premonition over planning. Despite being just a few credit hours short of holding a doctorate in economics, Sigel never bothered writing a business plan for his South River Vineyard in Ashtabula County. “I don’t have a business plan, I never have. I’ve always been driven by hunches. Somebody else may say ‘that’s so stupid,’” … [Read more...]
In 1974, Curtis and Martha Bourgeois bought a fifteen acre property on which Stephen, the fourth and youngest son, planted the first vines. When these three acres of Chambourcin grapes produced a 5 ton harvest and 500 gallons of wine, the family decided to covert a hobby into a wine making enterprise. Today, Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport is the third biggest wine producer in … [Read more...]
Sitting side by side in the Weinland Park area of Columbus, Ohio’s trendy Short North, Brothers Drake Meadery and Middle West Spirits share a lot more than location. They share a goal that's familiar to many winery owners – creating products that are unique to the area where the spirits or wine are made. Terroir may be a term familiar to the wine world, but micro-distilleries are beginning to … [Read more...]
The recent “Dare to Pair: the Chefs’ Challenge” was intended to silence the skeptics of the proposed wine and culinary center to be built on the site of a former schoolhouse in the town of Geneva, Ohio But instead of the expected 200 wine enthusiasts, nearly 350 showed up to taste Ohio wines and tapas and to help raise monies for the center which is called "Pairings, Ohio’s Wine and … [Read more...]
Spencer Stegnega remembers his childhood filled with animals—cows, chickens, geese, sheep, even a few horses his family boarded on their 20-acre property. “It was a full-fledged gentleman’s farm, but I, as the youngest of three children was the idiot taking care of it,” he says, laughing at the memories of chasing after (and getting chased by) some of the animals. Today Spencer, 39, … [Read more...]
Recently, Midwest Wine Press spent time with Clara Orban, the author of Wine Lessons: Ten Questions to Guide Your Appreciation of Wine. Clara not only chairs the Department of Modern Languages at … [Read More...]
Publisher's note: This is the second in a three part series on how wineries structure successful events Lacking the dramatic backdrop of vineyards, urban wineries, such as family owned Easley … [Read More...]
