Archive for December, 2013

2013 a Quick Look over my shoulder

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

Ohio Wine and More is about a family farm, market and winery who we are and what we do. We are a family first, we are a collection of generations working together that make up more than the sum of our parts. We lost one of those parts in 2013. Loretta Stawarski Bakan, Mother of the author of this blog, passed away on December 16th. My Mom turned 90 years old in August, she had a great life!

Loretta Bakan my Mom

Loretta Bakan my Mom

My Mom had a dry sense of humor and irony that is seldom seen today. She never wore her problems or discomforts on her sleeve, she always wore a smile. The last years of my Mom’s life were not that great. She started losing her sight about 15 years ago and it took its toll on her. My Dad was there by her side the whole time. He is a Marine of WWII vintage, and these years is where I really began to understand how tough a Marine could be.

I don’t write this post to make anyone feel sad about my Mom’s passing, it was time for her to go. She had used up her body and life here on this earth was no longer much fun for her. Yet the way she lived her last few years taught me more about life and living than the previous four plus decades I had the pleasure of her company. Mom along with Dad showed me what true courage was in the face of a body and mind that could no longer keep pace with the world around it. I hope I can live to be as good as an example for my children when my “time comes”.

So if you visit Maize Valley and you see something cool and creative, thank Loretta. She was the spark of creativity that I carry forward that creates the corn mazes, pumpkin cannons, pig races and so much more. Mom’s dry sense of humor and cutting wit, is the source of my ability to creatively look at things in such a way that I see opportunities where others may just see problems. Mom was very practical growing up in the Great Depression and having lived though a World War but she was ornery too.

It can be difficult for a child to understand but your parents were people too. Young people at one time, when they leave us they become ageless both the person you knew as well as the person they had to be over their years.

Mom is now that “person” spanning the ages, not bound by time. She is again that young attractive woman who caught the eye of that Marine, she is also the woman who taught this young boy how to ride a bicycle 23 years later, she is also a loving Grandma and Great Grandma to many young lives. If I have any tact, grace or elegance about me it is that of my mother showing through. I will endeavor to be a living example of those qualities so abundant in her person as I live the rest of my days on this earth. And I hope by doing so I make the world a better place for those who I am around.

Thank you Mom, take care and see you again.

How do you make a Snowman Blush?

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

It’s easy…..Give him a really cool “Package”! www.maizevalley.com

Every snowman should have a nice package!

Every snowman should have a nice package!

Who doesn’t love snowmen?!? And can you imagine anything more fun than a whole bunch of snowmen drinking wine? If you haven’t been to Maize Valley, then you probably haven’t seen one of our newest wines called “Winter Wine”.

He needs to be priced right too!

He needs to be priced right too!

The wine is a sweet blush that is very similar to Hanky Panky. But what sets this wine apart, and makes it such a GREAT gift is the label. The label is completely covered in snowmen. . . drinking wine, sled riding, celebrating, and having fun. Winter Wine is currently on special at only $5.99 per bottle – and if you are looking for stocking stuffers, or co-worker gifts, that equates to only $64.69 per case of 12! Wow – what a fantastic, fun gift to both give and receive!

A nice "stocking stuffer"!

A nice "stocking stuffer"!

Don’t worry if you miss this before Christmas we should have some left in stock for the rest of “Snowman season”! The price may change after this special holiday offer.

Award Winning wines, sometimes it is about the bottle itself.

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

We recently won one of 2013 Glass Packaging Institutes (GPI) Clear Choice Awards. The prestigious industry awards are given to products packaged in glass that demonstrate strong consumer appeal, shelf impact and commercial success.
What is under a label? Hard to tell because if the package doesn’t compel you enough to pick it up, let alone buy it you never know.

The sun was setting on the way we used to farm.

The sun was setting on the way we used to farm.

We started out with some pretty artistic and sophisticated labels, telling the story we were farmers on the label. They were very nice and we still use them today on certain wines for a certain markets. These labels while doing a good job when we had the time to tell our story were not the best for standing alone in a crowded market place.

Original artwork bottle label

Original artwork bottle label

We then started to look around at what other beverage companies were up and we got some ideas. What if we applied some of those practices combined with our story? Because we have a real story that spans generations. We had cows that had generations all living at the same time. We had pictures of cows of multiple generations all living at the same time.

Plenty of authentic Dairy was in our blood.

Plenty of authentic Dairy was in our blood.

Pictured below is a cow named “Edith” on the left My mother in law Donna is holding her. In the middle is my wife Michelle with one of Edith’s daughters and my sister in law Deb on right with one of Edith’s granddaughters.

We actually used to Have COWS!

We actually used to Have COWS!

Edith was not a “Happy Cow” getting her “gussied-up” for this picture was tough. She liked to be milked, eat and sleep that was pretty much it. She had a special stall next to the walkway out of the bar. It had a cool breeze in the summer, and was far enough in the barn it was warm in winter. Pictured below is what is left of her stall 15 plus years after she lived here over 13 years since we last milked cows. We have removed most of the “furnishings” that were in the barn.

Edith's old stall minus the mat, water bowl and name tag.

Edith's old stall minus the mat, water bowl and name tag.

On the wine side what was “our story” we asked ourselves. Of course, cows came up. But what name would catch your ear, and what picture would make you stop and pick up that bottle?

Mad cow reached out and grabbed us.

Mad cow reached out and grabbed us.

Mad cow is a sweet white table wine. It is easy drinking for the new wine drinker and a wine for light summer fun and good times. It is not a wine you want to spend too much time analyzing, breaking down and over thinking it. It still needs to be made quality and free from faults but it is not a wine you are going to want to age and wait for that special moment, just drink it.

And finally the winning effort

And finally the winning effort

And finally the winning effort, we didn’t set out to make an award winning label. We set out to create a package that people would want to pick up, own and give as a gift. It is a bottle that has a plastic sleeve covering the entire outside surface of the bottle. We think it is prettty cool, other must too as we beat out some pretty heavy weight competition.

Come Ski with Us….And we’ll bring the Ohio Wines!

Thursday, December 5th, 2013

At Maize Valley….We Make Great Wine….FUN! Many trips around the sun ago my wife Michelle and I learned to ski with friends. Later her “little brother” Todd, now our wine maker learned as well. Our daughter’s Cara and Breanne and now our “special” son Brett joined us. I ended up as a “chaperon” for our schools ski club and Scott our main man in the market/winery straps on the sticks as well. So why not take a gang over to Western New York and play in the snow?

Todd, Scott and Michelle on a trip to Holiday Valley

Todd, Scott and Michelle on a trip to Holiday Valley

Valley to Valley…..few years back we put together an inclusive ski/wine/food package where our skier wine/buds-bums went with us over to Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville N.Y. (bout 4 hrs.). You prepay us we set up all the details, we leave MV at 7:00am Sunday Feb. 16th 2014 Depart 7:00 am SHARP! Return about Midnight, +/- a few minutes?

Holiday Valley outdoor "Chalet"

Holiday Valley outdoor "Chalet"

We handle transportation to and from Holiday Valley, lift tickets (8 hr.), Morning coffee and pastry, wine & non-alcoholic beverages and a lite supper for the return trip. You would be responsible for equipment and any food alcohol/beverages etc. while on the slopes.

Need a lift?

Need a lift?

Cost per person is $100.00 pre-paid reservations only. We will take reservations and payment, when count hits 50 it is a go and will notify all by order of reservation. If we don’t hit 50 by January 16th 2014 the trip will be canceled and we will refund your reservation fee in full. Please call market at 330-877-8344 to make reservations.

Todd carving an "S" & finishing his "C's"

Todd carving an "S" & finishing his "C's"

We handle all the details and you don’t have to drive home. After last trip everybody wanted us to do it again, we just had too much farm/winery stuff to get it all done.

Todd (our wine maker....sigh) with our Nephew, Scotty

Todd (our wine maker....sigh) with our Nephew, Scotty

YOU MUST CALL OR STOP IN THE WINERY/MARKET AND MAKE YOUR PRE-PAID RESERVATIONS TO SECURE A SEAT.

So let us know soon, if you would like to go

So let us know soon, if you would like to go


Date: 02/16/2014

Time: 7:00 am – 11:59 pm

Breakfast with Santa part 3, Ohio Wine gifts helping Mom out when she needs it the most!

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

This blog post is the last of three outlining how we do Breakfast with the “Big Guy”! We talked about how we took care of the kids and what we did for the family. But what about Mom (or Dad) looking to by that special local gift? We feature Ohio Wines made right on the farm.

Got gifts?

Got gifts?

And we don’t just have “wine only” gifts either we also carry a variety of other holiday related items to help fill in some gaps people may have. But have you ever had a Chocolate Covered wine bottle given to you as a gift? Hey, you got your chocolate in my wine, No your got your wine in my chocolate…….Do you see where I’m headed? Besides that we have other unique gifts including our Home made Fudge, cookies, pies, pie breads that warm the heart and soul.

Chocolate Bottles

Chocolate Bottles

So as I look back at all we do I am reminded our slogan “We have a Vintage for all the seasons of you life” is really true. We are not trying to be crafty or have some huge marketing plot behind what we do. We just try and make every lick count, and keep the ball rolling best we can from day to day, season to season, year to year, generation to generation. And now about the “General” behind this event. There really are two, of course “Santa” I give him props he really keeps us on our toes all year round, but also my wife Michelle.

The leader of the pack this day

The leader of the pack this day

But not just the leader of the pack this day, barely two weeks after a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. This picture was taken December 2009, we are now getting ready for the 2013 event and I’m thankful everyday to have her.

Michelle my wife and "survivor"

My wife Michelle and her Mom Donna (Center and right) both breast cancer survivors.

So yes we are about building memories to last a lifetime. We are about creating a place that is authentic and hopefully a meaningful place in people’s lives both in location and time. We are about a family farm who is discovering ways to take the resources we have and repurpose them in unique ways that make a difference in people’s lives. We don’t expect people to give us their business, but we hope we can earn it. No we plan on earning it.

Holiday cheer by the truckload

Holiday cheer by the truckload

If you would like to learn more about our special events please visit

For information about 2013 Breakfast with Santa only.