Medal Winning Wines Archives - Ohio Wine and More Ohio Wine and More

Archive for the ‘Medal Winning Wines’ Category

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

For information about 2013 Breakfast with Santa only.

Tags: Agri-tourism, Buy Local, Family Farm, Farm Market, Homegrown Produce, Ohio Winery, Ohio Wines
Posted in Buy Local, Food and Wine, Medal Winning Wines, Things to see at Maize Valley | No Comments »

Vineyard…Rounding 3rd headed 4 Home

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Farmer Bill back at the blog helm, kids busy back in school. Well the vineyard has come into its own. This is its 4th fall and it is cranking this year. What we picked in 1 day last year is now into its 5th day of picking in 2011 at Maize Valley.

Wow what a crop

Frontenac reflects the best characteristics of its parents, V. riparia 89 and the French hybrid Landot 4511. This vine has borne a full crop after temperatures as low as -33ºF when properly cared for. It’s very disease resistant, with near-immunity to downy mildew. Frontenac is a consistently heavy producer, with small, black berries in medium to large clusters.

Frontenac Grapes

Wine Profile

Frontenac’s deep garnet color complements its distinctive cherry aroma and inviting palate of blackberry, black currant, and plum. This versatile grape can be made into a variety of wine styles, including rosé, red, and port.

Todd plays with the new Crusher/Destemer

Crusher-destemmers are used for bulk processing of grapes during harvest in preparation for pressing or primary fermentation. The crushers utilize a set of aluminum rollers that crush and break the skins to release the juice and allow the breakdown of the remaining pulp. A screw feeder moves the grapes to the rollers to begin crushing, dropping the skins and pulp onto a perforated grid, while a shaft with paddles causes the stems to be separated from the grape clusters which are then expelled to the side of the crusher. The rollers should be adjusted to properly crush and break the skins while avoiding bruising or abrading the skins which would release phenols and excess tannin, thus adding astringency to the must and the final product. White grapes are crushed before pressing, while red grapes are crushed for immediate fermentation to maximize yield of tannins and flavors, then pressed after the skins and pulp are broken down by the fermentation process.

LaCrescent grapes going into the the Crusher/Destemmer

La Crescent combines St. Pepin and a Swenson selection from V. riparia x Muscat Hamburg. With this hardy heritage, trunks have survived a frigid -34°F when well cared for in good vineyard sites. Moderately disease resistant, leaves sometimes exhibit downy mildew, which can be controlled with a standard spray program. Proper conditions and care result in very productive harvests.

Just the stems Mamm, Just the stems

Wine Profile

La Crescent’s intense nose of apricot, peach, and citrus lends itself to superior quality off-dry or sweet white wines. Produced in a Germanic style, La Crescent wine is reminiscent of Vignoles or Riesling. The grape’s high acidity provides good structure for excellent dessert or late-harvest style wines.

Fall is sorta like a blur to us

Props for the info above from the University of Minnesota (http://www.grapes.umn.edu/lac/index.html)

Tags: Agri-tourism, Buy Local, Family Farm, Farm Market, Farmers' Market, Farmers' Markets, Homegrown Produce, Local Produce, Ohio Proud, Ohio Wines, Vineyard
Posted in Medal Winning Wines | No Comments »

Gold Medal Wines, nice work Todd!! Walkin’ the Walk!!

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Cherry, Traminette, and Family Reserve

2009 Ohio Wine Competition Best of Show Red Wine: Maize Valley Winery, Family Reserve, NV, American

At Ohio Wine and More we show and talk about a lot of different things. When I give talks I always get a laugh when I say we are a Winery with ADHD, well there is some truth in that for those of you who know us personally.

Our saying or motto is “We Make Great Wine…FUN!! Those words have two meanings. We believe if you are going to talk the talk you have to walk the walk so to speak. We grow some of our own fruit, buy local grapes and juices from other growers and the university (OARDC) also. We bring in grapes from the best locations possible to make as high a quality product as we can for our guests.

We focus on the overall experience with friends as well on delivering a quality product. A great wine is no good with lousy service, and I always say you can always find another great wine, but you can never go back and make more time.

We source as local as possible while still meeting the desires of a very diverse customer base, quality IS KING. Our ulitimate goal is the sustainablity of our family farm and to have the biggest positive economic impact on our community possible.

This is not a overgrown hobby for us, it pays all the bills that go along with life, we make the farm payment, we raise our kids here. We look at the big picture and try and adapt to it as best as possible to keep “all the balls in the air” so to speak. People say owning a winery and a vineyard is such hard work, we just laugh. They must have never milked cows for a living!!

In the video below please enjoy seeing our wine maker, my brother-in-law Todd talk about our latests medal winning wines.

And we extend congratulations and thanks to all other medal winners. For a little ole’ winery like us it is an honor to be in such great company!