$6.6B Ohio wine industry shines

By Andi Anderson

Every summer, the Ohio State Fair highlights the state’s agriculture, including the booming wine industry. Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, emphasized the significant economic impact of the wine industry, stating, “Ohio wine growers and grape growers and the wineries are just a great asset to Ohio as we look at a $6.6 billion impact to our economy.”

The wine industry in Ohio supports 41,000 full-time jobs across more than 400 licensed wine manufacturers. Christy Eckstein, executive director for the Ohio Grape Industries, noted that Ohio is the seventh largest wine producer in the nation.

“Winemaking actually got its start in Ohio in the 1850s along the Ohio River in Cincinnati,” she said, highlighting the state's long history of wine and grape production.

This year, 16 wineries will offer tastings at the Ohio State Fair, with more than 400 wineries having applied. Wines selected for tastings had to either win a double gold medal from the Ohio Wine Competition or be part of the Ohio Quality Wine program.

This quality program requires wines to be made from at least 90% Ohio-grown grapes, undergo a sensory analysis, and receive a silver medal or higher in competition.

Eckstein also mentioned the Ohio Wines Visitors Incentive Passport app, which offers special rewards for visiting Ohio wineries. “You get rewarded for visiting Ohio wineries, no purchase necessary,” she said. “We want people to get out and visit because there’s anything from rural to urban, making sweet to dry, red to white. You’re within a 30-minute drive of an Ohio winery anywhere across the state.”

One of the featured wineries, Dragonfly Vineyard and Wine Cellar in Urbana, is offering its Estate Marquette at the fair after winning double gold in the Ohio Wine Competition.

Co-owner Kent Eichenauer shared, “We got the double gold and then three other golds. All four of those were from wines that we grow in our vineyard.”

Eichenauer explained that Ohio winemakers must be selective with their grape varieties to withstand unpredictable weather patterns. “Our Marquette and LaCrescent are two very cold-hardy varieties,” he said, noting they are designed to survive harsh climates. He also mentioned the challenges of growing Cabernet Franc vines in Ohio’s climate.

Raven’s Glenn Winery and Restaurant is also participating in the fair. General Manager Stephen Justice and Owner Beau Guilliams are running the booth, offering a semi-sweet Vidal Blanc and a semi-sweet blueberry wine. “These are Ohio wine products,” Guilliams said, highlighting the quality assurance that allowed them to participate in the fair.

The Ohio State Fair runs through August 4, showcasing the state's agricultural diversity and the significant impact of the wine and grape industry.

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