Ohio Wineries

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“Variety” is the key word when it comes to Ohio’s grape-growing strengths. Compared to other states, Ohio’s climate sits comfortably in that sweet spot that doesn’t get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, says Dr. Maria Smith, Viticulture Outreach Specialist for The Ohio State University’s Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. “If you divide the state in half, one side gets southern gulf moisture and the other half gets northern Canada and Michigan’s lake-effect conditions,” she says.

The same goes for soil. “Three-quarters of the state is glaciated silt loam soil and the other quarter is unglaciated rocky soil that’s more clay heavy,” Smith adds. Because of that agricultural diversity, about 100 different varieties of grapes are grown in nearly every corner of the state.

Ohio’s wine industry is so promising that The Ohio State University is helping farmers add and expand through the Ohio Grapes Industries Committee’s Vineyard Expansion Assistance Program (VEAP), which awards funding to increase grape acreage in Ohio, reducing reliance on other sources for fruit and juice from outside of Ohio.

The state has a deep history of wine grape production (dating back to the 1800s), and cultivators have traditionally set up shop in the Ohio River Valley and on the shores and islands of Lake Erie. But with the development of new heartier varieties and growing methods, farmers are now planting all over the state.

“We carefully select our grapes based on their tolerance to our climate,” says Susann Brady-Kalnay of Brady Vineyards of Ohio in Wellington, a VEAP recipient. Some of the vines planted are called grafted vines, in which one plant is grafted on top of the heartier root of another. The roots, made to thrive in the clay and sandy soil of Northeast Ohio, support a grape plant that’s disease-resistant and does well in colder climates.

In the prime farmland of Central Ohio, “cold air and water drainage is most important for fruit crops — grapes don’t like wet feet and cold water,” says Ed Jaeger of Five Roots Vineyard in Croton, also a VEAP recipient. “We have weather that goes all over the place. An Arctic blast followed by a 60-degree day isn’t good.” It takes a lot of trial and error to get it right, and cultivators need to understand their site conditions well, he adds. “This business isn’t for the faint of heart. You need to have a good foundation in place to keep roots healthy.”

But with hard work comes rewards, like award-winning wines that are creating buzz in a dynamic industry. And it’s that variety that has people talking. “No two vintages are ever exactly alike because of climate changes and other factors,” says Brady-Kalnay. “They are truly unique from year to year.”

Dramatic growth, significant impact

Ohio’s investments in the wine industry have taken root even deeper across the state. More home-grown grapes mean more wineries, tourism, jobs and positive economic impact.

“It’s opened up a lot of employment opportunities, especially for farmhands, sellers and makers,” says Smith. “It’s also attracting a lot of seasonal employment opportunities, like summer tasting room staff.” Areas are establishing more hotels, roadside shops and tasting tours. Ohio’s wine and grape industries provide more than

40,000 jobs and a direct economic impact of

$6.6 billion and those numbers are only going up.