Ohio’s Changing Reputation

But Carlucci said that image is improving, with several wineries, like Firelands Winery in Sandusky and Ferrante Winery in Geneva, gaining national acclaim.

He said about 20 new wineries have opened in the past five years.

“Ohioans are drinking more wine,” Carlucci said. “But there’s still an image problem in the state, as well as out.”

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Unlike several western states such as Washington, the majority of Ohio’s product is estate wine, in which the grapes are grown the same place the wine is produced. Industries in other states often rely on produce wholesalers.

The Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton boasts its own vineyards.

The picturesque winery was started by the late Andy Wineberg more than 20 years ago, and is now run by Andy Troutman.

The wine tasting group is situated in the winery’s window-lined, modern country tasting room. A multi-level deck encases the room, with steps leading down to the rolling hills and distant silver pond.

Wolf Creek permits visitors to bring their own food to enjoy the surroundings, as long as they purchase the wine.

Kalnitzky said she was so taken with the site that she brought her friends out for a Saturday afternoon picnic.

Troutman, a native of Wooster, said he had originally wanted to work in California, but decided he would have a better chance of owning his own vineyard in Ohio. It would be a challenge.

“I thought ‘Who grows grapes in Ohio except people with lots of money or people who are totally crazy,’” he said.

Troutman tells the student to grab a glass as he offers a sample of his products.

“You may be wondering about these labels,” he said, referring to the quartered design with romantic iconography.

“I thought ‘Who grows grapes in Ohio except people with lots of money or people who are totally crazy.’”

Wolf Creek Wines feature the Relationship series, started by Wineberg, he explained.

The series begins with Twilight and Afterglow—then moves into White Lies, Original Sin, Red Flag and Sweet Revenge.

“With every new wife there was a new label,” Troutman, who also owns another vineyard in Wooster, said. The group tried White Lies and Original Sin—an apple wine.

After lunch at the Olive Garden in Chapel Hill Mall in Akron, the group traveled to 4-year-old Viking Vineyards, situated just outside of Kent.

“I bet most of you guys didn’t even know this was here,” Erickson said to the group.

Viking Vineyards has a completely different look from the Winery at Wolf Creek. Instead of a modern tasting room with vaulted wood ceilings and restaurant furniture, Viking looks like an expanded breakfast nook.

In their faire isle sweaters, owners Jeff and Dana Nelson seem just as likely to pour visitors a cup of hot chocolate as they do a glass of wine. In fact, Viking’s specialty is a mix of Red Wine and chocolate that has been compared to a cherry cordial, Dana Nelson said.

However, after a long morning, and a brief, unpleasant trek into the vineyards, most students were too exhausted to enjoy their surroundings. Snyder ducked back inside before Jeff Nelson had finished explaining his grape vines.

Still, when it’s over Snyder said she learned a lot.

“You don’t have to know a lot to appreciate wine,” Erickson said. “But you have to know a little.”

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