Happy Ohio Wine Month!
Ohio has a rich history of wine production dating back to the 1820s in the Ohio River Valley. By the late 1800s, the Catawba grape was the most important grape in the state’s wine production, originally planted by Nicholas Longworth. Today, the Catawba grape is still used to produce wine, as well as jams and jellies, yet you see other French-American hybrid grapes and European grapes for wine production within the state. Some familiar faces pop up:
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Cayuga
- Chambourcin
Surprisingly, there are quite a few wineries in the state of Ohio, 260+ currently operating as of this writing, and spread amongst 5 recognized AVAs:
- Ohio River Valley AVA
- Lake Erie AVA
- Loramie Creek AVA
- Isle St. George AVA
- Grand River Valley AVA
And for the adventurous, there are 6 wine trails in the state of Ohio:
- Appalachian Trail
- Canal Country Trail
- Capital City Trail
- Ohio River Trail
- Shores & Islands Trail
- Vines & Wines Trail
More information on the trails and amenities can be found here.
That same site also has information and tickets for wine events in the state as well, so if you live in or are visiting Ohio, you can find something wine related to enjoy!
Ohio is currently the 7th largest producer of wine in the US, always falling within the top 10 states, and their production of sweet ice wine has brought more attention to the state, especially after winning top honors in the San Francisco Wine Competition for the dessert wine category in 2015.
As with most states that aren’t California, Oregon, or Washington, you will need to take to the internet to acquire a bottle, unless you live in or adjacent to the state, but it can be found, and is worth the hunt!
Cheers to Ohio Wine Month!