Why Ohio wines deserve a spot in your glass

If shopping local hasn’t yet extended to the wines you choose, it might be time to check out Ohio’s wine selection. Today, there are seven wine trails to conquer and nearly 500 wineries in Ohio. That’s an increase of more than 200 wineries since 2018. Ohio’s wine industry is a major economic contributor that offers a great way for enthusiasts or casual wine drinkers to explore the state and discover a taste for our local wines. 

“There are still many folks in Ohio reluctant to visit the many local wineries,” Jim Sperk of the Northern Ohio Wine Guild says. “They might be remembering the old days when Ohio wines were mostly sweet Concord or Niagara varieties. These wines are still in demand and offered by a few local wineries. But today, Ohio has so much more to offer, and the rest of the wine world is taking notice. Ohio wineries are gaining recognition for their efforts.”

Jim reports that in one of the world’s largest wine competitions, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Ohio-made wines scored 64 medals. 

“The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition attracts close to 7,000 entries each year,” Jim says. 

Here’s a list of the Ohio wines that stood out at the competition for 2024: Ferrante Winery - Best of Class for the Gewürztraminer, Gervasi Vineyard - Best of Class for Lascito rosé; Michael Angelo’s Winery - Three Double Gold medals for three separate Cabernet Sauvignons; South River Vineyard - Double Gold for Semillon; and Hocking Hills Winery - Silver and Bronze medals for two Concord wines.

“And a little closer to home, the Vintners in Northeast Ohio (VINO) recently held a meeting to taste six of some of the top wines from the 2024 Ohio Wines Competition,” Jim says.

Here are the results of that tasting: Gold Medal Winners - M Cellars Pinot Gris; Cask 307 Red Blend; Salvage Winery Syrah; and Kosicek Cabernet Sauvignon.

“Not a Concord wine in the bunch,” says Jim. “So, if you haven’t yet tried some Ohio wines, it might be time. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

For information about the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, contact Jim Sperk at tinymoonwines@usa.net.