Took a beautiful ride last weekend out to the Vermilion Valley Vineyards, near Vermilion, Ohio. The leaves were about at their peak, and so are many of the wines at VVV. Owner Larry Gibson and his two partners have just opened a gem of a winery that is well worth the drive.
Situated on 23 acres, most planted in popular grape varietals, the winery and tasting room are both beautiful and "green" to the extreme. The building is heated with a water furnace connected to the man-made pond excavated during the construction process. The interior is done in gorgeous locally-found wood. . .the wood floors in particular use walnut and ash in eye-catching fashion.
And then there are the wines, served up at a casual and comfortable bar by a warm and enthusiastic crew (many related to Larry!). Liz, Larry's sister-in-law, poured us several varieties, including a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a Traminette and a crisp and sweet Riesling. Most everything they're pouring (and selling) this fall and winter are made from grapes sourced in California. Liz explained that the surrounding vineyards, planted in Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and several other varietals, will mature over the next couple of years for winemaking and, more importantly, wine drinking!
Larry walked us through the facility, which is built to handle production of several hundred cases a year. It's straightforward and simple, yet includes several ingenious features like a gravity piping system that allows the crush to be drained directly down to the cellar for fermenting and storage. "We've tried to emphasize both form and function, and make it both energy efficient and sustainable in as many ways as possible." Plus, it's a warm and inviting facility, and available for private functions as well.
The vineyards and winery are located at 11005 Gore Orphanage Road, south of State Route 113 in Henrietta Township, in the central coastal region of Northern Ohio. It is part of the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Wine Trail (for more information visit http://www.ohiowines.org) and is less than 8 miles from the shores of Lake Erie, a mile from the winery’s namesake – the scenic Vermilion River. The location is easily accessible from both Interstate 80 and State Route 2.
You can also visit their website at www.vermilionvalleyvineyards.com. Both are worth the trip!