By JOLENE CRAIG
Ohio Correspondent

BELPRE, Ohio — A vineyard will not be required for a new winery in southeastern Ohio.

When it opens this summer, Unicorn Wine Guild plans to offer about 25 varieties of wine and eventually grow that to 50 varieties as business picks up, said owner Joel Whitaker.

“We’re not going to have a vineyard,” said Whitaker, who, along with his wife, Barbara, will open the winery in the former Nelson’s Rite Aid in Belpre’s Washington Square shopping plaza.

For the variety of wines they will produce and sell at the store, the Whitakers will use wine juices.

“By using wine juices, we have more flexibility,” Joel said. “Wine isn’t made, but grown, and certain wine grapes won’t grow here, which would keep us from making all of the wines we want to. By buying juices, we have the ability to make great wine.”

The couple has been making wines at home for about seven years and had been playing with the idea of opening a wine shop for a while.

“We’ve been researching opening a shop and I’ve read a lot of articles in wine magazines that said making wine to sell is nothing like making wine at home, and they’re right,” Joel said.

Joel and Barbara have been working in the area for more than 30 years as a dentist and surgical nurse, respectively, and decided the wine shop would be a good way for them to pass time during their retirement in a few years.

“Also, we like the community and this is something that’s needed,” said Joel.

The shop will not only offer wine but will have a large selection of tea and coffee, as well as food. A meeting room will be available for events and parties.

“We realize not everybody wants to drink wine, but we’d still like to be a gathering place,” Barbara said.

The shop is expected to open in late June or early July because of things that need to be done, including bonding with the federal and state governments. “We also have renovations to do,” Joel said.
Along with selling wine, tea and light refreshments, the Whitakers will help people make their own wines with the U-Vin system.

“There are a lot of people who might like to make their own wine but don’t have the equipment or know how, and we will be there to help,” Joel said.

Unicorn Wine Guild will offer wine-making kits and the supplies needed, such as filters and fermenting pails. With U-Vin, customers will also be able to use facility space instead of turning their basement or extra room into a home winery.

“Individuals will be able to come in and have us help make their wine and leave it with us,” Joel said. “When the fermenting process is finished, they will pick up the end product.”

There are concerns because Unicorn Wine Guild will be selling wine in Belpre, which has been an alcohol-free city since the United States enacted Prohibition in the 1920s.

“Our consultant said a winery isn’t an issue in a dry town,” Joel said. The shop will be able to sell wine because it is manufactured on the premises, but will not be able to sell wine or other spirits made by other manufacturers, according to the Ohio State Code. Joel said this is not unique to his winery.

“Up in Amish country, between Dover City and Sugar Creek, there are three wineries, and that is in a dry county,” he said.

The Whitakers hope the winery will help boost Belpre’s economy.
“Belpre needs something, and maybe this will help,” Barbara said.
Joel said wineries pull people into an area and, with the new Blennerhassett/Corridor D Bridge opening this spring west of the city, more people may make the trip.

He added many people will drive off the beaten path to get to a winery, which may help make the Unicorn Wine Guild a destination.
“If people come to the winery, they may be inclined to go to other businesses in Belpre,” he said.