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Wine connoisseurs may now tour Ohio wineries on the Web

By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — When the weather outside is frightful, wine by the fireplace may sound like a good idea. But when that frightful weather makes it too challenging to tour and visit Ohio’s many wineries in person, consumers can now snuggle up in front of their computer screen to tour Ohio’s top wines and wineries – virtually.

Launched earlier this fall, the Ohio Wine TV program is a free, online service that offers monthly subscribers access to expert-led tours of several of the state’s more than 100 wineries. It can be accessed through www.ohiowinetv.com

“The wine and grape industry is a growing segment of Ohio agriculture with an estimated 1.3 million visitors to Ohio wineries each year who purchase an estimated $65 million in wine, food, and gifts,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs. “The Ohio Wine TV program will help spread the word about quality wine production – one of Ohio’s best kept secrets.”

Each month, subscribers receive an e-mail directing him or her to the newest program highlighting a different winery and its top wines.

Subscribers also receive a recommended shopping list and educational materials about the winery and Ohio’s grape and wine industry.

Each five to 10 minute online video will describe the winery and its vineyard, and present each bottle of wine as though the subscriber were at a vineyard wine tasting.

In November, the site’s inaugural month, it featured the Ferrante Winery in the Grand River Valley of Ashtabula County – a 40-acre operation complete with a full-menu Italian restaurant that welcomes half a million visitors each year. Their most popular wines are their Rieslings, which have won several awards nationwide.

Rieslings, known as the queen of grapes, thrive along the shores of Lake Erie’s as well as in other areas of the state. Ohio’s Rieslings rival some of Germany’s best and account for much of Ohio’s winemaking reputation. Rieslings are noted for their delicate but complex flavor and are characterized by their elegant, racy, fruity style and flowery scent. Ranging from dry to very sweet, they are considered to be the easiest wines on earth to enjoy.

The Ferrante’s chardonnays have also won awards as well, including a double gold at a recent taster’s competition in Michigan. In fact, last year, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante’s Signature Series 2006 Chardonnay scored 90 points to earn a gold medal and “Best Buy” at the Beverage Tasting Institute 2007 World Wine Championships. Only 11 wines of the 72 wines entered (all chardonnays) score 90 or higher.

Chardonnays are among the most popular of white wines, with tastes described as anything from nutty and smoky to butter and creamy – especially when fermented and/or aged in wood. The Ferrantes ferment their chardonnay in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit quality, then age them in French oak barrels to compliment the tropical aromas and flavors. Chardonnays can also have a fruit flavor like green apple, lemon, melon, peach, pineapple or grapefruit.

Also of note are the Ferrante’s ice wines, made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine, concentrating the flavors and increasing the sugars. More information about the winery’s awards and specialties can be found at ferrantewinery.com

Ohio is home to 109 wineries, which produced more than 750,000 gallons of wine in 2007. Most of Ohio’s wine is made in the state’s northeast corner, in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, but wineries are located across the state.

But if you’ve never considered Ohio as a key wine state, you might be surprised to know that the Ohio wine industry has a long history. Back in 1830, Ohio’s semi-sweet Catawba wine was considered the pinnacle of good taste and was much sought after across the country.

Ohio has what is known as “cool climate viticulture,” which is similar in many respects to many European, Australian and even California growing regions.

The resulting wines made from cool-climate grapes have full fruit flavors, but slightly higher acidity. Ohio wines typically have a clean, crisp flavor and go very well with food.

Today, Ohio winemakers produce more sophisticated European varieties from dry to semi-sweet in order to meet the higher expectations of today’s consumers. And the quality stacks up against the best; Ohio wines win awards all over the country, including California competitions.

The Ohio Grape Industries Committee, created in 1982 and operated in-part through the Ohio Department of Agriculture, provides marketing and research opportunities to Ohio’s wineries and vineyards. These programs help increase consumer awareness of Ohio’s modern, high-quality wine industry.

To learn more about the program, visit the website www.tasteohiowines.com

12/3/2008