Ohio Wine Producers host Tannenbaum Trail wine tour

Wine enthusiasts traveled from near and far the past three weekends to participate in the Ohio Wine Producers Vine and Wines TannenbaumTrail.

 
The event featured 17 wineries from around the area. Folks traveled on the self-driving tour of the wineries and received wine samples, appetizers a Schott Zwiesel crystal wine glass and a miniature ornament, at each winery, to decorate a 15-inch Christmas tree.

Fred Bucci, owner of Buccia Vineyards in Conneaut, said last weekend his winery played host to about 120 people who were participating in the tour. Folks were coming from Kent, Wooster, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati to enjoy a taste of northeast Ohio wines.

Bucci also said more than half of the participants stay in the county for the whole weekend, which brings in tourism dollars.

Tom Hill of Chardon and Beth Tosti of Painesville stopped in at Buccia for the event. This was the couples first time participating in the Tannenbaum Trail. Hill said he has done some of the other events the Ohio Wine Producers host including some of the red wine samplings and ice wine festival.

Hill decided to spread the tour out over two weekends. Last weekend he hit a couple wineries with some friends and was finishing up the tour Saturday with Tosti. Buccia was their first stop on the tour.

Ken Tarsitano, owner of Tarsitano Winery and Cafe in Monroe Township, said despite the weather Friday, a large crowd gathered for the Tannenbaum Trail.

“We never know when they’re going to show up,” he said.

As part of the trail, Tarsitano was offering chipotle lasagna as its appetizer.

“It’s been pretty popular,” he said.

Tarsitano transformed his grandfather’s dairy farm into a winery.

“I’ll squeeze grapes over cows any day,” he said.

Area wineries participating in the Tannenbaum Trail include Biscotti Family Winery in Conneaut, Buccia Vineyards in Conneaut, Debonne Vineyards in Madison, Emerine Estates in Jefferson, Ferrante Winery and Ristorante in Geneva, Grand River Cellars in Madison, Harpersfield Vineyards in Geneva, LaLeure Vineyards in Parkman Township, Laurello Vineyards in Geneva, Maple Ridge Vineyards in Madison, Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Old Mill Winery in Geneva, St. Joseph Vineyards in Thompson, Tarsitano Winery and Cafe in Monroe, The Lakehouse Inn and Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake, The Barrel Room Winery in Wickliffe and Virant Family Winery in Geneva.