Growing season will push Ohio winery to ‘create some blends that we probably wouldn’t normally consider’
Harvest is wrapping up at M Cellars in Geneva, Ohio.
“so I’m thankful for the work and care we put into the vineyards regardless of crop yield. It’s going to create some blends that we probably wouldn’t normally consider just so we can have a reasonable lot size to bottle.”
It was a tough one, winery founder and winemaker Matt Meineke said Monday in an email.
“It started in January with some pretty extreme cold; we got down to -8.9 F. We have fans, and the conditions were right to run, so, of course, we did, and had a few more fan nights [from] winter into spring. Once we had bud break the damage was, not suprisingly, apparent, losing entire crops at many sites and having very small yields on other varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cab Sauvignon and Saperavi. The growing season was warm so we have everything besides Cab and Saperavi harvested at this point.
"We took the opportunity of an off-weather season to start to tear out some of our original plantings of Pinot Noir and are replacing them with [our] new guest favorite of Sauvignon Blanc,” he added. “This is on one of the most favorable parts of our site and right next to our fan.”
What they have been able to harvest, he said, has been nice quality, “so I’m thankful for the work and care we put into the vineyards regardless of crop yield. It’s going to create some blends that we probably wouldn’t normally consider just so we can have a reasonable lot size to bottle.”
The winery opens daily at noon, and stays open until 6 p.m. six days a week and 8 p.m. on Saturdays. It’s located at 6193 South River Road, in Geneva.
“As far as visitation at the winery,” Meineke said, “we had a slower winter due to weather but the rest of the year has been pretty good and visitation seems to be getting stronger going into the fall season.”
The winery opened in 2012, around 10 years after Meineke started making wine in his basement. Matt and wife Tara are first-generation farmers, winemakers and entrepreneurs, and the parents of two daughters.
In spring 2023, Tara was recognized for her exceptional work in the wine industry with a Legacy Award. The award was supported by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts and was established by Les Dames d’Escoffier International to help ensure that the next generation of women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries have access to the mentorship and support they need to succeed. A year after that, she was named National Tasting Room Manager of the Year by Tasting Tap Room Expo, which promotes networking and conferences in the industry.
Awards for the winery this year include:
Matt said that some of the wines they have entered into contests have been really well received and that their guests remain interested in the bulk of their lineup.
“Red blends seem to be doing well for us as usual while white varietals, with lower alcohol have gained some traction in the tasting room,” he said, adding, “As always we remain optimistic into the future.”
In addition to music on the weekend, the winery has a couple of food events on its schedule, including its annual clam bake on Friday, Oct. 2 and a lobster food truck parking for the full afternoon on Oct. 9.