Alan’s TTIM Stories #64

For this particular wine tasting experience, look beyond the outskirts of Paris and the royal palace decadence of a doomed monarchy. This culinary adventure is located among the corn fields and soybean fields of rural western Ohio. Apparently there exists a market for local wine with Ohio ranked as #8 in wine producing states. Benefitting from this hypothesis is The Winery of Versailles. Just remember the Ohio pronunciation: ver-sails’

Located at the crossroads of State Routes 47, 185, and 121, Versailles is a small village with a population of 2,692 (2020). Founded in 1819 during the frontier era of Ohio, French descendants produced a name for the village.

An impressive list of commerce activity for a village of this size includes light manufacturing, shipping, boutique shopping, restaurants, and agriculture businesses. Proud of its agriculture culture, the village presents an annual Poultry Days festival every June.

Located on three acres west of the village, the Winery uses home grown grapes along with fifteen local suppliers. Thirty types of wine include red, white, sweet, and dry. Offered are wine tasting packages and winery tours. A chef prepares tasty appetizers and custom pizzas, with an occasional chocolate & wine event.

Dedicated to excellence, the establishment received the Best Winery in Ohio award in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 from a poll in Ohio Sip magazine.

This story is more than a commercial for a company and personal nostalgia. It’s a story about local economies. The wine industry “preserves agricultural land, provides American jobs, attracts tourists, generates taxes, and enhances the quality of life.” In 2023 there were 11,620 wineries in the United States in all 50 states with 119,420 acres of vineyards. A simple online search locates wineries near you.

For areas struggling from Rust Belt circumstances, the lack of opportunities in small towns, and a roller-coaster general economy – local vineyards present a tasty solution. If you’re determined to indulge in the purchase of a four-figure bottle of wine – this story is not for you. If you want a quality bottle of wine and to support your local economy – cheers!

Sources:
Ohio Wine Producers Association
Beverage Trade Network
Wikipedia
Wine Business (com)
Classic Carriers (com)
Village of Versailles website
Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce
LinkedIn, Wines Are Important to the Economy, Elinor Garely

Photo credit: the author, (Thank you, Matthew and Holly for the wine)

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Follow announcements of Alan’s TTIM Stories at Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Instagram & Treads vandervoort_author, with all available posts at www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels by the author include: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer, found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.