Gideon Owen Winery hosts Uncorked event to celebrate return to wine making
PORT CLINTON - Gideon Owen Winery, tied to a 150-year wine-making heritage, has made history again.
On May 19, Gideon Owen offered the first tastes of the first wines produced on the property in more than four decades. The event, titled "Uncorked: Back to Our Roots," celebrated the release of the new 2022 vintage featuring chardonel, pinot grigio and rose of Cabernet Franc, as well as a newly released 2020 merlot.
Uncorked was hosted by Gideon Owen owners Quintin and Donna Smith and Gideon Owen’s winemaker and vineyard manager, Brad Indoe.
Crowd invited to taste newly released wines
“We have brand new wines that have not been released yet, so you’re the first to taste them,” Indoe told the crowd. “The chardonel was the first wine made on the property in over 40 years.”
Grapes for the new wines were sourced from Lake Erie American Viticulture Area (AVA), a cool-climate, Lake Erie grape production region that stretches from Toledo to Buffalo. Lake Erie AVA producer, Verhoff Family Vineyards of Bellevue, are a key grape supplier for Gideon Owen’s new wines. Brad and Monica Verhoff and Brad’s sister, wine consultant Melissa Kadow, attended Uncorked to help celebrate the release.
“I’m really impressed with Brad as a maker of wines,” Brad Verhoff said. “His chardonel is one of my favorites. You can tell he’s skilled because it’s so clear and crisp. The chardonnay character is really in there.”
Quintin is grateful that Indoe joined the Gideon Owen team. The Smiths are passionate protectors of Catawba history, so reestablishing winemaking on the island became their dream, and finding someone with the skills to wisely help Catawba return to its vinification roots was vital.
“Donna and I bought Gideon Owen, but we’re the caretakers until we pass it to the next generation,” Quintin said. “We’re the blood, but not the soul, of Gideon Owen. We’ve found the life and soul in Brad.”
Throughout the evening, guests mingled as they enjoyed small plate foods that pair well with the new wines. Among them was Cathy Klemencic, who drove from her home in Cleveland to attend the event after hearing that Indoe’s wines would be released.
“I’m such a supporter of Brad’s efforts. I like to follow him. He’s a skilled, knowledgeable winemaker,” Klemencic said. “People love coming to Gideon Owen from Cleveland. I’m texting everyone and telling them they should have come tonight.”
Indoe talked to attendees about his experience processing the grapes.
“We harvested the grapes mid-September. It was hotter than heck and we were getting eaten up by mosquitoes, but I told everyone that we were going to make this work,” Indoe said.
Indoe wins awards with three of the wines
In the end, Indoe didn’t just make wine; he made award-winning wine. At the Great American International Wine competition, the chardonel and pinot grigio won gold medals, and the Rosé of Cabernet Franc won bronze.
Uncorked guests Peg Church of Sandusky and Tim Grether of Sylvania were impressed with Indoe’s creations.
“The rosé is very good. We’re going to buy some,” Church said. “It’s a very nice compromise between dry and sweet.”
Although they don’t normally like Chardonnay, Church and Grether later tasted the chardonel and were surprised by how well they enjoyed it. They said it lacked the bitter aftertaste of most chardonnays.
“The earthy tones you usually get from an oak barrel — it doesn’t have it,” Grether said.
Gideon Owen will continue to make historic strides when Indoe produces wine from grapes grown on the Gideon Owen estate vineyards later this year. Indoe said this marks the first time grapes have been commercially grown on Catawba Island since Prohibition.
“Lots of wineries bring products in, but Quintin and Donna are focused on local,” Indoe said. “The wines are good quality because they are from local vineyards.”
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Gideon Owen Winery notes 150 years, new wines
