MarionMade!: Sommelier Megan Dawson brings world class service to Marion

Special to the Marion Star
·3 min read
Megan Dawson waits on Larry Hamilton and Cathy Adkins at The Wine Down. Dawson prides herself on finding a great wine to suit customers’ preferences.
Megan Dawson waits on Larry Hamilton and Cathy Adkins at The Wine Down. Dawson prides herself on finding a great wine to suit customers’ preferences.

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Megan Dawson was born in Marion and grew up in Waldo. She graduated from River Valley, Marion Technical College and Hocking College.

Growing up in the hospitality business gave her the opportunity to work in fine dining and wine bars from Houston, Texas to Ithaca, New York. After the pandemic, she decided to return home to bring her experience as a sommelier to downtown. She opened The Wine Down this month at 119 W. Huber St.

Dawson describes herself as a “cork dork.” Becoming a certified sommelier required grueling study of chemistry, geography, history, botany and geology. The final exam is a three-part series, which included testing her ability to determine a grape variety, the country and region in which it was grown and the year it was produced. This process, know as deductive tasting, is all done just by the sight, smell, and taste in a glass of wine.

“You have to train your palette and nose to be able to identify subtleties which are specific to every style of wine,” Dawson said. “The world of wine can be very intimidating; however, the role of a sommelier is humble. My job is not to tell you what wine you should or shouldn’t be drinking. It is to listen to the customer, to help the find the wine THEY love, no matter one’s budget.”

The Wine Down’s tag line is: “Discover the wines you never knew you loved.”

It was a labor of love for Megan Dawson to renovate the space that had been a cigar and candy shop, a diner, and most recently, Whitey’s Bar. She sanded the floors, painted the walls, and uncovered some of the brick to create The Wine Down at 119 W. Huber St. Dawson found local decorations and made some of the wine racks.
It was a labor of love for Megan Dawson to renovate the space that had been a cigar and candy shop, a diner, and most recently, Whitey’s Bar. She sanded the floors, painted the walls, and uncovered some of the brick to create The Wine Down at 119 W. Huber St. Dawson found local decorations and made some of the wine racks.

The Wine Down’s selections are carefully curated from small independent producers from around the world. Some selections to come from vineyards that have been in a single family for several generations; much like many farmers right here in Ohio.

“These wines are full of history, the life’s blood to these families and the ultimate communion between man and nature.” Dawson explains. “I believe in wines and I want to support the people who make them. I’m a storyteller of these wines, making them approachable and enjoyable to suit everyone’s taste.”

Priding herself on customer service, Dawson’s goal is to make every customer to feel comfortable in their discovery experience.

“Great wine doesn’t have to be expensive,” she adds.

Dawson’s hometown and the thriving business community have embraced her and her new business.

“I’m very grateful for the support of this community. I have so many friends and people who care and want to help me. I love being right here in downtown Marion. I want to send that forward,” Dawson said.

Dawson did wine tastings at the Shovel City Drinkery for a year before opening to get a sense Marion’s tastes in wine.

“It’s exciting to see our downtown coming alive. You can have a great experience without driving to Columbus,” she said. “I want to provide the same experience you would have in any major metropolitan area. I want that caliber of quality and worldliness. It’s about the experience.”

Megan Dawson wanted the Wine Down to feel like a friend’s living room.
Megan Dawson wanted the Wine Down to feel like a friend’s living room.

Several customers agree.

“It brings a different atmosphere and dynamic to the North Main side of downtown,” said James Lloyd of Marion. “It offers something Marion has been missing.”

“We’re excited for a wine place to go for quality wines in Marion. The tastings are very good. She’s very knowledgeable,” said Cathy Adkins of Marion. “You can tell these are quality wines.”

While the experience is high-end, the price tag is not.

“She’s very reasonable,” said Larry Hamilton of Marion.

“My goal is to offer good wines at great values,” Dawson said.

This wine shop offers tastings or a glass before committing to the purchase of a bottle. She partnered with Leiha Lamb of the Yellow Finch to provide charcuterie trays to complement the wine.

Megan said she wanted the Wine Down to feel welcoming, as if you are relaxing in a friend’s living room. The Wine Down is open from 2 – 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, follow them on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: MarionMade!: Sommelier Dawson brings world class service to Marion