Tourists enjoy Ohio’s wineries

Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties represent 65 percent of Ohio’s wine production.

ASHTABULA (AP) — The wine industry along Northeast Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline has developed into a top draw for tourists.

The findings emerged in a study commissioned in part by Ohio State University and the industry. The study is part of statewide research to be completed by May, the Ohio Wine Producers Association said Tuesday.

The study included 131 visitor interviews last July and October, with about 89 percent saying wineries were the primary reason for their visit to Northeast Ohio.

The industry pumps $30 million annually into the economy of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties, located along the Interstate 90 corridor between Cleveland and Erie, Pa.

The counties represent about 65 percent of Ohio’s wine production, according to Donniella Winchell, executive director of the association based in nearby Geneva. The rest of Ohio’s wineries are concentrated on the Lake Erie resort islands near Sandusky and along the Ohio River near Cincinnati.

The study was done to assess the economic impact of the wine industry and build national credibility for Ohio wines.

The study said visitors went to an average of 3.93 wineries per visit, each party bought about 3.8 bottles to drink at the time, and 5.6 bottles were purchased on average to take home. The average price was just over $8 per bottle.

Nearly 36 percent stayed overnight in the region. There were about 332,750 visitors to grape and wine operations in 2006.

The Northeast Ohio region has 20 wineries, according to Winchell, and 18 rely on onsite sales for 90 percent of their total sales, so more visitors can lead to more buying. The two biggest wineries sell most of their wines at retail locations elsewhere.

Beverly Cowles, who runs Ohio Wine Tours in the Northeast Ohio wine country, has noticed the increase in people traveling to the region for tours and tastings. Last year she took about 300 people on tours and, based on bookings, is expecting a big increase this year.

Last year’s tour participants came from as far away as Florida, Oregon and Texas.

Cowles took about 25 people on a winery tour last weekend and they wound up buying a total of about five cases to take home — or more than two bottles per person.

Donna Marchetti, who co-publishes The Wine Buzz magazine in Cleveland Heights, said improved wine quality and the role of the state park lodge at Geneva in organizing travel packages have helped tourism. “More people outside this general area here are becoming more aware of the wineries in this area,” she said.

John Keegan, who teaches a wine course at Ohio’s Miami University, said the family-owned nature of many Ohio wineries makes them attractive to tourists who want a nice experience along with wine tastings. “That really is the story that sells,” he said.