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‘Tis the season of wine
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Charles Crespi, a winemaker at L’uva Bella Winery, poses at the winery at 6597 Center Road in Lowellville.
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A bottle of the holiday wine, Petite Sirah 2011, is poured into a glass at L’uva Bella Winery. Other holiday wines include the Pomegranate Zinfandel, a sweet holiday wine, which is exclusive to the month of December, Crespi said.
YOUNGSTOWN
The holiday season is a busy time for wineries in the Mahoning Valley.
Ruth Sergi, owner of L’uva Bella Winery, said December alone brings in 30 percent to 40 percent of the profits they make in the year.
“It’s kind of like our Super Bowl,” said Charles Crespi, the winery’s winemaker.
The winery and restaurant at 6597 Center Road in Lowellville, is in full holiday swing with a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree on display and the holiday decorations mingling with the stacks of wines. Among those decorations are holiday wine accessories such as wine bottle outfits.
For the holidays, the winery will offer gift cards, and gift baskets, at $20 and up, which contain four bottles of wine, Sergi said.
“It’s a really nice gift to give to somebody,” she said.
There’s also some exclusive wines offered for the holiday season, Crespi said.
That includes Pomegranate Zinfandel, a sweet holiday wine, which is so exclusive to December that any leftover is saved for the next year, he said.
That wasn’t the case last year since it sold out, he added.
This year, Crespi said, the winery will have 2,500 bottles of the Zinfandel wine, more than they had last year.
Additionally, Sergi said the winery has two new rooms for private parties, which were completed six months ago. The rooms can hold about 50 people each.
For some wineries, the holidays are little more special such as Myrddin Winery, 3020 Scenic Drive, in Berlin Center, which celebrates its anniversary. The winery was founded Dec. 3, 2005.
“We just have different things going on,” said Evelyn Sperry, a co-owner of the winery. “Most wineries have their own personalities.”
The anniversary celebrations start at 6 p.m. Wednesday with a night of playing Cards Against Humanities, a card game for adults. The winery will host a craft night where participants can paint the Youngstown skyline at 6 p.m. Thursday. Live music will be performed by local performers at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The anniversary celebrations wrap up with two craft workshops Sunday.
“We’re a weird little winery,” Sperry said.
On top of that, Myrddin Winery sells Pendragon, a dry-blend red wine, for $19. They also sell mini-bottles of wine, the equivalent of little more than a glass of wine, which sell at $6 or $9 depending on the alcohol content, she said.
Like L’uva Bella and Myrddin, the Mastropietro Winery, 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center, follows the trend of crafts, music and holiday cheer. The winery offers gifts cards, gift baskets and a 10 percent discount on a case of wine, said Winemaker Dan Mastropietro. While the winery is decorated for the holidays, customers also can purchase the ornaments hanging on the displayed Christmas tree, he said. Customers also can purchase items from the gift shop at a discount price.
As for entertainment, wine lovers can also enjoy a night of wine and appetizers while listening to live music Fridays and Saturdays, he said.
With the purchase of a $35 ticket, one can enjoy the winery’s Sip and Paint parties from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday and next Sunday, said Marianne Mastropietro, Dan’s wife. The ticket includes all art supplies, one glass of wine, and a choice of two appetizers. The winery also will host its first Ugly Christmas Sweater party at 6:30 p.m. Thursday after its crafts. Participants can wear their ugly Christmas sweater with the chance to win a prize for having the ugliest sweater.
“We want people to come and relax with their families and have a good time,” Marianne said. “That’s our goal every year.”