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Hartford Hill Winery constructed from two 19th-Century barns
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Randy Wyand stands behind the bar at Hartford Hill Winery in Trumbull County. Wyand and his wife, Carolyn, own the winery, which they constructed from two 19th-century barns that were disassembled, restored and combined to create a stately, rustic setting.
By REBECCA S. NIEMINEN
HARTFORD
Wow! That’s what most people say when they get their first glimpse of Hartford Hill Winery.
Located atop a scenic knoll at 3864 Spencer Clark Road, this brand-new establishment was constructed from two 19th-century barns that were disassembled and then restored to stately, rustic perfection.
The result is a sprawling, 5,500-square-foot structure that makes an impressive statement in the rural farm country of Trumbull County.
“We can seat about 400 people,” said Randy Wyand, who owns Hartford Hill Winery along with his wife, Carolyn, an occupational therapist. “One of our barns came from Harrisburg, Pa., and the other is a local barn from Fowler.”
The 4,000-square-foot Harrisburg barn dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s; the smaller barn from Fowler is older, dating somewhere between 1820 and 1850.
When the barns were disassembled, each board and timber was tagged, taken apart, loaded onto trucks and hauled to the present location.
The renovation process preserved the barns’ rustic charm while adding sleek, modern details and amenities. Cupolas crown the shiny red roof, wide windows overlook the sloping hill, and inside there’s a stone fireplace, a lighted stage for musical entertainment and a shiny bar stocked with bottles of wine that are made in the winery’s basement.
“Our winemaker, Olivia Blank, is a Youngstown native who studied winemaking in New Zealand and did an internship in New York City,” Wyand said. “Many people in this area seem to favor the sweet wines over the dry, but our dry wines and our sweet wines have been equally popular so far.”
Wyand said Hartford Hill’s cabernet has been especially popular. It sells for $27 a bottle and has an oak-y, currant flavor. Those who prefer sweeter wines will enjoy the Rock n Randall for $16 a bottle. Somewhere between the sweetest and the driest is the winery’s smooth, light Riesling.
Right now, the wines are made with grapes grown both locally and from as far away as Washington State. Wyand said that in three to five years, grapes will be harvested from 100 vines that have been recently planted on the winery’s grounds.
Although Wyand is new to the world of wineries and wine making, he is not new to the world of business.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was a teenager,” he said. “I own several other businesses. When I was 20, I had a restaurant, and I’ve owned a clothing store.”
Wyand joked that as a successful business person he likes to dream big and sometimes hatches spur-of-the-moment plans.
He said that within the span of two years he decided he wanted to open a winery, found the two old barns and made the vision a reality. The first of the two barns was moved to the property in April 2014.
Hartford Hill Winery opened its doors Feb. 28 and was jam-packed with about 400 patrons excited to experience Trumbull County’s latest spot for wine and entertainment.
The Wyands have owned the acreage at Hartford Hill for 25 years and, along with their four children, have enjoyed family gatherings and camp-outs on the property. They would like to see the winery grow into a place where others can create great memories of their own.
They also envision the winery as a location for weddings, lunches, dinners and small parties.
In addition to serving wine, Hartford Hill serves five varieties of wood-fired pizzas cooked in an old-fashioned, outdoor stone oven, as well as hummus platters, cheese plates, hamburgers, grilled chicken and desserts.
The winery is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. The winery features live entertainment Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information, visit www.hartfordhillwinery.com.