Comments on: Buckeyed about wine

By: Arthur

Arthur — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:09:06 +0000

Linda,

You are correct. Thank you.

By: Linda Outterson

Linda Outterson — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:22:51 +0000

Arthur, I need to make a correction to your article. You have confused the Ohio Wine Producer’s Association (OWPA) with the Ohio Grape Industries Program (OGIP). OWPA is a private professional organization of dues paying members. OGIP is a division of the Ohio Department of Agriculture which is a state sponsored marketing organization. OGIP is most responsible for the effort to quantify quality by disregarding native grapes. As an arm of state government and a representative of Ohio agriculture, it is most disturbing they are legislating product quality based on non-native species. - Linda Outterson, Woodstone Creek Winery & Distillery

By: Arthur

Arthur — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:06:40 +0000

Thank you for your thoughts, EnoGuy.

I think I read somewhere in one of those linked articles that the idea is to legitimize Ohio wines in the global market.

I’d have to re-read those pieces to be 100% certain.

By: EnoGuy

EnoGuy — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:59:17 +0000

I imagine by getting this seal they’re thinking that their wines are getting a kind of “Seal of Seriosness” and will be better accepted by the public. With 2,200 acres of vines in the whole state I doubt they’re really looking for global or even national respect, but probably just trying to convice the good people of Ohio that they’re making some palatable wine there. I’m guessing that there are many people in Cleveland and Cincinnati who turn their noses up at Ohio wine because of some sweet labrusca wine they tried in college, and these are the folks they’re targeting.

I know from personal experience that this is the case with the Finger Lakes. Despite having Rieslings that consistently score highly in wine magazines and are often featured in UK -based Decanter magazine, it’s difficult to sell Finger Lakes wines in Manhattan, mostly because of the “plonky” image Taylor wine or Cold Duck promoted in the 60’s and 70’s. Though, this, forturnately seems like it’s beginning to change.