Anthony (Tony) Debevc was recognized for his pioneering work in grape growing, his leadership, and for the establishment of one of the first ‘modern era’ wineries when it opened in the Grand River Valley in 1972.

In the winery’s early days, he was mentored by the Philip Wagner of Maryland’s Boordy Vineyards, a legendary figure whose grape growing experiments introduced French-American hybrid grapes to America.

He was the founding director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association and elected as the first chair of the American Association of Vintners, which developed into Wine America. He served on the first Ohio Grape Industries Committee and held the position of chairman for the American Association of Vintners, the first national trade association for wine producers.