Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Arnie Esterer and Tim Hubbard (1923-2000) planted their first vines in 1968 and built the winery in 1972 in Conneaut. Known locally as the godfather of Ashtabula County winemaking, Arnie Esterer began his tutelage under the late Dr. Konstantin Frank, a well-known viticulturist and winery owner who promoted the vinifera varieties in the Finger Lakes area in New York and other areas along the East Coast throughout the 1960s and into the early 1980s. Under Frank's direction the winery became the first in Ohio to successfully grow European vinifera grapes.

Photo features Arnie Esterer and the late Linda Frisbie (1940-2015), veteran wine taster and employee at Markko’s Vineyard for over 40 years.

Dr. Thomas Quilter (1921-2006) and Mary Quilter (1921-2010) were inducted for their years of pioneering in the Ohio wine industry. In 1972, the couple began growing a wide variety of wine and table grapes as an experiment and hobby on a grain farm thirty-three miles north of Columbus. They learned that certain grape varieties such as Seyval, Marechal Foch, Concord, and Niagara are, in general, more winter hardy and therefore more suitable for the region. A hobby turned into a business when, in 1984, Shamrock become a bonded winery.

Tom and Mary Quilter emphasized the pairing of French-American hybrids with traditional foods of the area. Tom served six years on the Ohio Wine Producers Association Board of Directors and represented the wine industry in many agricultural meetings. Mary's dedication to the winery and vineyard made it possible for Tom to serve the wine industry.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website.

Inspired by Dr. Garth Cahoon, a well-established viticulturist and an Ohio Wine Hall of Fame inductee, that his family farm in Warren County had the ideal soil and weather condition to grow grapes, Ken Schuchter (1931-2016) started Valley Vineyards in southwest region of Ohio in 1969. The vines and winery began to thrive under Ken's leadership.

Early on Ken was involved. He assisted in the formation of the Ohio Wine Producers Association and the Ohio Grape Industries Program. He served on the association’s Board of Directors for ten years and for twenty years he acted as a board member for the Ohio Grape Industries Program.

Over the years, Ken and Valley Vineyards have earned countless awards and recognition for the excellence of their wines.

Lou Heineman was honored for his leadership on the board of the Ohio Wine Producers Association and for his role in bringing his century old family business on Put-in-Bay into a new generation of Ohio winemaking. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Lou carried the tradition of making fine island wines such as his renowned Pink Catawba. He also helped guide his son Edward, as the winery moved to producing French American hybrids and European style varietals.

He served as a founding member of Ohio Wine Producers Association and also as it's president in the 1980s. With his background in local island government, he lead the industry toward a realization of the importance of becoming politically active to build awareness of the importance of the industry to both the agricultural and tourism communities.

Source: Lou Heineman and Donniella Winchell Named to the Ohio Wine Hall of Fame Press Release from the Ohio Wine Producers Association (2002)

Donniella Winchell joined the Ohio Wine Producers Association in 1978 and held the position of executive secretary. In 1984, she became the association’s full time director. During the ensuing years she helped build the organization from a fledging cluster of 9 farm wineries to a dynamic group of nearly 65 wineries and several dozen growers.

Under her leadership, the industry initiated the Vintage Ohio wine festival, which served as a model for similar events in several states. She has been active nationally with the Winegrowers of America, the American Vintners Association, the National wine Vision strategic planning group and the Wine Market Council. She also serves on several state and local tourism committees, underscoring her belief in both regional tourism and economic development.

Source: Lou Heineman and Donniella Winchell Named to the Ohio Wine Hall of Fame Press Release from the Ohio Wine Producers Association (2002)