1/22/2024 0 Comments Harmony hills vineyard![]() ![]() ‘We were dumb newbies and we made some mistakes” recalls Alexa. After the first winter, almost 60% of the Cabernet, Riesling, and Shiraz vines perished despite the nursery’s assurance that the cold hardyrootstock would survive in Northern Illinois. So in 1998, they procured “cold-hardy” vines from a nursery in California and began planting their first vineyard. In addition to teaching, Terrie farmed 900 acres of soybeans and corn but wanted to grow grapes too. After teaching for an average of 33 years, original partners Terrie Tuntland and wife Alexa, both Physical Science and Biology teachers, along with Clem Stiely and Larry Engelsman, hatched the idea of starting a winery in 1995 while drinking wine after a long week at school, Alexa recalls. Trisha, Alexa and Terrie Tuntland with their special label for DeKalb's 100th anniversary.Īt the Waterman Winery and Vineyard in DeKalb, Illinois, 60 miles west of Chicago, education and learning play important roles in the lives of the vineyard’s owner and operators. See Related Story: Are Kids Taking Over Midwest Wineries?įor Bill and Patti Skvarla, compassion for others that started in nursing has grown into a life-long passion that enriches the lives of many through a commitment to wine and community. Harmony Hill has built a passionate group of fans and has also appeared in the national news for some controversial policies regarding children. By 1860, Ohio was producing more wine than any other state in the country.ĭuring May, with over 800 followers present, Harmony Hill kicked-off the summer season with the release of their 2011 wines. The Ohio River Valley AVA is considered the birthplace of American viticulture because in 1825 Nicholas Longworth planted the first Catawba grapes in the same hills where Harmony Hill and other Ohio wineries now have vineyards. The vineyard occupies 4-acres on the glaciated, limestone soils of the Ohio River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), the second-largest AVA in the U.S. Much of the character of the wines from Harmony Hill comes from the winery’s location 30 miles east of Cincinnati. Today, however, no kits are needed since 90% of their juice originates from the 3,400 vines grown on their vineyard which includes French-American hybrids Seyval and Vidal Blanc and vinifera such as Cabernet Franc, Bill’s personal favorite. Annual production is approximately 2,500 gallons per year. Bill, along with Patti, who is also a Level I Sommelier, now consistently win awards for the 10 hand-made wines they produce. ‘We began applying what we had learned through research and best-practices to making wine, and in 2001, we entered the amateur division of the Indy International Wine Competition and won first place for our Riesling,” Bill said. Although Bill, who was an emergency room nurse and clinical educator, and his wife Patti, a nurse anesthetist, had no prior knowledge of farming, they became amateur winemakers after several years of honing their skills using pre-packaged wine kits. In 2001, the Skvarla’s planted a small block of grapes in a horse pasture with the help of Ron Barrett who co-owns nearby Kinkead Ridge Winery. But as regulation increased, they looked for other crops to plant and, as Bill recalls, realized, ‘We could also learn to grow grapes for local wineries.” ![]() ![]() ![]() ‘Our original intention was to supplement our incomes from the medical field by growing medicinal herbs on our property and making tinctures of Echinacea, Ginseng, and cordonopsis, ” Bill said. This first installment looks at Harmony Hill Vineyards in Ohio and Waterman Winery in Illinois.īill and Patti Skvarla didn’t set out to become winemakers and owners of Harmony Hill Vineyards in Bethel, Ohio. In this two-part series, Midwest Wine Press profiles four wineries that epitomize the diverse experience of Midwest winemakers. Transitioning from other careers is not uncommon for Midwest wine makers, many of whom have successfully left other industries to pursue enology and viticulture. Like an old grapevine, the paths we follow in life are full of twists and turns. ![]()
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