Page 14 - Leisure Living Magazine: August 2020 Edition

Crooked Tree Vineyard
Continued from page 11
That led to the development of Four Sisters sweet red wine. The four birds flocking around the tree on the label are Janet and her sisters.”
After bottling, each wine produced at Crooked Tree Vineyard carries a thoughtfully designed label created by the Wermuths’ cous- in, Clevelander Jason Soditch. Consistent on every label is the crooked tree graphic with a wind chime. The tree now stands alone between rows 2 and 3 in the vineyard, thanks to Janet’s insistence that it not be cut down when they first began to clear the land. “It makes a nice shady spot for Happy, the dog,” says Janet. She adds, “The sound of the wind chime reminds us of the relatives we have loved and lost. They encourage and inspire us to keep up the work!”
Shane, Melinda and Kiara Nappenbach, of Pittsburgh & Toledo.
When Happy is not lounging under his very own unique tree, he is busy barking “Hello!” to guests arriving at the vineyard. After being properly greeted, guests then have the chance to stroll the grounds and see the progression of the grape-growing, or head right to the tasting room and get down to business. On hot summer days, say Steve and Janet, guests are thrilled to find a very cool tasting room. “The wines like it cold and so do we! Folks enjoy sitting in the space where we actu- ally process the wines, seeing the tanks and equipment, and having an oppor- tunity to talk with us about our journey. We also offer a small retail area with
t-shirts, hats, and a few other items.” Crooked Tree Vineyard has been, and continues to be, a venture of the heart. Steve reflects on what he loves most about this endeavor: “I tell people when they look out into the vineyard, that what they see, 80% of it Janet and I have done. She is not only my wife, but my best friend. With 150 working vineyards in Ohio, knowing we are doing something only one hundred others have done is rewarding. I like being outside working, and seeing the ‘fruits of my labor’!” Janet adds, “What I love most is working in the vineyard and the incredible sense of accomplishment of seeing our grapes become wine that is appreciated by
others.”
*For more information and updated hours of operation: crookedtreewinery.com or FB.
Emilee Sigler and Sam Schooley found a shady spot overlooking the vineyards to enjoy their wine.
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14 |LeisureLiving August 2020
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