Senator visits wine country to assess polar vortex damage

Sept. 24--GENEVA -- U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown met with local wine grape growers on Tuesday to assess the devastating effects of winter's polar vortex on the region.

The entire wine grape crop was destroyed in Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties. There was no yield at all this year for the area's wine industry. Losses of millions of dollars are predicted.

The combination round table and panel discussion was held at Windows on Pairings Wine and Culinary Experience and was hosted by Donniella Winchell, executive director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

Brown, who came to the county to listen to local growers and learn the extent of the crop failure, said a Farm Bill is in place that contains opportunities for insurance and relief funds.

Steve Maurer, state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture'sFarm Service Agency, said it was a remarkable year due to the polar vortex. "I came and saw what happened and wanted to see how we can help," he said.

Winchell said the USDA was willing to help growers before the crop insurance application deadline in Nov-ember. "They're there for everyone who fits within the guidelines," she said.

Don "Woody" Woodburn of the Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake told the panel his winery does not grow its own grapes, but relies on local grapes to make wine, and this year there will be none.

"I rely on Grand River Valley or Lake Erie region grapes and I didn't plan on buying grapes from out of the state," he said. "I feel our local grapes are the best, but this year there will be no local Chardonnay."

Gene Segal, spokesman for Chalet Debonne Vineyards and his own vineyard, said even with intensive winter planning the vineyards still lost all their grapes.

"I knew there was risk involved in this business, but I never thought it would be so bad," he said. "It really hasn't gone below minus one degree much in 20 years, but January started with temperatures of minus 17 and it continued throughout the winter."

Segal and other growers told Brown and the panel that even with proper 'mounding' or 'hilling up' grape vine stalks, or covering them with earth, the cold was too much for his crop.

Winchell said 350 grape growers in the state produce 15,000 to 25,000 gallons of wine per 10 acres per year, and although some growers in the southern part of the state survived, none were completely spared in northern Ohio. Of 24,000 acres of wine grapes, only 2,000 survived. Forty-five percent of Ohio's 206 wineries are in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, and they will take a big hit, Winchell said. There will be no 2014 vintage, she said.

"Growers can apply for assistance, but the problem is sometimes growers who don't have harsh weather experience or know how to rebound afterwards are rewarded," Segal said.

He said the survivability of the plants makes for eligibility, but there was little anyone -- no matter how experienced -- could do to prevent the long periods of extreme cold from destroying the crop.

Arnulf "Arnie" Esterer of Conneaut'sMarkko Vine-yards told Brown and the panel he lost his crop, but doesn't feel it's time to quit.

"I feel it's an opportunity to find out where we are going as wine grape growers," he said. "We're looking to the technical part of finding out what's best for us. We're trying to build a world-wide reputation and this year makes it hard, but we can look to the future."

Brown asked the growers if there was still room for expansion in northern Ohio wine growing and the answer was a resounding yes.

Les Ober, of Geauga County, said this year was "a catastrophic event," but the region could continue to grow.

Jack Bartheis, senior farm loan officer with the USDA'sFarm Service Agency, said loans were available if growers assess and document their losses, then go to their banks. Loans up to the amount of loss to match their usual cash flow can usually be made, he said.

"I hope growers will take advantage of what we can offer, but often we are a 'first opportunity' and they will find something better if they can," Bartheis said. "It is important something is done to help save the local economy here and we can help."

Tony Kosicek, owner of Kosicek Vineyards in Harpersfield Township said he appreciated the government interest.

"Unfortunately things didn't go our way because of the polar vortex," he said. "I'm not sure if I will look for loan assistance or relief from the government yet, but I'm certainly glad they are aware of our problem and are willing to help."

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