Donniella Winchell

We live in the greatest nation in the world and this next week, we will be honoring its establishment. As you plan this weekend of picnics, and attend local fireworks’ displays, be sure to raise an American flag, share with your families the story of why this holiday is so important. Then plan to serve some amazing local reds, whites and or blues as a part of your July 4th celebrations.

Whether it’s during a tasting at a winery, as an appetizer while you’re entertaining friends, as a part of a light meal, cheese is always the perfect food to serve with wine.

• Aged wine is better. It is true that some wines are much better after spending time in a barrel or bottled, lying quietly in a wine cellar. But those wines that need aging are generally big red viniferas that started their journey from the vineyard with lots of tannins and complexity. MOST wines, likely well over 85%, are designed to be consumed “young” meaning surely within a couple years harvest when aromas and flavors are fresh. This is especially true of whites and lighter reds.

In just a couple of weeks the state’s original Ohio wine festival, Vintage Ohio, (www.VisitVintageOhio.com) will open at Lake Farmpark in Kirtland, near Cleveland. There are lots of new features in its 29th year, but the stars of this and all other wine events, are always the wineries on Festival Field.

Much of the summer season is behind us, but many vacations may still be ahead in August. And for those empty nesters, some of the most beautiful days in Ohio are those with bright blue skies, puffy white clouds and vibrant colors of fall during the months of September and October.

Picture a sophisticated, well-dress business owner, or a polished, carefully coifed senior bank executive. Imagine a well-educated young university professor, or a talented, poised aspiring actress. Want to make any of them weak in the knees? Send them into a fancy restaurant with a group of their peers and suggest they choose an appropriate wine for dinner. Imagine then how a ‘regular’ person feels when faced with the same daunting task.

As much as I hate to see the end of a glorious summer season, the harvest time will soon be here. In some parts of the state, with some varieties, in just a week or two, the first grapes will be in the cellars. The Grand River viticultural district, located in Lake and Ashtabula counties and within the larger Lake Erie district, is regarded as one of the world’s premier locations where great wine grapes can be successfully grown. The lake provides the conditions for growing great fruit — and so the time to head to the vineyards is just ahead.

Football season is upon us. College games and the Pro season will continue for months. If you are planning to meet old friends for the Homecoming game, setting up in a parking lot outside a NFL stadium or just turning the big screen TV toward the patio so you can watch a game from your back deck, it might be the time to set aside the six packs and plan a local food feast and feature the wines from your hometown.

Brilliant blue skies, red and golden trees, puffy white clouds, crunchy leaves, high school football games, tall corn stalks, orange pumpkins, cool evenings and sunny days. When fall rolls around, residents of northern Ohio have one additional pleasure to explore: harvest time in wine country.

Ohio Wineries are being encouraged to participate in a national celebration of wine as a part of activities for friends, family, community socialization and fun.