Who would have thought that this wonderful Backyard Vineyard is only 3 miles fom my home?

I was fortunate to have Matt find "Wood Wine - Backyard Vineyard Consulting" on the Internet. He realized that we have Backyard Vineyards less than 3 miles apart from each other. Can you believe it? I am fortunate to have someone so close that grows all three of the same cultivars that I grow.

I have a 100 vine vineyard, Matt has a 300 vine vineyard. In addition to Noiret, Corot Noir, and Traminette, Matt also grows Vignoles, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonel.

I really appreciate that Matt has used Black Locust for his vineyard posts. I think it is so esthetically pleasing... natural, and easy on the eyes.

Another aspect of Matt's vineyard that I appreciate is that he has been learning how to prune and train his vines over the last 8 years. He settled on a combination/variation of low wire cordon and cane pruning, and it sure seems to be working well.

Matt wouldn't say that he is proud of his fantastic vineyard, but I would, and I think he should be!

Matt splits the winery work between his barn and his cellar. This is a pic of his barn, which shows his press and a very nice stainless steel variable capacity tank.

Here is another of Matt's tanks, which is larger. When I asked Matt how he likes these SS VC tanks, he just smiled and said "they are soooo easy to clean!''

This lounge area is where Matt and his wife Linda relax and enjoy watching the wine ferment.

Matt has the exact same grape crusher that I have, and like me, Matt uses it for an artifact of interest. Matt subsequently bought a motorized Crusher/De-Stemmer, and I have as well.

Amazingly enough, Matt and I also have the very same wine press. It is an "Oasis 303". I keep mine for a backup press, as I have since bought a Stainless Steel Bladder Press. Matt is looking to buy an 80L Bladder Press, similar to mine, to simplify his operations.

Matt also has an orchard of apple trees and cherry trees.

Another similarity is that both Matt and I have a double laundry tub in our wineries. They are very well suited for the requirements of a home winery.

Matt uses barrels, which I only aspire to using someday.

Matt expressed how useful the simply designed bottle tree has been in his operations. As is quite often the case, the less complicated, the better!

Matt selected a few bottles to swap with me. I gave Matt a bottle of Noiret, and bottle of Corot Noir. I didn't have any more Traminette bottled, but I promised Matt a bottle when I get the '08 vintage bottled. Matt reciprocated by giving me a bottle of '08 Cherry, a bottle of'08 Elderberry, and a bottle of '07 Sparkling Cider Wine. I am really looking forward to trying these wines. I have elderberries in the freezer, waiting to be made into wine, and I have two vintages of apple wine awaiting bottling. Who doesn't like Cherry Wine? I am sure Matt and I have a lot of experience and knowledge to share with each other. Matt has a Horticultural degree...

This is a pic of my good lookin' truck, with a backdrop of Matt's orchard.

Matt is so fortunate to have such a nice barn to work in, and to keep his implements in.

The vineyard is in the background, down the way from the house and the barn.

This beautiful home is one that has been kept in the family by Matt and his bride Linda. It used to belong to Matt's in-laws.

Here is a good perspective of the property. It's a long way down the driveway to the house, even further to the barn, and way beyond the barn to get to the vineyard. Matt and Linda's property is ~16 acres.

Matt was a hospitable host. I enjoyed very much the tour of the Vineyard and Winery, and I look forward to having Matt and Linda over to see my operation, just down the road!

A Fine Visit to Matt's Home Winery and Backyard Vineyard in Plain City, Ohio...

I met Matt through WinePress.US, the best Backyard Vineyard and Home Winery forum on the Internet. On WinePress.US, Matt is know as "Garmoni", and I am know as "Woods Wine". Matt and I have been corresponding because we have some of the same Cultivars (or varieties) of grapes planted. My son Jesse and his family live in Worthington Ohio, and I am exploring the possibility of conducting my Backyard Vineyard Lecture Series in the greater Columbus area. Matt is helping me research the potential market and advertising channels in the area. Matt wanted to try some of my wines, so he could get a feel for what the wine might be like when he gets his first harvest of Noiret and Corot Noir. Matt already has Traminette planted and harvested, and has made Traminette wine. I was in Ohio for Thanksgiving with my son's family, so Matt and I set up this visit.

These are Matt's Traminette vines, trained to the "Vertical Shoot Positioning" training style. The vines are very hardy and have large diameter trunks. They are about 5 years old.

This is a pic of the vineyard expansion. The new vines will be planted in the spring of 2010. Matt was wise to dig the vine holes at the same time he dug the post holes. He took advantage of having the powered post hole digger on site, and he will be glad he did next spring.

The building on the left houses Matt's Crusher/De-stemmer and Press. That beautiful SportTrac is my truck, it's sitting on Matt's Crush Pad.

This is another view of Matt's vineyard. Note that there is still room for more expansion.

Matt used information obtained from a guy named "Hammered" on WinePress.US to build this Crusher De-stemmer.

Matt reports that it works very well.

Matt was lucky enough to obtain a fine wine press that used to be his Grandfather's.

Matt may someday get a larger, more modern press, but he loves the sentimental value of this old press.

This is the manufacturer's stamp on the press.

My son Jesse's brother-in-law, Nick, accompanied me on the visit. Nick is admiring Matt's collection of labels.

Matt was quick to jump in and point out some of the rare trophies.

Matt has quite the set-up in his wine cellar.

Matt is describing how large the clusters were that he grew on his Traminette vines.

Matt is also the modest winner of several wine competition metals. He obviously knows his stuff!

Matt has a good batch of wine bulk aging, and bottles ready to receive the finished wine.

Matt made his own wine racks, also from ideas and plans obtained on WinePress.US.

Matt and his wife were very creative with decorating the wine cellar ceiling. The vines are clippings obtained when Matt pruned his Traminette. The grape lights and other grape clusters were his wife's idea. It looks really cool.

I gave Matt a few bottles of Woods Wine: Traminette, Corot Noir, and Noiret from my Backyard Vineyard and Home Winery. Matt reciprocated with a bottle of his home grown Traminette, as well as bottles of Concord, Jalapeno, and Chardonnay wines. Some of Matt's tasting notes are included at the end of this post.

This is the place where Matt and his family enjoy watching the vineyard grow.

It's a beautiful view.

This is Matt's house, with the vineyard on the left of the driveway. Matt and his family have a beautiful home. I enjoyed the visit very much, and Matt was an excellent host and tour guide.

Below is an excerpt that I took from an email Matt sent me shortly after the visit:

"Hi Ed, I was just about to send you a note to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your visit and to let you know I did a Woods Wine tasting Saturday night. My wife and I had my parents over and had a great time tasting and discussing your wines. I first showed them your blog (they were very impressed) and gave them some background on your vineyard and what you grow. We then tasted both the Corot Noir and Noiret. I can tell you that we enjoyed them both. Here are the notes from the tasting.

We first opened the Corot Noir: Very nice ruby color. The bouquet was fabulous with notes of black cherry and I thought very vinifera like. Everyone thought it tasted very much like it smelled. Medium body very easy drinking. I thought it was well balanced and did not seem a bit hot.

Noiret: Darker more burgundy color. It has some vegetative, peppery, earthy tones on the nose. Tasted bigger than the Corot Noir. More tannic and spicy. We could taste the pepper characteristics that came through in the bouquet. Very nice. We thought this would pair well with some spicy Italian dishes.

We did not get to the Traminette. Will save that for another time and maybe taste it against one of mine. I think the dry to off dry comparison will be fun and informative.

Overall I was pleased with both varietals that we tasted."