Ohio Wine Producers Association offers scholarship

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Ohio Wines Producers Association is offering a scholarship for students interested in, and promoting, the industry in the state.

The OWPA Founders Memorial Scholarship will be composed of two annual, renewable scholarships of $500. It will recognize students who show interest, aptitude and creativity in advancing Ohio’s winemaking industry. Awards will be based on merit and need.

A student must be a part- or full-time student in an accredited higher education institution in Ohio, and must be studying some aspect of enology, viticulture, a related discipline, and/or plan to open a winery in the state.

Requirements:

1. A letter with description of academic program and statement of career objectives, including experience and interest in the field.

2. Résumé highlighting vineyard or winery experience.

3. Recommendation letter from a high-school or higher-education faculty member to certify the applicant is a student and provides evidence of interest and ability in the field.

The association’s board of directors’ scholarship committee will review applications.

Email applications to [email protected] or mail to OWPA, 1 South Broadway, Geneva, Ohio, 44041. Deadline for receipt of applications for the 2022-23 year is Thursday, Sept. 15.

The scholarship project honors individuals who, through their vision in the 1970s, were instrumental in giving the state’s wine industry a needed push:

• Dr. Garth Cahoon, who worked through Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at Ohio State University. His industry-shaping research promoted the industry, and he served as an advisor to the OWPA.

• Dr. James Gallander, who helped guide the Department of Horticulture at OARDC.

• Robert Gottesman co-owned Paramount Distillers Inc., which acquired Meier’s Wine Cellars in Cincinnati in 1976 and expanded with the purchase of 400 acres on North Bass Island, 200 of which were devoted to vineyards. Firelands Winery in Sandusky and Mon Ami Wine Cellars in Port Clinton were acquired in 1980. Gottesman is credited with sparking a renaissance in Ohio winemaking. He was a founding member of the OWPA.

• Kenneth Schuchter, who developed the idea to plant a few vines and established Valley Vineyards Winery in 1970. He was instrumental in the OWPA’s formation.

• Louis Heineman, winery owner who helped guide the OWPA.

• Arnulf “Arnie” Esterer, who co-founded Markko Vineyard in 1968.

• Tony Debevc of Debonne Vineyard. A founding director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association, he submitted the federal application that created the Grand River Valley Appellation.

The scholarship is funded via industry contributions and activities, including auctions and a bingo game. For details go online.

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I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30.

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