Vermilion Valley Vineyards was one of the wineries represented at an East Coast winemakers summit in late June at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland.
Joe Juniper is the winemaker and also managing partner who holds other roles in the Ohio wine industry, including as president of the state’s Wine Producers Association.
The winery is located in Wakeman, Ohio, around 12 miles south of Vermilion, which sits along Lake Erie. It’s grapes grow in the Lake Erie AVA. The winery is located less than an hour’s drive from Cleveland and a two and a half hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.
You can read more on the winery at this link.
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Juniper left behind some bottles to try and two in particular got my attention.
The Petit Roja is listed under red wines but drinks like a dark rose and is light, fruity and delicious.
Juniper in an email said it was a carbonic macerated Pinot Noir.
“I do not ‘cluster thin’ in the typical fashion as I believe the extra crop load through the summer is usually needed to help tame vine vigor and maintain balance,” he said. “However, we do several passes of green dropping at or just post veraison. This allows us to keep the ripest, most advanced fruit.
“Absolute greens go on the ground but the fruit in the middle we usually make ‘fun wine’ with, usually a rosé or ‘White xxx,’ but last year we did our first full carbonic. Whole clusters into a Brite tank — a thick-walled tank used to carbonate wine, beer, cider, etc. with a pressure release valve. The Petit Rioja was wild-fermented and the tank never opened for two weeks. We then drained the tank and whole-cluster pressed. We did minimal fining and finished it with the same ML treatment as our Vino Verde, hence the tiny spritz.”
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He said this summer has helped juice sales, with the “fair share of above-average temps and humidity” they have had in that part of Ohio.
It sells for $18.
Here is a link to the complete wine list.
Petit Roja is a carbonic macerated Pinot Noir.Paul Vigna
His affordably-priced Cabernet Sauvignon ($36) was also very good. Per its winemaker notes:
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Nose: blueberry compote, tobacco smoke, black pepper, cuiry spice
Palate: dried cherries, mesquite, twiggy, full-bodied, bitter dark chocolate
“Despite all of our goofy practices in both the vineyard and in the cellar for other varieties, we keep Cabernet Sauvignon pretty straightforward,” he wrote. “It’s very responsive in the field so we target 5.5 tons per acre and usually land around 4-4.5 by harvest. It goes into neutral barrels and sees no new oak aside from some adjuncts from time to time. That same wine goes into our private Tuesday Wine program and is sold retail DTC for $12 per bottle under that label.
“We hope to blow Tuesday Wine up over the next six months to be able to offer it to the public across the country.”
Former Ohio State defensive back Marshon Lattimore was arrested on Jan. 7 in Lakewood, Ohio, and now awaits possible charges of carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a vehicle, according to multiple reports.
Lattimore, currently on the Washington Commanders, was booked into jail but later released. The police report lists a 9mm Glock as evidence, per ESPN.
Police say Lattimore was arrested because he failed to inform the investigating officer that he had a firearm in the vehicle when asked.
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In a statement to 3News, the Commanders said, “We have been made aware of the arrest and are gathering more information. We have informed the NFL League office and have no further comment at this time.”
Lattimore played for the Buckeyes in 2015 and 2016. He was selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He has made the Pro Bowl four times and was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017.
In 2021, Lattimore was arrested in Cleveland and initially charged with a felony for receiving a stolen firearm. The charge was dismissed, but Lattimore pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon. He received one year of probation and a suspended 180-day jail sentence, according to ESPN.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The conversation around Ohio State football’s championship aspirations often centers on offensive firepower, but a sophomore cornerback might play an important role in helping the Buckeyes accomplish their goals next season.
Devin Sanchez arrived in Columbus as the nation’s top cornerback recruit, and after a freshman season where he earned meaningful snaps in critical moments, the expectations have escalated.
No longer is it enough for Sanchez to be a reliable contributor. He must take a step toward becoming a true lockdown corner who can eliminate one side of the field.
“Is Devin Sanchez ready to be the dude because he’s going to have to be,” co-host Stefan Krajisnik said on Buckeye Talk. “I don’t mean is he ready to be a reliable starter — I mean it’s time… to be a dude. I don’t think it’s putting unrealistic expectations on a guy like Devin Sanchez to be an All-Big Ten first team caliber-type guy.”
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The coaching staff has demonstrated their belief in Sanchez’s potential by giving him high-leverage opportunities against elite competition as a true freshman. Against Texas last season, while other freshmen barely saw the field, Sanchez was trusted in critical moments – a telling sign of the program’s expectations.
Next season’s rematch with Texas will provide an opportunity to see how much progress Sanchez has made since the last time he faced the Longhorns.
As co-host Andrew Gillis put it, “Is he ready to announce himself to the world as lock down?”
The transformation starts now. Co-host Stephen Means made it clear that spring practice represents a crucial development period.
“We should be walking away from spring practice thinking that’s the best cornerback in the Big Ten and his only competition is (Oregon’s) Brandon Finney,” Means said. “That should be the goal for Devin.”
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What makes Sanchez’s development so critical is how it affects the entire defensive structure. If he can become that elite cornerback who eliminates one side of the field, it changes what Ohio State can do with their other 10 defenders. It allows for more aggressive pressure packages, more safety help to other areas, and ultimately, a more disruptive defense.
For Ohio State fans, Sanchez’s development represents one of the most fascinating storylines to follow this offseason. His progression from promising freshman to elite sophomore could be the difference between a playoff appearance and a national championship.
One of Ohio State’s true freshmen along the offensive line is set to enter the portal, as Tyler Bowen is set to enter his second season as line coach.Getty Images
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden is set to enter the transfer portal, per a report on Wednesday afternoon.
He was a member of the 2025 recruiting class as a four-star recruit and the No. 391 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite. McFadden appeared in one game for Ohio State this season, and played 15 snaps.
The Buckeyes now have just two members of the OL class in 2025 left — offensive tackle Carter Lowe and interior lineman Jake Cook.
Ohio State was unlikely to have McFadden enter the two-deep in the 2026 season, considering what talent the team is expected to have come back to the roster.
A wild transfer portal continues to march on for Ohio State.
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Andrew Gillis covers Ohio State football and recruiting for Cleveland.com. He provides updates on Ohio State football as a whole, its prospects and the Buckeyes each week. He previously covered the Bengals for…
