Raise A Glass to Ohio Wine Month at Vino di Piccin

The Month of June is Ohio Wine Month! During the month, TourismOhio is highlighting the thriving industry in the state. Vino di Piccin, located in the rolling hills of Belmont County, is more than just a winery—it’s the story of a family tradition poured into every bottle. What began as a basement winemaking hobby has blossomed into a thriving local gem, proudly run by seven siblings who are carrying on the legacy. From Ohio-grown grapes to handcrafted varieties named after family members, Vino di Piccin blends heritage, heart, and hospitality into each sip.

Vino di Piccin offers 16 varieties of wine, including seasonal selections, with grapes primarily sourced from Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio. Their wine list highlights Ohio-grown favorites like Pink Catawba, semi-sweet and dry Rieslings, Fritz’s Red, Evelina, and Chardonel. Some of their wines pay homage to their family. Fritz’s Red is named for their father, while Evelina, a sweet Niagara grape wine, honors their late mother. Others are the product of Ohio’s vast wine industry, such as the Chardonel. A Chardonnay-style wine, Chardonel was born out of a collaboration with Cornell University to help Ohio compete with California’s famous Chardonnay.

The winery also offers wine slushies during the summer months. A favorite among guests, choose from sweet red, white, or blend, and cool off with these delicious treats.

Wines are available to sample in a flight of six for just over three dollars, or try all 16 for $10. For a more personal experience, the winery offers private wine tours for groups of 10–12. These sessions give guests a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process, complete with tastings of their unique varieties.

Though the family sources grapes from elsewhere, they carefully chill and transport them to Vino di Piccin, where the magic happens. The family believes that high-quality grapes are the key to producing high-quality wine. They use a pressure destemmer to remove the stems and reduce bitterness. They process red and white wines differently. The white grapes are pressed, and the skins are removed since the skins lack tannins. For red grapes, they ferment them with the skins to extract body, color, and tannins.

Yeast plays an essential role in flavor development. For reds like Fritz’s Red—made with Lake Erie grapes—the fermentation lasts about three weeks. As the grape skins rise to the top, they must be manually punched down in a process called maceration to extract color and tannins. Once complete, the wine is moved to large containers where it undergoes a second fermentation and aging process. To protect the wine from oxygen, argon gas is used to displace air during aging.

Ohio wines can be ready for bottling in about five months, while varietals like Zinfandel, Malbec, and Cabernet require nine months to two years. Before bottling, each wine is tested for stability, then filtered to remove bacteria without affecting flavor. The wine is bottled and corked automatically in-house, with labels applied by hand. Their bottling machine can process up to 1,600 bottles an hour.

The winery isn’t the only place you can find Vino di Piccin’s original wines. Find bottles in local stores such as Riesbeck’s and Convenient Food Marts. Wine lovers in central Ohio can also savor the flavor. Grab a bottle in the Columbus area at Midway Market, Shawnee Hills Wine Bistro, and Chateua Wine and Spirits. 

The winery also hosts events to draw in a larger crowd. They host a yearly St. Patrick’s Day event, drawing around 600 attendees from noon to 11 p.m. The event features all-day live music inside the winery as well as green wine slushies. In addition to this annual celebration, guests can enjoy live music on Saturdays free of charge.

The winery also participates in local events by taking their popular wine slushy machine on the road! They make a huge profit at festivals such as the crowd-drawing Upper Ohio Valley Italian Fest.

The winery is open on Fridays from 3 – 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 3 – 10 pm. The winery is just a short trip on 70 from Wheeling, West Virginia, and St. Clairsville, Ohio. The address is 55155, National Road, Lansing, Ohio.

Like many small businesses, Vino di Piccin faces its share of challenges, including the closure of the Blaine Hill Viaduct, which has reduced traffic. Despite this, the Piccins continue to pour their heart into every bottle, host memorable events, and introduce guests to the world of high-quality wines.

Supporting local businesses like Vino di Piccin not only preserves a rich family legacy but also strengthens the heart of our community. So, whether you’re a wine enthusiast or simply love a good hometown story, plan a visit and raise a glass to tradition and local flavor this June.