HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — When Mary Jo Ferrante takes a moment to think about it, it's quite the stark difference: what Ashtabula County looked like in the 1980s compared to now.
"There's wineries on every corner now," Ferrante said.
The owner of Ferrante Winery remembers when there were only five in the area, compared to the 30-plus today.
Despite increased competition, Ferrante said her business has quadrupled over the years.
"We all work together, People are coming out for an experience; they want to create memories," Ferrante said.
"So each winery just has to give what they do best and offer the experience and to come out and explore."
The county draws nearly 20 million visitors each year — a figure that has more than doubled over the past 11 years, according to Stephanie Siegel, executive director of the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau.
A major driver of that growth is the Grand River Valley region, also known as Ohio Wine Country, which is home to more than 30 wineries.
"When you have a region that has over 30 wineries, you can't visit all those at one time, so they're coming back and going to the different wineries. They all offer different experiences," Siegel said.
That appeal is drawing visitors from across the region, with a high concentration of visitors coming from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Youngstown.
Consider Marie Carr and her friends Jackie Thomas and Kathy Tyler, among them. They made the trip from Pittsburgh for a girls' weekend.
"We're trying to do overnight trips to places that some of us have not been to," Carr said.
With so many wineries and attractions to choose from, the group found themselves with a familiar dilemma with all the choices available when it comes to dinner and lunch.
"We're more interested in what we're going to drink tonight," Kathy Tyler said.
"I was thinking that but didn't want to say it," Carr said.
Clay LePard is the Ashtabula, Geauga and Portage counties reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow him on X @ClayLePard, on Facebook ClayLePardTV or email him at Clay.LePard@wews.com.
