GALION — Next weekend, the doors will open to Fox Winery at 227 Harding Way East, but the idea for the business began brewing a long time ago.
When Ron Fox bought his home on Grant Street many years ago, there were two grape vines on the property.
“I worked at Mansfield General Hospital at the time and asked around about what I could do with the gapes. A nurse gave me a recipe for wine and I was then hooked on making wine,” Fox said.
Eight years ago, Fox added 25 more plants to his yard.
“Then, three years ago, Steve (Arlen) and I were sitting around a fire in his backyard talking,and that is when the idea came to use his property also. We now have 300 plants in his backyard with 10 different varieties of grapes,” Fox said.
Arlen said plans to open the store also began that night.
“We enjoy making wine for people so we started the process to open our own business so we can do that,” Arlen said.
Due to licensing requirements, the pair said they are in the waiting stage of receiving the license to make and sell wine at their store.
“Right now, we are offering all of the ingredients and equipment needed to make wine or beer at home. Soon, we will be able to offer wine-making at our store and people can use our equipment to do it, with our assistance. Eventually, we will be able to sell wine, already bottled and ready to go,” Arlen said.
Fox said he specializes in wedding wines.
“People love the wine I make for them. We will be offering a variety that will be satisfying to any pallet, from the sweetest wine to the driest wines,” Fox said. “From Merlots to Chardonnays, we will have something for everyone.”
Fox and Arlen will be offering seating, some food items and wine-tasting classes when everything is up and running.
“We also want to offer fun events for the community such as art days along with the wine-tastings,” Fox said.
The store will open at noon on Nov. 19 but is closed on Sunday and Monday.
“We will be open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until we get our wine license, then we will be open later,” Fox said.
For more information, call Fox’s Winery at 419-468-WINE (9463) or visit https://www.facebook.com/FoxWineryllc/?fref=ts on Facebook.
