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Maize Valley winemaker Todd Vaughan shares what motivates him

Todd Vaughan
Special to the Canton Repository
Frontenac gris grapes ready for harvest at Maize Valley Winery in Marlboro Township. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)

My name is Todd Vaughan and I have been the winemaker at Maize Valley for the past 18 years.

I meet a lot of people in my line of work and it always makes me chuckle when I’m asked if being a winemaker is a glamorous job. Being a winemaker has many ups and downs, while there are some definite perks, there are many learning curves with unique challenges and intricate steps that have to be performed in order to craft a delicious bottle of wine.

After I graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in plant pathology, the idea of opening a winery began to take root. It was time to put my knowledge to the test and embark on this new endeavor.

Todd Vaughan

I enlisted the help of a friend and we landed on the decision to first make blackberry wine. We smashed the berries, added sugar and yeast then began bottling the mixture into a five-gallon carboy.

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Meet the brewmasterJake Turner of Maize Valley in Marlboro Township

We sealed the carboy with an airlock and left it to rest in the dining room. An airlock is extremely important because it allows the carbon dioxide that is created during fermentation to escape without allowing air in. This protects the mixture from oxidation while reducing the pressure within the carboy.

Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery is one of several wineries in Stark County.

Unbeknownst to us, blackberry seeds had become lodged inside of the airlock preventing the carbon dioxide from passing through. Pressure continued to build until the airlock could no longer hold. ... BOOM!

The airlock rocketed out of the carboy and blackberry mixture shot out like a volcanic eruption, slamming into the ceiling, drenching the walls and saturating the carpet. Needless to say, all future experiments were exiled to the basement.

A typical day as a winemaker is spent both in the winery and out in the vineyard.

During the frosty winter months of January and February, I will start my mornings by pruning grape vines. Grapes vines produce a lot of foliage and if not properly cut back, can hinder the yield of the coming harvest. As long as the weather cooperates, pruning should be completed by March.

This is also the time I begin the preparations for planting new vines and replacing any that did not survive the previous winter. In early fall, the grapes will be harvested by hand and brought to the winery.

Inside the winery, there is always something to do. When grapes arrive, they will be removed from their stems, crushed and stored in vessels that will allow the fermentation process to begin. Once complete the wine will be filtered and aged before its final step of bottling.

The winery is currently home to many types of wines in various stages. One wine I am currently finessing is Chardonnay, this also happens to be my personal favorite. This particular vintage of Chardonnay has been aging in oak barrels since November.

Four days a week, each barrel is stirred and tasted for quality. Stirring the wine during fermentation is essential. This ensures the spent yeast does not dry out, prevents bacteria from growing and it encourages the wines characteristics to reach the desired complexity, mouthfeel and aroma that will excite and indulge the senses.

For me, the thrill begins when I am able to fully let go and allow my inner craftsman to take over. I enjoy experimenting with new grapes, exploring uncharted blends and fine tuning my palate to not only craft wines I enjoy but also wines that others will enjoy.

Personal fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment is found in playing the long game. Escorting the grapes from vine to bottle has allowed me to experience every step in the process of winemaking while providing opportunities to perfect my methods along the way.

I pour my time, knowledge, experience and heart into every bottle of Maize Valley wine. When I see people at the winery hanging out and having a good time while sharing a bottle of wine, I feel, in a small way, connected to the memories they are creating.

Good wine brings people together, from first dates to engagements, baby showers to grandma’s 70th birthday party. Wine enriches community and creates lasting memories to hold onto for years to come.

Todd Vaughan is the winemaker at Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery in Marlboro Township.