By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The cork was popped on a new business in Galion Saturday morning when the Fox Winery held a ribbon cutting ceremony allowing owners Ron Fox, and Steve Arlen to pour the passion of wine and beer making into the community.
Now officially open at 227 Harding Way East in Galion, Fox Winery features everything an aspiring wine or beer maker would need to craft their own, including the room and equipment to make their own brew at the shop once the shop’s permits are approved for that. Fox explained that until licensed, they would make house calls.
“What we are going to do until we get licensed to do this, if somebody buys a kit, we will go to their home and help them figure out how to use it. We won’t leave them hanging if they come in and buy a kit. Steve is the beer specialist, I am the wine specialist,” Fox said.
Fox explained that those hoping to purchase specialty wines crafted by him, or make their own wines in his shop it will take 3-6 months.
“Right now as we start, we are going to have beer and wine making supplies while the government process our licenses and permits that have been applied for. We are told the federal could take three to six months the state will take six weeks, but they told us that they won’t issue anything until the federal government approves it.”
Arlen explained where the inspiration for the winery came from.
“Twenty-five to 30 years ago Ron had this vision that he wanted to do this, but Ron works full-time at the V.A. hospital in Columbus. Three years ago I moved back to Galion. We lived in Boston Heights and sitting around a campfire one night Ron said, ‘Boy your backyard would look nice with grapes in there.’ Right now we have 300 grape plants in my back yard,” Arlen said. “We decided to open the equipment store until we get the license going. So we are waiting on the federal and state licensing for the winery. “
Fox explained how it felt to be opening up the shop.
“Nervous, I am very anxious, this has been a 28-year dream,” Fox said.
On top of selling their own wine, Fox envisioned more for the winery than just selling wine-crafting supplies and his own wine.
“Eventually we are going to have a tasting room in the back; we will probably have some kind of hors d’oeuvres. We will probably start with cheese and wine to start off with, but we will probably add some finger foods of some kind. We hope to have entertainment,” Fox said. “We hope that eventually we get big enough to buy the building, and have a small sidewalk area.”
Fox noted that currently they are a little limited at the moment but are hoping for more.
“We have a limited amount of variety, but we will be able to do Chardonnay plants, Merlot plants, Mascato, Pink Catawba, and Concord. The specialty wine that I have always made in this area is a Concord Pink Cawtawba blend. But eventually we will have enough variety that the possibilities would be endless.”
Rod Scheidler was the first paying customer for the newly opened winery. Scheidler who was classmates with Fox and Arlen explained that when he learned of their opening he wanted to purchase a kit.
“I learned that they were going to start up their business three months ago, so I told them I would get a kit for Moscato as soon as they would open.” Scheidler said.
Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Kleinknecht was excited about the prospects of more businesses in downtown Galion.
“It feels good any time we can do a ribbon cutting,” Kleinknecht said. “It means more business, it is good to do it in the downtown, it brings more people downtown. So getting some of those niche shops that attract a certain group of people down here, and they can spend half of a day, or even a day down here going to the different little shops, so we are excited about it.”
Currently the Fox Winery will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call the store during operating hours at (419) 468-9463, or by visiting their Facebook page.