About Us

Nestled high atop the steep Lake Erie escarpment, surrounded by the wild and scenic Conneaut Creek River, lies the beautifully picturesque landscape of the Tarsitano farm. The property has a tremendously long heritage evolving from the native Erie indigenous peoples. The property was founded the late1700’s. A grist mill was established to process the local grain harvest, which eventually lead to the formation of a metal shop that made the first moveable flail mower. Ken Tarsitano’s great grandfather Issac Aho purchased the farm in the early 1900’s converting it into a dairy farm. Thru the generations of baling hay and milking cows the farm became a local gathering place for farmers, families and friends to gather. In the early 1990’s the farm had eventually been retaken by nature, for with the passing of Ken’s grandfather Edgar and great Uncle Bill, the dairy cows roam no more and the property was divvied up among the next generation. 

This is where Ken comes in. After working his way thru various careers; the calling of the farm became just too strong. The childhood of working on the farm, memories of ringing cow bells, squeaky pitcher pumps, the bounce of the hard tractors seat, scratchy hay marks around the neck, dried out cracks from old blood blisters, and the refreshing babble from creek waters enticed for a less complicated way of life. Ken returned to the farm in 1997 where he found a job down the road as a vineyard assistant at the OSU/OARD Grape research center. He researched and discovered the farm possessed the right combination of high altitude, proximity to Lake Erie, the Conneaut Creek River and the Plateau Silt Loam clay soil, originally formed by the great glaciers, to be most suitable for growing vinifera grapes. With the pruning of the first vine, Ken’s dream began with all-encompassing persistent drive to reinvent the farm. Borrowing Greg Johns tractor, Ken broke ground with the first vineyards planting in 1998. Within a few short years, Ken reunited the farm by buying back all the property, making wine, opening the winery and expanding to 17 acres of vineyards. Actualizing how special the region’s land is, Ken started promoting and originally filed to make the Conneaut Creek growing region a designated American Viticultural Area. Perfecting his skill, Ken modified a special grape growing system to maximize the effects of the terroir. Pushing the package on mother nature, Ken is one of only a few wineries that strictly use only 100% of the grapes grown on their property. Embracing technology, the farm uses state of the art electrostatic sprayer, applies specific growing techniques like early leaf removal, and promotes natural, sustainable and biological ingredients.  Ken’s wines have won countless awards throughout the United States and is a flagship winery for what Conneaut Creek AVA can aspire to be. Each of Tarsitano’s vineyard pays hommage to family. Great Uncle Bills vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, Auxerrios, Gruner Veltliner, Bianca, Semillon Chenin Blanc; Grandpa Edgars vineyards planted to Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Corot and Noriet; Grandpa Michael is planted to Merlot, Syrah and Petite Syrah; Great Grandpa Isaac is planted to Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, sauvignon Blanc and Blaufrankish. 

Over the years Ken married his best friend Kelly. They have gone on to expand the winery and vineyards, judge wine competitions, add a handmade locally source slow cook restaurant, had three amazing children Isabella, Brant and Mia, taught grape growing and wine making at Kent State University and opened Flagler Beachfront Winery, a second winery in Florida.