New Maize Valley S.W.A.G. just in!!
Got Ur Hanky Panky?
Local artists make a difference
At Maize Valley we make great wine fun. And We like to help you take that fun home too! Yes right now we are making plans for next years crop and event season but right now we are delivering the the goodies for the Christmas season.
So if it is a case of wine or a case of Pappy’s homegrown peppers we have you covered! Merry Christmas!
Open roof design
Extending the season with more cover
What coming up down on the farm? Just one more step for us at Maize Valley as we try and shift our crop production to what we see as new opportunities.
Just a few years ago we were farming over 3000 acres, milking about 150 head of Holestiens, and running a diverse ag supply business. What started as throwing some sweet corn seed in the 12 row corn planter on the last round of the spring planting season grew into a direct marketing enterprise and the rest is well…history.
This new greenhouse will join three others in helping us in our efforts to extend our growing season here in Northeast Ohio and produce a greater variety of crops.
We direct market these crops at area farmers’ markets but also serve them in our entrees’ in our winery cafe’ and also through our monthly “Vintner Dinner” series.
At Maize Valley we make great wine…FUN!
My wife is a "Survivor" more than I can say 4 this van!
Pink Van 4 Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the cure
Marlboro Madness getting ready 4 work
Straw Crawl "Pre-Season"!
Straw crawl "Post Season"!
It was a long and wonderful fall harvest season here at Maize Valley! BEST one EVER! Thank you to all of those of you who came out and enjoyed one of the best weather fall periods we have ever experienced. It all started on Sept. 18th with the balloon lift off and wrapped up with Oct. 31st finding our crew still hard at work in the Carnage in the Corn Haunted Corn maze which was way too much fun!
Great weather came together with great effort to make this season a rewarding time for all of us. The grapes had their best harvest ever with all the heat from the summer and a late frost letting them store up extra energy for the coming winter after we were finished picking.
The half marathon was a huge success, a new greenhouse is going up at the main farm and the vintner dinners keep selling out. We are looking forward to a great Thanksgiving and Christmas season and then we will start pouring the coal to next year’s slate of special events.
All this is only possible with great staff, great neighbors and wonderful guests each and every day. Thank you all and look for Maize Valley to “Bring it” even harder in 2011. At Maize Valley We Make Great Wine…FUN! 
NASHOG Pig races
Megasaurus Corn Maze Adventure
Red lens decoder station helps you navigate
More than just a walk in a corn field
We think Maize Valley farm market and winery is Northeast Ohio’s most complete fall harvest destination. From Cabernet to Corn Mazes, from Haunted Scares to Syrah we have you covered. Years ago when we started corn mazes and pumpkin picking were about it. Now while they are still what you might call the “fulcrum” to our fall “lever” they are just one part of the Maize Valley experience. We have added NASHOG Pig Races, Duck races, an expanded play area, a haunted corn maze and woods walk, plus our awesome pumpkin cannon and more.
Factor in all the great food we produce on site, and even award winning wines if you so choose to enjoy with the rest of the experience while at Maize Valley, you can easily spend four to six hours with us on a sun drenched autumn afternoon. I guess we are a winery with ADHD and maybe more!
At Maize Valley we strive to deliver and experience packed full of value for the individual, family or group. Coming this fall for 2010, on September 18th the corn maze opens with a great big ole’ faarrrrr (fire), followed on the 25th by a balloon lift off. On October 1st our way fun haunted Carnage in the corn opens then on October 9th Megasaurus the fire breathing car crushing metal monster comes to Maize Valley to make it’s version of pumpkin pie! Add in campfires, and all the fall fun that build memories that last a lifetime.
U never know what U R gonna C @ M.V.!
Brett seeing where this is going....
Brett seeing how high this corn is going to grow!
U know we like to say “Come and see why Maize Valley IS the Place to Be!” Well we try and make Great Wine…FUN!! Life is just too darn short to take too much too seriously! Yes we are a winery but we are so much more. Maize Valley is Northeast Ohio’s most complete Fall Harvest Destination. No we don’t “pose” or “primp” what we do is deliver good times. It get’s a little crazy around here in late September and October but we “Bring it” and it shows.
We will put the quality of our wines up against any in the state if your worried we are just a bunch of Rednecks not concerned about producing a top notch product. But we also don’t worry too much about sacrificing the “quality of life” just to bring mearly “product” to the table. Life is great down on the farm and we love to share it during the harvest season.
We are unique that is true, we offer corn mazes, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, NASHOG pig races, a giant straw crawl, kids play area, an animal pasture complete with goat feeding ramps, great indoor sitdown food, outdoor “walking food”, a LARGE barrel pumpkin cannon, and even a haunted attraction too! And there is more. You can also check out our Face Book Carnage in the Corn if ya like too!
The Carnage in the corn maze is a seperate attraction from the main Megasaurus corn maze, but talk to us and we can bundle things together, offer group pricing, food, campfires, wagon rides are included in pricing the hours you can spend with us can get long but always are fun. Carnage is designed to fun for all ages. Check back or check in with us for special packages like “sip and scare” and more.
We raise 52 crops on 700 acres, but our most important and perishable crop is our 53rd crop….FUN! You can always go back and get more wine, but you can’t go back and make more time!
Raised Beds plastic after hole is punched and plant inserted
One row of about 50 acres
My father in law Kay running the John Deere 6400
Part of growing all the quality produce we do on the farm at Maize Valley is preparing a good solid foundation for our crops to grow in. Part of that involves what are called raised irrigated beds. We grow about 200 acres of “fresh market produce”. Of that about 50-60 acres is grown using this method. We still farm about a total of 700 acres including hay, soybeans, pumpkins, sweet corn and more.
That is what sets Maize Valley apart I guess as far as a retailer in this day and age. I guess we take pride in being the real deal in all aspects we can. The man on the tractor in the video is Kay my father in law. His family has farmed here since the 1800′s and today we are still trying to raise products and market them to stay current and of value to today’s consumers.
We don’t just haul something in repackage it and put it out we try and craft something from raw materials and add value as we do. In the process we employee people, like Galen who is in the video who has worked with us for over 20 years. We break stuff, buy parts, pay taxes, build things and just try and make it through to the next generation.
We appreciate you stopping by and visiting with us here. But we hope we gave you enough reason to stop by the farm market and winery and even spend some more time with us.
Take care!
Fixing a wet spot in the "Triangle field"
Got Pipe? Sometimes You Need IT!
Every few years we try and keep up with that “overhead” work that pays in the long run and this is one of those jobs. It isn’t cheap to put in drain tile but it pays you back in the long haul. Sometimes in better yields sometimes just making a field usable in the first place. Plus it helps for just overall better plant health in both wet and dry years by helping to balance the air/water ratios in the soil.
One reason for Ohio Wine and More to post this is that before you plant a vineyard especially in Ohio you really need to be sure your soil is well drained. With the exception of very few locations especially with the advent of so many new wineries going in across the state most locations are going to need to have a machine such as this one come in and do the prep work. In most cases for vineyard establishment you need to put the drain tile in every 8 to 10 feet to achieve maximum benefit and return on investment. It costs about $1.00 per installed foot so when you are talking ten’s of thousands of feet it can get a bit expensive!
Cabbage lookin' pretty good!
Garlic coming up in rows!
Springtime vines
It has been a pretty warm and dry spring so far. You never know if that is a good thing or not. It is great to get out and get some work done early but also if it get too warm too early bad things can happen too. Such as an early bud break in the vineyard that leads to all sorts of problems. Last year we got frozen in late May and that pretty much killed the grape harvest for the year.
We have lots on tap this year in the way of locally produced vegtables, fruit, wine and good times at Maize Valley so keep in touch, and come and see why Maize Valley IS the place to BE!
Getting a early start in the Greenhouse!
Overhead view of Mater!
Everyday wine tastings and Wine Trail events too!
From weddings at the “Ballroom” to raising greenhouse crops, and winter farmers’ markets and a record setting year in the winery tasting room and cafe’ It has been a busy winter! My father in law Kay is gearing up for a HUGE season at the farmers’ market where it looks like at least nine markets a week for us. Wine tastings from Geneva to Dayton to Sandusky and more will keep us occupied too. Plus all the great special events from years past plus a few more are on the horizon as well. You need to stop out and see why we say “Maize Valley IS the placet To BE!
I have been busy working our face book and twitter pages too so this blog sort of got the “hind tit” approach as they say in the world of raisin’ Hogs! But all in all it has been a good winter too. Not too terrible cold with lots of snow cover really helped the grapes and they are looking fine. Now we just have to get through the rest of the spring and past any late frosts in May and we will be sitting pretty.
The video below is just one small snapshot of what is coming this summer at Maize Valley. Thanks for stopping by!
Long view of the Reisling
Waiting for spring
Pretty Cool
Our old barn
Home sweet home
Boy winter started early, like I think it was somewhere around last June? Anyhow we are seeing some signs of spring here or there. Days getting longer, still daylight at 6:30 Wow! Our vines so far so good. Despite all the snow and cold it really has not been as extreme as it was last winter.
Last winter we had significant die back due to temp in the sub zero teens for an extended period. We did not have that this. The trick will still be to get past that late frost in May however. You can look back on last years posts for that disaster. But that is what we roll with here on the farm.
We are planting more grapes this spring, doing new crops in the greenhouse and some other unique things will be coming up in the field too! Look for us at area farmers’ markets and of course at the main market and winery with tons of new special events and cool tried and true trusted ones as well.
Here are a couple of videos one of the vineyard itself and one of the drive out to the vineyard in my pickup hope you enjoy.
Remember at Maize Valley We Make Great Wine…FUN!!
