By Isabel Hamilton
Lakeside Advancement Intern
Gideon Owen Wine Company, located a short drive from Lakeside on Catawba Island, is committed to restoring the roots of wine production in the area, showcasing its history and creating an immersive community for guests and locals alike.
Our peninsula and the surrounding islands were once booming with vineyards and wine production, so much so that the area is considered the nation’s “first Napa Valley.”
Gideon Owen’s roots go back to before Lakeside’s founding, when in 1870, a group of grape growers formed the Catawba Island Wine Company (CIWC). The group raised enough money to build cellars and a storehouse in 1872, and the original limestone structure still stands today.
The building changed hands several times throughout its history, housing a putt-putt golf course and a tea room during prohibition until it was sold to the Mon Ami Champagne Company in the early 1900s.
Production was moved entirely off-site following a fire in 1943, and when it reopened, it served solely as a restaurant and entertainment venue.
Donna and Quintin Smith sought to establish a new brand identity when they bought the property in 2019 and chose to name it after a piece of forgotten history.
Gideon Owen was one of the original grape growers on Catawba but was excluded when the CIWC was formed. When researching the property, the Smiths learned that part of the land was originally at the heart of Owen’s estate, and decided to pay tribute to him, naming their new business Gideon Owen Wine Company.
Their building turned 152 this year, and the Smiths are devoted to preserving its history and sharing it with others. They have played a large role in reviving Catawba Island’s fruit and wine industry, restoring and expanding their fruit farm Quinstock, as well as building Twin Oast Brewing and establishing its working orchard.
When they purchased the former Mon Ami Restaurant, they had hopes to restore not only the building and surrounding acreage, but the practice of grape growing and winemaking, and they are well on their way in both regards.
The building has been beautifully restored and renovated to include the state-of-the-art Tirage Wine Bar, multiple events spaces, and the Chalet, an accomplished restaurant with a warm atmosphere.
The historic, European-inspired, vaulted wine cellars, sitting 40 feet underground, have been restored and are back in use for events, tours, production and wine storage. One cellar holds barrels that have been there for decades and would have been able to house thousands of gallons of wine in their heyday.
While Gideon Owen doesn’t use these barrels anymore, they serve as a tool for education and an inspiration to bring local wine production back to Catawba Island for the first time in over a century.
Brad Indoe, head winemaker at Gideon Owen, is leading this charge. “It’s a long-term project,” he said, but one that drew him here in the first place.
Gideon Owen produces wine with grapes sourced only from the Lake Erie area, a unique practice, as most source from out west.
In a few weeks, Indoe’s favorite part of the process – the harvest – will begin.
“It’s an exciting moment because you’ve been waiting for it the whole year… and it’s a celebration when you’ve finally gotten them in.”
Especially when the weather is threatening or the deer get hungry, tending to the grapes is a hard task, and Gideon Owen’s 4-year-old vineyards are well-taken care of.
After the harvest, the grapes are fermented and pressed, then the wine is aged in barrels or tanks until it’s ready to be bottled.
Gideon Owen makes all of its award-winning wines on-site and only sells locally, allowing them to focus on quality over quantity.
Part of Gideon Owen’s goal to showcase the historical and cultural significance of the building has been restoring event spaces such as the Ballroom and the Loft to their former glory.
These spaces combine historic charm and modern convenience, perfect for “turning life’s big moments into memorable experiences.”
Gideon Owen also offers smaller event spaces, as well as outdoor space for all occasions.
Stop by the Gideon Owen Wine Company this summer to see a piece of Catawba Island history and to learn about the history being made.
Special thanks to Gideon Owen Wine Company for supporting Lakeside Chautauqua this season.
