For one couple in Belpre, making wine started out as a simple hobby to make gifts for their friends and family.
Barbara and Joel Whitaker, who live about 45 minutes outside Athens, created what Barbara called bathtub wine - containers of their homemade wine were placed in the bathtub in case of accidental leaking.
But six years later, what started out as a hobby has turned into a new plan for retirement.
The couple is only a few days away from the grand opening of their own winery and coffee and tea shop - the Unicorn Wine Guild.
The micro-winery features 12 different wines from whites, reds, dessert and fruit wines. Customers can sample wine or even make and label their own bottles of wine, Barbara Whitaker said. Some of their more popular wines include midnight magic
a white merlot (similar to a Zinfandel) and a shamrock green apple Riesling.
Unicorn Wine Guild is not a vineyard, so though the wine is made at the winery, the juices are imported from other states, she said.
In addition to wines, Unicorn Wine Guild offers specialty loose teas from Dublin and coffee from Gallipolis, Whitaker said.
I always drank tea as a little girl and I remember the glamour of the tea rooms and I wanted to bring a little bit of that to people here
she said.
But customers can do more than just drink; a lunch menu with sandwiches, fruit, chips, scones and cookies is also available, she said.
The name and logo - the unicorn - started with Barbara, who has collected unicorns for several years, and her husband decided he wanted to name the establishment with her collection in mind.
Like the mythical creatures, Whitaker said the atmosphere and wine should have a little magic in every sip. And that magic is already expanding to include a gift shop with books, cheese, meats and cookies, she said.
Although the winery might continue to expand, Whitaker said the focus would remain on the wines and wine making.
Whitaker stresses that the winery isn't just for people who are already familiar with wines; amateur wine drinkers or people totally unfamiliar with wines are welcome too.
You don't have to be a snob to enjoy and experience good wine
Whitaker said. If you want to drink a white wine with steak
that's completely your choice.
The next closest winery in Southeast Ohio is in Marietta, but Whitaker said Unicorn Wine Guild offers people the chance to create their own wines based on what flavors they like.
People can come in
try out different juices and combinations and then come back a couple months later to bottle it and create their own label
she said.
The grand opening is scheduled for Tuesday, but Whitaker is already encouraging people to stop in.
We hope this becomes a place where people can meet and gather and enjoy some delicious and interesting beverages
she said.
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