Willet "Bill" Worthy

Willet ‘Bill’ Worthy as one of the true pioneers of the Ohio wine industry and one of the very first to believe fine grapes could be grown in the Grand River Valley and within the influence of Lake Erie.

He left a successful career in the financial industry to plant hybrids and vinifera grapes in the early 1970’s in what was then known as the ‘Concord Grape Belt.’  He owned his Grand River Winery in 1977 using fruit from his 23 acres of grapes grown on the ridge whose view included the Lake itself.  When few nationally recognized the potential of the GRV and Lake Erie grapes, he brought awareness to the area in a 1977 Wall Street Journal article entitled “American Wine Comes of Age.”

Bill believed in using local talent and dozens of young grape and wine enthusiasts benefited from his mentorship.  Before an era when “Wine Country Experiences” were identified as a key marketing opportunity, he sponsored art shows and concerts and even served as the host for live theater through the Maple Leaf Theater Company.

Bill retired and sold the winery in 1998 and we lost him in 2011 but his vision and contributions to all of us live on via the current Grand River Wine Cellars, in the building he established.