In the mid-1800s, the southwest Ohio region, including Union Township and other river-bordering areas of Clermont County, was the epicenter of an American wine empire. Over 3,000 acres of lush vineyards spanned across the Ohio River from the hillsides of Cincinnati, through Clermont, down to Ripley.
A combination of black rot and downy mildew devastation, along with labor shortages caused by the Civil War, caused the vineyard boom to collapse in the late 1860s. For nearly a century and a half, Clermont County has had few opportunities to reengage with its local winemaking tradition…
Vineyards at Harmony Hill.
Marcy Gantt, co-owner of the new and improved Harmony Hill Vineyards & Winery, purchased the farm back in October. Since then, her family has worked tirelessly to renovate the property into a welcoming boutique vineyard, event venue, and winery. The current vineyard operates on 36 acres of naturally certified wildlife refuge, rejuvenating and invigorating Clermont County’s local wine industry.
Those familiar with the wine business know this work is not easy. Thousands of hours go into vineyard upkeep, grape crushing, fermentation, bottling, licensing, and venue administration. For Gantt, the last year has been chaotic, but rewarding.
“[The business has been] busier than expected,” she told Good Day Clermont! “Which I think is always the case when you head into a new venture.”
Marcy Gantt with oak barrels.
She and her husband spent much of last winter improving their winemaking craft and planning major construction on the property, all while keeping up with seasonal pruning.
“We did a lot of learning during that time,” Gantt recalls. She told Good Day Clermont! rebranding took a lot of effort, such as designing a new logo, updating merchandise, and adding a new tasting bar to the guest area.
Still, the couple didn’t do all the work alone. Gantt recruited help from the Grant Career Center to construct a metal stage for live performances, including power, lights, and fans.
Stainless steel wine tanks at Harmony Hill.
Local music has become a staple of the new vision. So many bands from across the region have reached out to Harmony Hill for a spot on the weekend bill that they have needed to add additional music slots throughout the day. “There's so much talent!” Gantt said.
Thursday Night Trivia is another weekly event that draws crowds in the dozens.
Currently, the venue can seat about 200 guests, and there have been evenings where they wished they had more. “Overall, the public response has been great. Weather continues to be our biggest adversary,” she said.
The recent El Niño heat wave has brought significant rain and humidity across the Midwest, creating challenges for Gantt and her team. They began building covered areas and drainage systems to reduce moisture in sensitive parts of the property. For guests, they added slushies and food trucks to help them cool off on particularly hot days.
Seating under shelter at Harmony Hill.
“We just want to leave it a little better — the community,” Gantt praised residents in Bethel and the broader Clermont region. “It’s been this beautiful embrace from our employees, their friends and family, and just a community that we have no business being a part of; we have no business being welcomed into this way,” she added. “I think it's the biggest gift of all.”
As a growing winery, Harmony Hill products are available on site and during special retail events. No wholesale distribution is yet available, though the team is currently establishing a relationship with Vinoshipper to begin sales across state lines.
The wine cave at Harmony Hill.
She concluded her interview with Good Day Clermont! on a final thought: “You get what you give… I want people to feel a little lighter when they leave.”
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