Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Kick back, relax, sip some wine with ‘Merlin’

By Anna Prior

The Valley offers an assortment of venues with varying types of entertainment and beverages. But if you’re looking to escape the noisy crowded bar scene for an evening, you don't have to go far to find a different atmosphere to enjoy a good drink.

Nestled on a wooded hillside overlooking Lake Milton, Myrddin Winery is true to its tag line — Wine. Water. Woods. Wildlife — offering visitors a quiet, serene and natural setting to enjoy a glass of wine.

“The wine experience has changed over from going from winery to winery to winery and just tasting wine, to actually spending time at each winery and enjoying the setting that's there,” Myrrdin co-owner Gayle Sperry said.

The name Myrrdin comes from the Welsh for Merlin and all of the names of the wines offered at the winery have some connection to Merlin.

Since December 2005, Sperry, along with her son Kristofer and his wife Evelyn, has operated Myrrdin, which offers 13 varieties of wine and produces about 4,000 gallons a year.

Myrddin is one stop on a trail of six area wineries which includes Candlelight Winery in Garrettsville, Maize Valley Winery in Marlboro, Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center, Viking Vineyards in Kent and The Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton.

Upon arriving at Myrrdin, visitors walk down a twisting wood chip path through trees and various flora and fauna to the winery's outdoor patio. The entrance next to the patio leads into the winery's main area, the lower level of Sperry's home. Inside, tables with colorful candles and a few flowers provide a dry environment in case of rain.

But the natural beauty outside is probably more of a draw. Visitors can sit at small table-and-chair arrangements, on cushioned chairs under a gazebo, or around the fire pit.

Another sheltered outdoor tasting area is currently being built so visitors can enjoy the outdoors without getting wet if it rains.

Even though there are different seating options, all are within close proximity to each other, generating an intimate setting.

Myrddin's small size is one thing that sets it apart from other larger wineries, Sperry said.

“People have told us that because we are small, people interact with each other here,” Sperry said. “People who have never met will start talking and they say that doesn't happen in larger wineries.”

Besides the potential of making some new friends, Myrrdin visitors also have the opportunity to learn a little about wine and the wine-making process.

Wine tasting novices can listen to a short presentation by one of the winery's owners before paying less than a dollar a taste to sample several of Myrrdin's offerings, which include a range of dry and sweet reds and whites.

This educational approach to wine can be appealing to wine newcomers—especially younger wine drinkers—by providing a simple and calm, yet enthusiastic environment for a first time wine tasting experience.

After settling on a favorite, visitors can purchase wine by the glass ($4-$6) or by the bottle ($13-$24), and then take it outside with some cheese and crackers to enjoy the company and the atmosphere. For those under the age of 21, Myrddin offers a non-alcoholic wine along with a variety of sodas and bottled water.

Although Myrddin's size and location in a residential area does not allow for entertainment acts found at other wineries, its setting and ambiance provides natural enjoyment, Sperry said.

Gathering around the fire pit for conversation during Fireside Fridays this summer is one example of this relaxing low-key entertainment. Another can be found in identifying the many different forms of wild plant life and birds surrounding the winery and Lake Milton.

Myrddin Winery is a family-owned and -operated business. Gayle Sperry handles the winery's sales while Kristofer Sperry, an Akron architect who specializes in building wineries, makes the wine. Evelyn Sperry deals with the marketing aspects of the business.

Currently Kristofer Sperry produces Myrrdin's wine using imported grapes from places that include California, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Gayle Sperry said.

However, in less than three years that should no longer be the case. The Sperrys have rented some nearby farm land and have started to grow their own grapes.

Producing their own grapes allows the winery to have more control over acidity and sugar levels in the fruit, Gayle Sperry said.

The grape plants may only be a foot tall now, but in three years they should be big enough to produce harvestable fruit. By then, Myrrdin might have expanded into a second location, Sperry said. However another opening is only being considered currently.

For now, Myrrdin visitors can enjoy a relaxing evening, before heading back to that rowdy bar.

Click here for more information about Myrrdin.