With over 30 years of print journalism experience, Mark Fisher is the first reporter to be named to the Ohio Wine Hall of Fame. Fisher currently serves as the retail and restaurant reporter for Dayton Daily news, a Cox Media Group news source.

Since 1989, he has authored the Taste of Wine column for Dayton Daily News. He started Uncorked in 2005 and was one of the first daily wine columnists to launch a wine blog. In 2008, he established Taste, a food and dining blog.

Fisher's work has appeared in a number of national and area wine tourism publications and websites including Ohio Magazine and WineEnthusiast.com. He has also served a judge for the Ohio Wine Competition, the Indy International Wine Competition, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition.

Kenny Joe Schuchter, a second-generation owner and 50 year industry veteran, operates Valley Vineyards, the second-largest estate grown winery in Ohio.

Schuchter served as a board member and as president of the Ohio Wine Producers Association, and on the Ohio Grape Industries Committee and its research committee.

His father, Ken Shuchter, who passed away in October 2016, was inducted into the Ohio Wine Hall of Fame 14 years ago.

Pictured left to right: Kenny Jo Schuchter and Greg Pollman, wine maker at Valley Vineyards since 1985, in the cellar of the winery.

Photo of the Ferrante family receiving two prestigious awards; the Ohio Hall of Fame and the Ohio Winemaker of Year award by the Ohio Grape Industries at the Ohio Wine and Grape Short Course in Columbus, Ohio. Nicholas Ferrante is shown holding both awards.

Nicholas Ferrante, a third generation winemaker for Ferrante Winery in Harpersfield, is regarded as one of the state's most respected winemakers. His wines have been awarded 'Sweepstakes,' 'Best of Show,' and 'Double Gold,' recognition from coast to coast.

He has generously given of his time, serving on the Ohio Grape Industries Committees and on its research subcommittees. He has been a supporter and collaborator of research and innovation, be it through our universities or in his support or the Grand River Valley initiative or the creation of Pairings Wine and Culinary Experience. He has also been a speaker at nearly every major industry conference in the country.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website.

David Scurlock has played a critical role in the growth of and success in Ohio’s grape and wine grape industries. Mentored by Dr. Garth Cahoon, David joined Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster in 1980; an era devoted to cultivation of traditional native grapes, most of which were used for juice and the remainder fermented into regionally popular wines. Over the years he has helped both new and veteran growers across the state produce world class wine by helping them transform their acreage into hybrid and vinifera vines. He has worked directly with a countless number of growers to establish new vines and has monitored their growth.

Anthony (Tony) Debevc was recognized for his pioneering work in grape growing, his leadership, and for the establishment of one of the first ‘modern era’ wineries when it opened in the Grand River Valley in 1972.

In the winery’s early days, he was mentored by the Philip Wagner of Maryland’s Boordy Vineyards, a legendary figure whose grape growing experiments introduced French-American hybrid grapes to America.

He was the founding director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association and elected as the first chair of the American Association of Vintners, which developed into Wine America. He served on the first Ohio Grape Industries Committee and held the position of chairman for the American Association of Vintners, the first national trade association for wine producers.

Dalton 'Duke' Bixler has worked many years in the Ohio wine industry, growing his 3,000 gallon Breitenbach Wine Cellar into one of the largest wineries in the state. In 1980, when the prospect of turning his meat and cheese market into a winery came up, Duke and Cynthia Bixler took on the challenge. They named it Breitenbach, which means “broad or bright stream.” This same year he joined Ohio Wine Producers Association, as the 20th winery in the state.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website

Dr. Michael A. Ellis, emeritus professor of fruit pathology at the Ohio State University, has guided the Ohio grape and wine community to produce the best grapes possible. His influence can be seen in thousands of thriving vineyards from the Ohio River to the shores of Lake Erie. Specifically, he was recognized for his research and extension work in grapes. However his enthusiasm, energy, can-do attitude, clear presentations and willingness to be ever helpful made it easy for well-established growers and those just starting out to adopt his recommendations.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website.

Allan Klingshirn of the Klingshirn Winery in Avon Lake served the industry as a visionary who helped guide the early years of the 'new' industry in the early eighties, first as a member and then as a two-term president of the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

Allan purchased the family farm in 1955 from his father Albert, who had established the winery in 1935 following the repeal of Prohibition. Under Allan's leadership, the winery more than quadrupled in size and its buildings were expanded to include a retail tasting room. When his son, Lee joined the business in 1986, vineyards were expanded to include a wide range of vinifera and hybrid wine grapes.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website

Tony Debevc (1916-2010) and Rose Petrovic (1921-2017) were inducted for their enduring spirit, success, and commitment to the Ohio grape and wine industry. In early 1970s Tony, with the help of Rose and his son Anthony (Tony) Debevc and the recommendation of Dr. Garth Cahoon and others, transformed their small Concord grape production into a small A-frame winery with 35 seats. The winery emerged as a local labrusca producer but grew to become one of the largest in Ohio.

Running the business was a family affair. Tony managed the vineyards and Rose managed the books. Anthony, Jr. and his wife Beth pursued a dynamic business plan based on growth and quality fruit and fine wines. In 1995, the family was the first establishment to be named by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine as “Wine Family of the Year”.

Source: Ohio Wine Producers Association Hall of Fame website