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Mastropietro Winery leads the way for others in Mahoning County
Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center was the first winery to open up in Mahoning County and while others have followed, the owners said the competition has not hurt their business. “Every year gets better and better,” said co-owner Marianne Mastropietro, who together with her husband, Daniel, and sister-in-law, Cathy, opened the winery at 14558 Ellsworth Rd. in May 2005. “We could never have imagined the success when we first opened. Even the recession has not hurt us.” (Photo courtesy of Mastropietro Winery).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 12, 2013
It was the first winery to open up in Mahoning County and while others have followed, the owners of Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center said the competition has not hurt their business.
“Every year gets better and better,” said co-owner Marianne Mastropietro, who together with her husband, Daniel, and sister-in-law, Cathy, opened the winery at 14558 Ellsworth Rd. in May 2005. “We could never have imagined the success when we first opened. Even the recession has not hurt us.”
That said getting the winery up and running was not an easy task.
“We actually spent six to eight months searching for a location,” said Daniel. “We originally started north of Interstate 80 where some of the other wineries were located, but then a family member learned of a study that suggested the biggest potential was actually in the opposite direction, which is what led us here.”
Once they settled on their current location in 2003, the work really began.
“When we bought the 53-acre property it was an old farmhouse with a cornfield,” said Marianne. “We moved into the farmhouse and broke ground for the winery in the winter of 2004. Once we got the process rolling things happened pretty fast.”
For Daniel opening a winery was a natural progression. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, winemaking had been a family tradition for about half a century, with his grandfather, father and uncles partaking in the craft in the family’s cellar.
“Initially I wanted to open an Italian deli or a wine store but as time went on the idea evolved into a winery,” Daniel said. “There was a lot involved with the winery. You need to get a permit, buy equipment and your labels have to be approved by the state and federal government. The labels cannot be misleading; they have to represent what is actually in the wine.”
Today his dream encompasses 14 acres of property, a Tuscan-style tasting room, patios with various seating arrangements, pavilions, gazebo, banquet room, gift shop and a wine cellar.
The winery is open Thursday to Sunday. It offers snacking food but does not have a full kitchen. On Thursdays and Sundays, guests are able to bring their own food or order from two local pizzerias. On Friday and Saturday evenings, Rachel’s Restaurant and Catering Company in Austintown Township is at the winery, and prepares fresh appetizers, pizzas and sandwiches. There is also live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings.
Although the operation is only open to the public four days a week, the owners are quite busy even without customers.
“It is a lot more work than we expected,” said Daniel. “We have three acres of grapes and it takes a lot of time to maintain the vineyards and landscape, not to mention making the wines.
“We harvest the grapes at the end of August through September. Once you crush the grapes you have to let them mature in the tanks for at least nine months to a year. In some cases it takes two years,” Daniel said.
“Our wine selection is fairly consistent but we do add a new wine every now and then,” said Daniel. “By far our sweet Dolce Bianco and Dolce Rosso are the most popular wines. And every wine that we serve is actually made here.”
“We are here a minimum of eight hours a day,” said Marianne. “I handle the paperwork and schedule the staff.
“I would say 99.9 percent of the time I enjoy what I am doing. I have met some wonderful people even though I’m not really a ‘people person’ like my husband. When we first opened I would tell Dan this is not a ‘people day’ for me and then I would work in the kitchen. He is the kind of person who could talk to a stone and get it to talk back.”
The owners employ about 14 people, most work part time. Cathy Mastropietro has retired and assists at the winery as needed.
The winery overlooks the lake, and it has been the site of weddings and other events. The banquet room is also used for parties during the winter.
“We draw people from all over,” said Marianne. “We are about 25 minutes from Pennsylvania so we have a lot of customers from that state as well as local people from Akron, Cleveland, Youngstown and other local areas. We’ve even had customers from Canada and Alaska.”
“We have a lot of regulars as well as tourists who are visiting several wineries in the area at the same time. Having other wineries around actually brings us business,” said Daniel.
“The winter is slow since we are kind of out in the middle of nowhere,” said Marianne. “But nine months out of the year we are very busy.”
“I think this winery is something that the area needed,” said longtime customer, Julie Sharfal, who has been a regular since it opened. “They moved right behind my house so it is very convenient. Every Thursday a group of us get together here. There is a nice pond so you can feed the fish and have a glass of wine. They have a lot of family events too and I bring my three-year-old to feed the fish.”
Over the years, Sharfal said she has developed several favorite wines. “I started off with a sweet red called Dolce Rosso. Now I’m more of a Merlot and Cabernet person. I also like Sangiovese (Chianti grape with soft spice, black cherry and plum flavor).”
Regular Erin Nelson said her favorites range from Vidal Blanc in the summer to Cabernet Sauvignon during the winter. “I come here with Julie when the group gathers. I like the fact that the wines are made fresh.”
In addition to the wines, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are available.
“We want people who come here to be able to sit down and enjoy time and conversation with their family and friends,” said Marianne.
“I would like to retire some day and sell this winery,” said Daniel. “I have two children but they have not expressed an interest in taking it over. If I cannot sell it, then I would like to expand and go to the next level, maybe adding a large banquet hall.”
While they have not expanded yet, in 2011, the owners signed a deal with an outside distributor to make their wines available in Ohio grocery stores and restaurants.
“Our wines are currently available in five surrounding counties and we hope the distributor will slowly expand wine sales to other counties in Ohio,” said Marianne.