La Vendemmia, Canton-style

Our Festa Gervasi harvest wagon is a transformation of the Italian La Vendemmia tradition, when the last grapes from the vineyard are ceremoniously hauled to the village in a decorated wagon, traditionally borne by oxen. Grape stomping and festivity ensue.

Our wagon celebrates not just the bounty of the harvest, but tells the story of this place, from virgin oak forest to dairy farm to tree farm to vineyard.

Instead of a team of oxen, our Canton harvest wagon is borne by our antique McCormick Farmall, refurbished and used to till our vineyard rows.

Baskets of apples and pears from our orchard, and walnuts from our fence rows (standing in place of Tuscan olives), speak to the rural heritage of this corner of Canton, Ohio.

Colorful sweet gum and maple boughs mark the years a tree farm stood on these grounds, and are joined by asters, goldenrod, and rose hips from our meadows, which are nearing their peak of fall color.

Wooden signs represent the six varieties we have chosen to nurture to fruitful maturity in our young vineyard: Marquette, Frontenac Gris, Aromella, Arandell, Vignoles, and Petite Pearl.

An oak wine barrel from the Canton Cooperage company commemorates the virgin oak forest that once stood on this site, remnants of which can be seen in the restored oak beams of our Bistro, a renovated 1823 Ohio bank barn.

Garlands of wild grape vines from our woodlands wrap the wagon, in homage to Ohio's vineyard heritage, and the American lineage of some of the French-American hybrids we grow.

The wagon itself is made of scraps of lumber from our new Crush House, and a few boards from the old barn which housed our initial wine cellar, in celebration of vintages past and future.

Baskets of summer flowers from our meticulous grounds, recently pulled to be replaced by fall plantings, are another marker of seasonal change.

The work of the vineyard goes on through all seasons and conditions. When harvest and its vibrant colors arrive, it is more than just a pretty scene, but a celebration of life and abundance.