Weymouth Farms & Orchard, Winery

Weymouth Farms & Orchard, Winery, was started by Paul and Brenda O'Neill in 2006 when they purchased the original Conant Homestead, dating back to before 1825. The Conant family traces its roots back to Roger Conant, the founder of Salem and the first Governor of Massachusetts. Initially planting Asian pears, apples, and a small quantity of grapes, Paul began experimenting with winemaking in 2010. With no prior experience, he enrolled in the online Viticulture and Enology Program at UC Davis, graduating in 2012. Since then, the farm has expanded its grape varieties, focusing on those developed by Cornell University for their low pesticide requirements. The winery has received numerous awards, including medals at prestigious competitions such as the International Wine Competition and the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

The farm practices meticulous hand pruning of vines and trees, ensuring all grape vines are own-rooted and true to variety. Harvesting is done by hand, avoiding machine harvesting to maintain quality. The farm's winemaking process involves small batches with careful attention to each vintage. The farm optimizes sunlight for fruit growth and benefits from its location on one of the highest ridges in the area, which provides a natural breeze and a unique microclimate. The grape varieties chosen require less pesticide use but demand more care during fermentation, aligning with the farm's philosophy of producing great wine from great fruit.

The winery's wines have won numerous awards, including GOLD and SILVER medals at prestigious competitions such as the International Wine Competition, San Francisco International Wine Competition, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Tasters Guild, and the Ohio Wine Competition. The farm's location allows for a unique growing season, with fruit trees and vines awakening later in the spring and ripening later in the year, benefiting from the cycle of hot days and cool nights typical of Northeastern Ohio. The farm's unusual wines are made from fruits and grape varieties not commonly found in most outlets, providing a distinctive experience for wine enthusiasts.