By Keon Edington / Jambar Contributor
When Youngstown State University’s communication professor Cary Wecht is not teaching the next generation of students, she’s operating Cove W Winery in Deerfield.
The winery, located on Berlin Lake, opened three years ago and is co-owned by Wecht and her husband, Dave Wilson.
The couple started the winery as a passion project for their family. After buying the property four years ago, the winery’s purpose changed over time.
“The more we sat there and looked at the property, the more we thought we should do something with it,” Wecht said.
With no prior knowledge of how to run a business, Wecht said she and her husband turned to family to help set up their establishment.
Julia Depinto, Wilson’s daughter and part-time bartender, said her bartending experience was an asset to the couple.
“[Wilson] and [Wecht] obviously have no experience, so I was able to provide that kind of help in the time being until they got their bartenders up to speed,” Depinto said.
In addition to handcrafted wine, the owners make their own beer and have added food options including burgers, hotdogs and ribs. The winery also began its own food truck.
“We have some really interesting flavoring concepts with our wine,” Wecht said. “We try to make it fun and give it a little bit of personality.”
Wecht said the business ensures the quality of its wine stays consistent, as any mistake can damage a specific wine.
“It will either spoil or referment,” Wecht said. “You want to make sure your flavors are good and pleasing to people.”
With other wineries across the region, Wecht said what sets hers apart is the inclusion of a waterfront deck.
“It’s on the water, the boats come right up and the beach right on our property,” Wecht said. “People can come up in their bathing suits. It has an island feel.”
The deck includes two spaces, one by the water and another by a wine tasting building with picnic tables.
Depinto said the positive feedback from customers keeps the business alive.
“It’s hard to kind of put into words how positive the feedback’s been and how much people have really enjoyed being there,” Depinto said. “It’s really cool to see that, like [Wecht] and [Wilson] brought that to the Lake Berlin community.”
Like any business, the winery doesn’t come without challenges. Wecht said her and Wilson had to learn the intricacies of operating a business, including taking safety classes.
“We had to learn food safety requirements, point of sale systems and customer service,” Wecht said. “It was a steep learning curve.”
The company has now expanded its staff to a team that includes bartenders, food truck operators, cooking and cleaning staff. Family members help when needed.
In the future, Cove W Winery plans to develop a third yard space featuring shaded areas and expanded parking for customers.
“We’ve been pouring money into the [winery],” Wecht said. “Hopefully we can actually make some money this year.”
The venue is open from Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1. Cove W hours range from noon-9 p.m. on Friday-Saturday and Sundays from noon-5 p.m.
