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Record low temperatures aren’t the only thing that has come to the region, as Kent State Ashtabula Wines is releasing its new wine, 17° (Seventeen Degrees), through its partnership with Laurello Vineyards. The new wine, an ice wine, joins the award-winning vintages in the label’s lineup.

The limited release will be available for purchase at Laurello Vineyards beginning Feb. 13. The new wine made its debut during the Geneva Winterfest in downtown Geneva, Ohio, on Feb. 2. It also will be one of the highlighted wines during the region’s 15th Annual Ice Wine Festival the first three weekends in March.     

The wine’s name comes from the fact that 17 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which naturally frozen vidal grapes are harvested, producing a concentrated, dessert wine, and a play on ������ at Ashtabula being a degree. Picked from the vine in the Grand River Valley appellation, 17° has aromas of dried fruit and flavors of honey and sweet apricot.   

“It’s significant to have an ice wine under the Kent State Ashtabula Wines label because ice wine is one of the wines that we produce very well in Ohio,” said Kent State Ashtabula Viticulture and Enology lecturer Ed Trebets. “And having a great ice wine gives credibility to our students, the academic programs and our university.”

Looking to expand educational opportunities for students in its wine degrees program, Kent State Ashtabula launched a unique partnership with Laurello Vineyards in November 2017, crafting a distinctive experience in which students participate in all aspects of grape growing and winemaking. 

The first two wines released under the partnership – Sunburst, a Grand River Riesling, and Sunset, a vinifera blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc – were well received by the public upon their launch last fall and were both awarded bronze medals at the 2017 Ohio Wine Competition.

“Both the Sunset and Sunburst wines have been very good sellers, and we expect 17° to do well too,” said Kim Laurello, owner of Laurello Vineyards. “Ice wines are very popular in the region, especially at this time of year, and it’s very rewarding for the students to see their work in the process come to fruition. We are thrilled at how the partnership is working out and having the students around the vineyard.”

A dessert ice wine, 17° is the third release from the award-winning Kent State Ashtabula Wines label.

“We are very thankful for our partnership with Laurello’s and the fact that their family business has allowed our students the opportunity to experience vineyard and winery operations that they otherwise would not experience,” added Mr. Trebets.

In addition to Laurello Vineyards, Kent State Ashtabula wines are currently carried by the Kent Cheesemonger and Campus Wine Cellar in Kent, Ohio. Laurello’s also accepts with shipping within the state of Ohio.

For more information about the Kent State Ashtabula brand of wines, and the viticulture and enology programs, visit www.kent.edu/ashtabula/wine. Read “A Vintage Year” from the Winter 2018 issue of Kent State Magazine for more on the launch of the Kent State Ashtabula Wines label.

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Media Contacts:

Jason Tirotta, jtirotta@kent.edu, 440-964-4567

Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595