It’s more than ambiance - It’s a “Tuscan destination”
After retiring from their professional careers in the health care sector, Robert and Renee Guilliams took on an exciting new life and started a family winery, with the unique feature of an on-site restaurant as well.
Robert Guilliams said the notion of owning a winery actually began taking shape after he and his wife spent some time traveling to California, then realizing there were very few, if any, destinations in the Midwest that offered a true Tuscan winery experience.
“We were so impressed with the winery type lifestyle from our Napa and Sonoma Valley trips in California,” Guilliams said. “We believed we could create a very special destination right here if we could combine food and wine in a setting where folks could learn about wine and enjoy it, paired with excellent food, all in a very special and relaxed atmosphere.”
That basic concept and the inspiration from those trips is what initiated the idea for Raven’s Glenn Winery, one of the most unique and creative winery destinations to be found.
Raven’s Glenn Winery is located seven miles west of Interstate 77 and seven miles east of Coshocton, on U.S. 36, at the intersection of Coshocton County Road 143. Hours of operation include: Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (gift shop and tasting room only); Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (restaurant and tasting room); Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (tasting room) and Sunday Champagne Brunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Raven’s Glenn is unique in that only a small number of wineries nationwide combine their winery with a restaurant. Something else that sets Raven’s Glenn apart is the location, on the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers in the Midwest, offering a tranquil and nostalgic view.
Guilliams is proud of the fine wines produced through Raven’s Glenn and said having a family-owned winery ensures customers of the best quality and value.
“Family businesses are the norm when it comes to wines,” he said. “One reason is the amount of work and dedication needed. Between the vineyard, winery and restaurant, it is a seven-day, year-round endeavor. A family operation better assures that everyone involved takes the family’s reputation for making quality wines very seriously. It’s truly a family operation here at Raven’s Glenn. In addition to Renee and I, our son, Beau, is the wine maker and is an important element of everything we do.”
Guilliams is also involved with the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, which is part of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and strives to educate and promote the Ohio wine and grape industry.
Guilliams believes the more an individual learns about wine, the better he or she will feel when choosing a particular selection. Unlike other products, each selection is rich in history, character, and individuality.
“Any time you can help educate a potential customer about wine, that person will feel a better bond with the product and become a more loyal customer,” Guilliams said. “Wine tends to be somewhat mysterious and customers appreciate that we take time and interest regarding their questions. Most of all, we drop all the pretentiousness that is sometimes associated with wine and just encourage our customers to enjoy and have fun.”
“Enjoy” and “have fun” are easy to do at Raven’s Glenn because food and wine are their specialty. If that’s not enough, special happenings occur throughout the week. On Wednesday evenings only, Raven’s Glenn offers a unique in-house smoked prime rib that has become very popular. Thursday and Friday evenings are always special because of resident piano player Dan Barns, who has proven to be a true master at the grand piano and enjoys taking requests from guests. Every Friday is porterhouse steak night, and each steak served at Raven’s Glenn is specially cut for the winery and cooked on an open flame char broiler.
A special event every Sunday is the Champagne Brunch. The brunch begins at 11:30 and is buffet style. Chef Mike creates omelets to order at table side, plus he always has at least two prime cuts of meat, accompanied by several choices of side dishes. These typically include lasagna, pasta alfredo, oven browned potatoes, and steamed vegetables, along with several other items. Naturally they have waffles, juices and several choices of desserts.
As with all wineries, earning medals are an important aspect of measuring quality and achieving goals and, rest assured, Raven’s Glenn has secured their share of awards. Both Robert and Renee are very proud of the recognition their winery and employees have received, but what’s even more exciting are the constant appreciation and comments they hear from customers.
“Medals are an important part of every winery’s measurement of quality and we consistently win our share,” Guilliams said. “But despite our numerous medals, the most gratifying reward is our customer comments. I knew we had something special when I overheard someone in a store checkout line, 80 miles away from home, talking about how much they enjoyed the wines and food on their visit to Raven’s Glenn in Coshocton County. I said nothing to the two but understood at that point that our plans were truly coming together.”
Check out more information on Raven's Glenn Winery and Restuarant
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