The Grand Resort in Warren is hosting its wine sale and festival in the Grand Ballroom on November 6 from 7 to 10 p.m., pairing tastings from more than 20 Ohio distributors with heavy hors d'oeuvres and live jazz. General admission runs $60, or $50 for members, while a VIP ticket at $100 (or $90 for members) adds access to the wine cellar for additional pours.
According to Cleveland.com, each of the more than 20 participating Ohio distributors will bring three to five wine samples for guests to try alongside the hors d'oeuvres spread. The event, which lasts one evening, will also feature a performance from the Joe Augustine Trio. The resort sits at 9519 E. Market St. in Warren, and organizers can be reached at 330-856-1900, 330-539-5008 or 724-704-8801, or online at avalongcc.com and thegrandresort.com.
A Wine Cellar With National Recognition
VIP guests will have access to a space with some real pedigree. The Grand Resort's Wine Cellar & Lounge has earned Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence for five consecutive years running from 2022 through 2026, according to The Grand Resort. The cellar houses more than 700 wine varieties and includes a 24-dispenser Wine On-Tap system, giving festival-goers access to a far deeper selection than a typical one-night pour list. The lounge also overlooks the resort's signature 20-by-40-foot outdoor Roman Bath, a pool that's been heated to 90 degrees year-round since it was installed in 2019, per the same source.
The resort's wine program is directed by Wine Director Bryan Jones, who coordinates international selections and pairings across Gatsby's fine dining and the property's other venues, as noted by Valley Spotlight. The cellar isn't just a once-a-year attraction, either — the resort offers private tasting packages throughout the year, including a $350 Wine Cellar Tasting Party Package for four guests with flight options like California Classics, Tour of Italy, or Vive la France, alongside charcuterie and keepsake glassware.
Steinway Artist Headlines the Music
Jazz pianist Joe Augustine will lead his trio at the festival, bringing a familiar face to longtime resort guests. Augustine was named an official Steinway Artist in 1994, has released more than 30 albums, and regularly performs Wednesday and Friday evenings at the resort's Gatsby's restaurant, according to his official site.
From Avalon Inn to a $35 Million Overhaul
The property has come a long way from its origins. It opened in 1969 as the Avalon Inn before a $35-million-plus expansion and modernization project transformed it into The Grand Resort, according to Business Journal Daily. That investment built out an expansive complex that now includes the Roman Bath, luxury suites, and expanded conference and recreation venues. Registered hotel guests also get temporary membership privileges at all five affiliated Avalon Golf and Country Club locations across Ohio and Pennsylvania, accessible via complimentary resort shuttle, per CompassOhio.
The resort is owned and operated by Warren-based Avalon Holdings Corporation, a publicly traded company listed on NYSE American under the ticker AWX, which runs commercial waste management services alongside its golf and hospitality division, according to Stock Analysis. The resort's affiliated 18-hole Avalon Lakes Golf Course has also hosted large-scale gatherings before, having served as host venue for the statewide Ohio Amateur Golf Championship, drawing nearly 150 top amateur golfers, per Business Journal Daily.
Part of a Multi-Billion-Dollar State Industry
The November festival also taps into a much larger economic story for Ohio. Winemaking generates $6.6 billion in economic activity and supports more than 40,000 jobs statewide, ranking Ohio seventh nationally in wine economic output, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee and cited by the Ohio Department of Development. Ohio is home to more than 400 wineries producing upward of 1.2 million gallons of wine annually, the same source notes. For a one-night event in Warren pulling in more than 20 distributors, that statewide backdrop underscores just how much homegrown wine commerce is on offer at the tasting tables.
