Baltic Mill Winery- Baltic, OH
Winery tasting rooms come in all shapes and sizes; some cozy, some rustic, some all gleaming glass and concrete. Then there are some that are truly unforgettable, like Baltic Mill. As the name would suggest, the tasting room is located in a former flour mill; stepping through the doors is truly like stepping back in time.
Originally constructed in the mid-1800s, and known as Troyer’s Mill, it was rumored to be the largest flour mill in Ohio. When the railroad arrived in town, it became possible for them to ship their product across the state, as well as the country, making it a very prosperous concern. That is until July 15, 1908, when a fire blazed through Baltic, destroying the mill as well as the blacksmith shop, the bank, a restaurant, the post office, and a drug store; this was despite the best efforts of the townspeople who formed a bucket brigade in an attempt to extinguish the flames.
The owners wasted no time rebuilding their mill. Less than six months after the fire, a fancy new brick building was constructed, and new state of the art mill equipment installed. The new, modern mill could produce over 100 barrels of flour a day, far surpassing the capacities of the original mill. The company continued to thrive for over 50 years, hanging on until 1963, when mill operations ceased for good. When they closed, they literally just locked the door and walked away, leaving the mill and all its equipment intact.
Although the old mill was briefly used as a gift shop and bulk foods store, by 2013 the property was again vacant, and on the market. Fortunately, it found its way into the hands of a couple who always dreamed of opening a winery, and they did. Since 2014, the property, now known as Baltic Mill, has been welcoming visitors to taste wine and step back in time.
The cozy first floor tasting room bears all sorts of reminders of the mill. Wooden flour shoots still travel through the ceiling, along with belts and pulleys. Each nook contains unique reminders of the buildings past, to gaze at while you enjoy your wine- which is the reason you’re here, right? Fortunately, their wine is pretty tasty, and tastings are only fifty cents.
Most, if not all, of their grapes are sourced from California, then blended on site. All of their dry offerings were palatable, but the stand out was the Blend No. 111, named for the amount of iterations it took to develop. A mixture of Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is a smooth, immensely drinkable red wine, with no pretense. While some may discount any winery that does not grow their own grapes, I think there is a place at the table for all that love making wine, and produce a good product. Plus, I will always support the reuse of historic structures, which in this situation is spot on.
With wine in hand, ascend the steps to the second floor, and take in the inner workings of the mill. Two floors of original equipment remain; exploring the equipment is absolutely fascinating. I know nothing about mills, nor could I identify most of the things I saw, but that in no way diminishes the experience. And you get to do your exploring with wine, which makes everything better. It makes for a perfect rainy day activity, certainly one you won’t soon forget.
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