VERSAILLES—The Winery at Versailles held a private gala on Thursday evening to celebrate 20 years of business in Darke County.
“It seems like just a blink ago that we opened here,” winery owner Carol Williams said. “It’s been pretty exciting. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success. Many of you are here with us, and we are so thankful to celebrate.”
Carol and her husband Mike, opened the winery in 2002. The winery was voted the Best Winery in Ohio in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 by Ohio Sip Magazine Reader’s Poll. The couple additionally owns The Winery at Hunters Valley and The Winery at Wilcox in Pennsylvania.
Carol said there are several things that led to The Winery at Versailles’ longstanding success.
“The first is God,” she said. “He has richly blessed us beyond what is possible. Our family would be next. Successful businesses take time and energy, and that often takes away from your family time. They have to give up a lot of their time. Next, incredible customers. We just can’t say enough about everything you have done to support this business. It’s just amazing.”
She added that earlier in the year, when the winery experienced a small fire, the community’s support was unreal.
“The outpouring you gave us from that, with the calls and the emails, and the response, and the offers of help, it was just amazing,” she said. “Again, as customers, we were just so grateful. It just warmed our hearts.”
At the gala, attendees were invited to try selected wines, wine cocktails and samples of the winery’s 20th anniversary wine called e’Maurade.
Mike said that the winery owes a lot to Darke County and its surrounding areas.
“The area has been good for us,” he said. “We have spent time in order to develop opportunities for giving. I just pray that every business in area does the same thing. You don’t have to give a lot, but if everyone gives a little, we can do a lot of good.”
To check out some of the upcoming events at the winery, or to learn more about the winery, go to wineryatversailles.com.
