Rich and Betsy Hill were both originally from New Jersey, and some may say they still have that eastern habit of always being on the go. Rich has nearly 30 years of experience in the chemical, ceramic, and polymers industry. He holds B.S. and M.Sc. engineering degrees from Rutgers University, and a doctorate degree in Materials Science from the University of Leoben, Austria. Betsy has nearly 25 years experience in the retail trade business, and was the originator and owner of several cookware stores over that timeframe. The businesses she started in New York and Ohio were successfully sold and remain as viable enterprises today

In 1997 the Hill’s purchased the old Stoll farm in Parkman, Ohio. Rich (Dr. Hill) concentrated on gaining experience with growing grapes and making wine. Informational support from the Ohio Wine Growers Association and the state of Ohio’s winter short courses and the helpful staff of the OSU agricultural school and grape extension were instrumental in providing the basics of grape-growing and winemaking knowledge, along with reading, reading, and more reading.

The first harvest was small but promising in 1999. By 2001, with confidence in the newly learned skills, the decision was made to begin the process of becoming an official winery. The first official vintage was 2002, and included chardonnay, vignoles, pinot noir, Bianca, Riesling, and Seyval.

Betsy’s business skills were put to use in establishing solid business practices, and her talents for assembling successful retail enterprises were put to use in establishing the tasting room store. This facility, which is primarily a place for tasting and purchasing the wines made by the winery also includes a full supply of wine related items for sale.

The name Laleure Vineyards was taken from Rich’s grandmother Jeanne Marie Laleure Hill. Laleure is the maiden name of this native of Jouet les Tours, located in France’s Loire Valley. Her father was one of 13 boys from Dijon, the heart of the great Burgundy wine region of France. Maybe winemaking is just in the Laleure bloodlines!

“Great Grandma” Hill introduced Rich and Betsy to the habit of drinking wine with dinner on a daily basis during the time she lived with them in the mid 1990’s. Since then, hardly a day goes by when that habit isn’t practiced. If she were alive today, we are sure she’d be proud to taste the French style wines of Laleure Vineyards. Great Grandma had a favorite expression for the sometimes difficult times of her 98 year long life. When the going got tough, she just said, “oh well, you’ve just got to keep it up.” This attitude, along with another favorite expression, ‘Thanks a million,” tell you the kind of person she was.

In later years, Great Grandma’s nephew Pierre Laleure and his son Jean (now referred to as Rich’s cousin) introduced Rich to an old family toast, which makes use of a play on words –