Looking for a place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine paired with a delicious meal? Look no further than Findlay’s only winery – Gillig Winery! If you’ve never been, it is time to fix that, so read below for our guide to your first visit to Gillig Winery!
Step 1. Get to Know the Owners
Nikki Gillig and her husband Trevor are the co-owners of Gillig Winery and it is a true project of passion, although a little unexpected. Nikki had a career as a pharmacist and Trevor works at Marathon Petroleum, and being business owners wasn’t something either had thought they would do. But about 10 years ago, during a visit to a winery in Michigan, Nikki looked around and thought that it was exactly what she wanted to do. And with determination and perseverance that only small business owners possesses, Gillig Winery was born. Read Nikki and Trevor’s story here!
Nikki and Trevor Gillig are the co-owners of Gillig Winery and are celebrating three years of business!
Step 2. Sip your Way Through the Wine Menu
Gillig Winery is the only winery in Findlay, but it isn’t a traditional one in the sense that no grapes are grown on-property. In fact, all of the grapes used in Gillig Winery wines are outsourced from around the world and are crushed elsewhere. Nikki and Trevor then receive the grapes in juice form and use that to create and bottle the wine locally, in Findlay. While I know many that consider themselves wine connoisseurs, I am not one. But there are options for everyone, even me! There are white, red, and fruit wines available, sweet reds to a dry white and everything in-between. You can purchase wine by the glass, in a flight, by the bottle, or to take home, however you prefer. Check out the entire wine selection here, and if you aren’t sure what you want just ask any of the staff members who are all sure to give you educated advice.
Red or White, Sweet or Dry, Gillig Winery has you covered!
Step 3. Don’t Forget the Food
Even if you aren’t a wine drinker then Gillig is well worth the trip for their menu alone. And, the food is as delicious on its own as it is when you’re a few glasses of Khaleesi in. I am partial to the flatbreads (the Findlay Cuban is perfection!) and the sandwiches are hardy and delicious. And the appetizers! I’d be lying if I said I haven’t ordered 3 “for the table” and ended up boxing my dinner up, untouched, because I filled up on apps.
This is a winery full of happy and full customers!
Step 4. Attend an Event at Gillig Winery…
If you plan your first visit right then it may coincide with one of the many events that take place every week. Every Saturday you will catch a local musician showing off their talents as you enjoy an evening out. Throughout the week there are painting classes to take part in with a group of friends, or just you on your own. And the wine pairings are wonderful. There are traditional wine and food pairings, where you leave more educated than when you arrived, and then there are the food and wine pairings that are just so much fun you don’t even realize you learned something until after the event. In the past, there has been doughnut and wine pairings, pizza and wine, even Main Street Deli and wine pairings – all a great and affordable activity for your group of friends.
Food and Wine pairings are a popular event at Gillig Winery, especially if they involve Fort Findlay doughnuts!
Step 5. …or Plan One of your Own
Your infatuation with Gillig Winery will only grow after your first visit. At this point, it is time to look into how you can fit Gillig into your every week rotation. One really great way to do so is plan an event at the winery! Of course, you can host a birthday party in the party room, or even rent out the whole winery, but a great opportunity to set your event apart is to schedule a Bottling Party. This is especially a great idea as a gift for someone in your life that loves wine, as a bridal shower or bachelorette party, or a really unique team building exercise. All you have to do is adopt your batch, pick from the available wines, customize your label, and pick a date to bottle, which is so much fun! A batch will make 2.5-5 cases of wine, depending on the size of your bottles. So, the guest of honor will walk away with plenty to consume, as well as some for each guest. If you’re not quite ready to make that commitment, you can have custom labels created or join Gillig’s Wine Club. The Wine Club has plenty of perks, including a glass of complimentary birthday wine, invitations to members-only events and much, much more.
Plan an event at Gillig Winery or host a bottling party!
Overall, know that your first visit to Gillig Winery won’t be your last. Enjoy every sip, bite, and sound…and if you need an extra for a bottling party give me a call!