With a glass of wine in hand, Frank Kuchan surveyed his empty field. He looked at the wine; he looked up and saw a field planted with grapes. So in 1991, backed with degrees in biology and the memory of his mentor's wine, he and his wife, Janet, planted a grand total of 14 vines.

For the next two years, he tended them, sprayed them, pruned them, and counseled them. To his delight, they repaid him. In 1993, after more research, he planted one row of DeChaunac and one row of Seyval. In 1994, enthusiasm overran curiousity as a row of Baco Noir was added and the vineyard began to take shape. But they say in order to appreciate the good, you must have the bad.

In June of 1994, Frank suffered a major heart attack. All plans were put on hold as the family tried to recover both physically as well as emotionally. Almost as a sign of hope, late in 1995, a barrel of fermented juice was discovered that had been neglected when he was hospitalized. It was bottled and became one of the most popular wines to date.

In 1996 over 200 vines were planted that year; and for years to come, 100 or more vines were added annually. The grapes were sold to Ohio wineries, and Coffee Cake Vineyard was begun.  Today Coffee Cake Winery opens with over 1200 vines on 2.5 acres with a sampling of over 11 wine varieties and three varieties of eating grapes. Frank Kuchan still stands with a glass in hand peering over his field. See him? He is the one talking to the vines.