Many things have changed since Vintage Ohio poured its first wine sample 18 years ago.
Donniella Winchell of the Ohio Wine Producers Association said there were 47 wineries in the state when the first event was held at Lake Farmpark in Kirtland.
Now there are more than 170.
And some of those wines from grapes grown in Ohio have won national and international accolades.
''We wanted to let people know we're making more than what someone referred to as jelly-jar wines,'' Winchell said.
It also helps educate consumers in a non-intimidating atmosphere.
''At a place like Vintage Ohio, they can come with their friends, stand in line, sample a couple of wines and begin accumulating confidence in the kinds of wines they like,'' she said.
This year 21 of the state's wineries will be serving samples of their different varietals.
Participating wineries include: Breitenbach Wine Cellars, Dover; Buckeye Winery, Newark; Candlelight Winery, Garrettsville; Debonne' Vineyards, Madison; Deer's Leap Winery, Geneva; Ferrante Winery, Geneva; Grand River Cellars, Madison; Grape and Granary, Akron; It's Your Winery, Akron; Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake; Maize Valley Winery, Hartville; Marietta Wine Cellars, Marietta; Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake; Paper Moon Vineyards, Vermilion; St. Joseph Vineyard, Thompson; The Winery at Spring Hill, Geneva; Valley Vineyards, Morrow; Vermilion Valley Vineyards, Wakeman; Vinoklet Winery, Cincinnati; and Wyandotte Winery, Columbus.
Some wineries participate every year, while some of the mid-size and smaller wineries participate every two or three years, Winchell said. Participating takes a lot of product and workers - wineries will be bringing anywhere from 50 to 300 cases of wine and five to 40 volunteers to staff their tents - but they realize it is a valuable marketing tool.
New this year is a ''Meet the Winemakers'' VIP tent where guests who pay an additional $15 can sample award-winning wines from 10 Ohio wineries and enjoy special wine-and-food pairing presentations by Marianne Franz of the American Wine School.
More than 25 food vendors will be on site, including some of the Cleveland area's most popular food trucks, and live entertainment will be featured on three stages both days.
Friday's entertainment lineup includes Hubb's Groove, Afterthought & the NuSoul Band, Horns & Things, NOS Band, Miles Beyond, Sumrada, Don Perry, Stan Miller and Dave Young. Saturday features Forecast, The Discovery Band, Rey Cintron Latin Jazz Band, Pieces of Eight, Four Kings, Festivus, Larry Smith, Neil Jacobs and Brian Henke.
Vintage Ohio runs from 1 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Lake Farmpark, 8800 Euclid-Chardon Road, Kirtland.
Tickets are $40 and $25 in advance and $45 and $30 at the gate with designated driver tickets for $12 and children ages 3-17 admitted for $3. For tickets or more information, call 800-227-6972.