8Arnie Esterer, the father of vinifera in Ohio Arnie Esterer and Tim Hubbard were taking a big gamble back in 1968 when they started their vineyard and winery. With guidance from Dr. Konstantin Frank, Arnie and Tim built a winery that has led the way for the next generation of European-style vinifera growers and winemakers in Ohio. Markko Vineyard did not happen overnight. It was years of trials and errors, successes and failures and much collaboration and learning. This is the story of one remarkable man, Arnie Esterer, and his passion to produce only the best vinifera wines in the Conneaut Creek region of the Lake Erie appellation where the critics said it could not be done. Clifford Annis captures the untold story of Arnie Esterer, the "father of vinifera in Ohio" and Markko Vineyard in Arnie's own words.