COPLEY TWP.: A cup of coffee may have saved winemaker Andy Troutman’s life.
Tuesday morning, an explosion rocked the distillery area of his Winery at Wolf Creek — where, minutes earlier, he had just been standing.
He had left the area to make coffee at a house-turned-office next door to the popular winery overlooking the Barberton Reservoir on Wolf Creek.
“I left to get some coffee and do some other things,” Troutman said. “I was actually walking out the front door of the house [back to the distillery] when the explosion happened.”
Troutman, 44, said it takes him about 75 seconds to walk from the house to the distillery. “That’s how close I was to being right there,” he said. “I feel very fortunate to be here.”
His voice halted at times as he recalled the explosion and subsequent fire. He spoke Thursday while sitting at a picnic table on the winery’s grounds. His wife and winery co-owner, Deanna, sat beside him.
He was the only person on the property Tuesday morning when the loud boom occurred, around 7 a.m. The winery’s goats and alpacas were not harmed. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
The fire did not reach the tasting room and other portions of the rambling winery. The tasting room remained closed Friday, and the Troutmans were hoping to reopen in the next few days. Electricity has been restored.
They are providing updates on the winery’s Facebook page.
Copley Fire Chief Michael Benson said Friday that “it could be a long time” before the investigation into the cause of the fire is complete. Fire officials are awaiting a report from a mechanical engineer paid for by the winery’s insurance company.
“We do not believe this was intentional,” he said.
Party room destroyed
The distillery area as well as the party room above it were decimated.
The Troutmans said they are working to accommodate events scheduled for the party room, called the Great Room. Seating about 60, it was a popular spot for wedding and baby showers, birthday parties, family gatherings and Summit County Farm Bureau meetings.
The ruins of the distillery contain toppled and charred barrels that held brandy made from the Wolf Creek wines. The copper and stainless-steel brandy still, which looks like a giant flask, remains where it stood before the explosion.
“Unfortunately, we had brandy that was 5 years old that was lost,” Andy Troutman said. “It’s not apparent that any of it survived.”
Some red wine also was lost. Troutman said he can bring up some wine from the couple’s other winery — Troutman Vineyards, near Wooster — if needed.
Troutman started making brandy five years ago. Distilling had been a long-time goal of his, as well as the winery’s former owner, Andy Wineberg.
Troutman bought the winery at 2637 S. Cleveland-Massillion Road in 2001 from the estate of Wineberg, who died in 2000. A graduate of Ohio State University, Troutman joined the business in 1996, as vineyard manager. After Wineberg’s death, he took over as winemaker.
The couple said they are grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, family, customers and community members.
“It’s been a little overwhelming at times,” Andy Troutman said.
“My biggest thing is no one was hurt. ... Had a cleaning person been here. A staff person ...,” he said, his voice trailing off.
Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com.