Oh! Ohio has wine?

CANTON, Ohio — There are many worthwhile reasons to visit Canton, but on a bright, snowy day in February, nothing could beat the feel of heated limestone floors at the inn at Gervasi Vineyards and Winery.

Having just celebrated its five-year anniversary, the Gervasi property has become a destination for wine-lovers and wedding parties alike. Situated on 55 acres of what was formerly a farm, the estate includes the Italianate-style inn, ballroom, open-air villa, working winery, crush house, fine-dining restaurant in a renovated barn, bistro and a marketplace gift store.

'We bought the property not knowing what we would do with it,' says Scott Swaldo, Gervasi general manager and son of Ted Swaldo, a retired manufacturer. The elder Swaldo, his son said, 'was looking for something to do that our family could enjoy together, something that had a legacy component, that the community could enjoy.'

'It wasn't like we said, 'We want to be in the vineyard business; let's go find a piece of property.' '

The inn features six villas, each consisting of four suites around a common area. There are two-level king suites that can accommodate four adults or two adults and two children, as well as a renovated farmhouse on the property that houses eight adults.

Since the inn opened in October 2011, weekends have been sold out almost year-round. During the warmer months, a two-night minimum is required, but on that frozen Thursday night visit two months ago, the Gervasi property was a welcome destination after a few hours at the nearby Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Each suite features walk-in showers, heated towel bars, luxury linens, gas fireplaces, rustic touches and, of course, those travertine limestone floors. Guests are urged to raid the common room fridge, which is stocked with soft drinks, Italian sodas, water, coffee, tea and yogurts.

Every morning, rustic-looking wooden grape boxes embossed with suite numbers are left in the common room. Inside are fruits, breakfast pastries sweet and savory, and other seasonal goodies.

'A lot of people who come here are seeking a boutique experience, but they are also here for the winery,' Swaldo says. 'It's pretty unique to have a destination winery. I hear from people who travel to Napa Valley. (They say) there are amazing vineyards and amazing wineries, but rarely are there (on-site) places to stay and entertainment.'

Although the casual visitor can partake in winery tours, tastings, cooking classes and other amusements, weddings have become one of Gervasi's biggest draws.

'It's kind of a business that found us,' Swaldo says. 'It just happened. Turns out a lot of people in Cleveland want a destination wedding, and they want it to be convenient.'

Gervasi hosted more than 116 weddings in 2014. Because it has both indoor and outdoor venues, as well as smaller event rooms, there often are two weddings at the same time. Sometimes three.

Some come for the wedding and return for the wine. Swaldo says winemaking in Ohio is on the rise:

'When we got into this five years ago, I think there were 170 wineries, and there are 220 now. It's a small, growing industry.

'In the summer, these beautiful grounds become like a big park; you can walk around ... all these paths are connecting.

'Other than the parking lots, our liquor license allows people to stroll the grounds with a glass of wine in their hands.'

If You Go

What: Gervasi Vineyard And Winery

Where: 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, Ohio, 44721.

Information: 1-330-497-1000; www.gervasivineyard.com.

Accommodations: Guests can rent king or double queen rooms at $189-$299 plus taxes, or an entire villa. Full refunds within 90 days of reservation date.