Vineyard with rows of grapevines under a cloudy sky at sunset.

Who we are

Curly Tail Vineyards started in the spring of 2015 with a few grapevines, a lot of curiosity, and no clue what we were getting into. We've been learning ever since - season by season, bottle by bottle. We are nestled in the Ohio countryside, we’re a small, family-run winery where muddy boots, wagging tails, and good wine are always welcome. From growing our own grapes to bottling on-site, we do things hands-on and with heart.

Meet the Team

  • Person in shorts and t-shirt picking grapes in a vineyard with a plastic container on the ground.

    Rick Mickool

    OWNER / CHIEF TASTING OFFICER

    By day, Rick is a Chief Technology Officer. By evening (and most weekends), he’s the brains behind the vineyard dream. After moving to Ohio for work, he saw all that open land and thought, “Why not a vineyard?” Now he’s trading code for clusters and servers for sips—one glass at a time.

  • Person holding a glass of red wine, wearing a red shirt, indoors.

    Colin Gallagher

    OWNER

    From geek to leather titleholder, Colin’s journey is anything but ordinary. A Vice President of Marketing for a California tech company by trade, he brings bold ideas and creative flair to the vineyard. When he’s not crafting brand strategies or attending industry events, he’s helping shape Curly Tail’s story.

  • Person in a field wearing a mask and orange ear protection, holding a backpack sprayer with "Stihl" written on the tank.

    Mat Conley

    WINEMAKER / CO-OWNER

    Mat’s the brains behind the wine, and it all starts with the vines. Equal parts perfectionist and a little OCD, he’s always tinkering, testing, and pushing the boundaries to create wines that keep you guessing.

  • Person in glasses and grey hoodie making wine by hand in a large steel container outdoors.

    MJ Stewart

    INFLUENCER / STORYTELLER

    If you ever wanna talk wine, MJ is your guy, just know he can swirl a simple story into a full-bodied tasting that lasts for hours!

  • Elderly woman in a workshop smiles while holding crushed grapes, with grape juice on her arms and a bucket of grape mash beside her, indicating homemade winemaking.

    Barbra Gallagher

    GERIATRIC LABORER

    When she’s not being the social butterfly of the town, you can always find her knitting something for someone.

The Tails Behind the Wine 🐶

Sasha - Blue French Bulldog
Gris - Fluffy French Bulldog

Sasha

The OG blue Frenchiesmart, bossy, and happiest when he's claiming toys and hanging with the humans

Gris

She hops like a bunny, chases tails like it’s her job, and crashes into everything with love

Tulk - Black Lab Mix
Jake - Black Pug

Tulk

Washed out of service dog school, but excels in dramatic sighs and moral support

Jake

His legacy lives on in every cozy lap and startled ankle he ever claimed as his own.

Elwood - Black Pug
Becky - Pug

Elwood

Elwood was the ultimate Velcro pug, always wanting to be in your lap or even on your shoulder every chance he got

Becky

We will always remembered how she used to sunbathe like a queen on her old bones