Urban Harvest
Chateau Hough grows grapes, people and community.
RHONDA CROWDER
O
n a sunny Saturday morning, volunteers who were young, old, Black and white came from as close as around the corner and as far away as the West Side suburbs to Chateau Hough vineyard and winery, located at 1650 E. 66th St. and Hough Avenue to pick grapes during the vineyard’s 10th annual harvest. The vineyard has been operating for 10 years and the winery for four. The yearly harvest typically yields about 1,800 bottles of wine. Throughout the years, Chateau Hough has become quite an attraction. Actor Michael Jai White and his wife, Gillian, visited Chateau Hough during a tour of Cleveland. Founded by community stalwart Mansfield Frazier and his wife, Brenda, Chateau Hough’s mission is to use innovative educational and entrepreneurial strategies to encourage, prepare and assist at-risk youth, veterans and those who have returned to neighborhoods after incarceration. The project’s goal is two-fold: introduce a broader audience to the Hough community by establishing a chic, upscale and innovative venture; and improving the economics of a community, which goes hand-and-glove with improving public safety. Kathy Wanek of Parma says she’s
BY RHONDA CROWDER
wanted to volunteer during the harvest would volunteer at the vineyard. When for the last five years, ever since she Frazier began to recruit workers, Fosvisited during a tour led by the Nat- ter decided to give it a try. Before comural History Museum, but other com- ing on board, he performed odd jobs, mitments always prevented her from such as rehabbing houses, yard work, doing so. Last year, the pandemic was etc. But Chateau Hough provided him the culprit. This year, she saw the post with steady pay. on Facebook and made plans to attend. “I like the work. It keeps me active,” Sheree Green-Bland, on the other Foster says, while feverishly processhand, has been coming to the harvest ing buckets of grapes as volunteers for the past six years. The main reason bring them into the winery. He does she keeps coming back is Frazier. the bottling and labeling, as well. “My ”He’s a good man,” says Green-Bland, co-worker taught me the format, and I who credits Frazier for changing the caught on to it.” life of her son, Marvin Foster, 31, ChaFrazier says he’s seen Foster mature teau Hough’s foreman and winemaker. as an individual. “He’s more dependGreen-Bland says she also loves to give able,” he says. “He knows quite a bit back to the community. She brought more about what we need to do to her grandson and daughter, Le’Ajan work and repair the machinery. As a Green, who is 12 years old, to the har- result, he’s become self-sufficient. vest. Le’Ajan has been coming since she “The hope for Chateau Hough is to was 5. build a bigger building to allow for the “I wanted to teach her to give back growing of more grapes,” says Frazier, to the community and learn to work. adding that Chateau Hough acquired And, she loves it,” says Green-Bland, the abandoned structure next door. as Le-Ajan clips clusters of grapes Chateau Hough has served about 50 from the vine. at-risk youth, veterans or returning citSeveral of the other volunteers work- izens throughout the years. Frazier is ing the harvest credit Foster for them most proud of what it has done for the being there. Foster, who’s been at Cha- young people, particularly Marvin. teau Hough since 2010, says he lived in “We’ve helped them move on and stathe neighborhood, and his little brother bilize their lives,” he says. Author, Journalist, Community Activist and Vintner The subject of this story, Mansfield Frazier, lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 9. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Frazier was known for his community activism, as well as his work in print and radio. However, his greatest legacy may just be Chateau Hough, which has become a source of pride for Cleveland’s Hough community. Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader decided to print this story as a tribute to the man and his work. Frazier has left an indelible print upon the city.
As volunteers prepare to pick grapes during Chateau Hough’s annual harvest, Mansfield Frazier, founder of Chateau Hough vineyard and winery, gives them a quick tutorial on how to clip the grapes from the vine. clevelandmagazine.com/cleader
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