Nicholas Longworth (winemaker)

Nicholas Longworth
Born	Template:Birth date Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	February 10, 1863(1863-02-10) (aged 80)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, viticulturist, patron of the arts
Known for	Early American wine production, patronage of artists, development of Cincinnati real estate

Nicholas Longworth (January 16, 1783 – February 10, 1863) was an American entrepreneur specializing in real estate and viticulture, recognized as the progenitor of the Longworth family in Ohio. As a prominent contributor to the early development of American wine, he cultivated sparkling Catawba wine at his vineyard located in the Ohio River Valley. Beyond his business ventures, Longworth was a patron of the arts, playing a significant role in advancing the careers of artists such as Robert S. Duncanson and Hiram Powers.

Personal life

Born in Newark, New Jersey, on January 16, 1783, Longworth relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1804. He wed Susanna Howell, daughter of Silas and Hannah (Vaughan) Howell, on December 24, 1807; she was previously widowed.

He pursued legal studies under the mentorship of Jacob Burnet, one of Cincinnati’s earliest millionaires. Early in his profession, Longworth accepted parcels of land as compensation, which appreciated significantly as Cincinnati expanded. By 1818, he transitioned from practicing law to focusing on managing his increasing real estate investments.

An advocate against slavery, Longworth is believed to have assisted an escaped slave, an act that reportedly inspired elements of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

From 1829 until 1858, he actively invested in Cincinnati’s artistic community by providing financial support, facilitating connections, offering critiques, and commissioning works. Notably, he employed Robert S. Duncanson to create eight expansive murals for his residence, effectively launching Duncanson’s artistic career. His home, designed in the Greek Revival style and situated on Cincinnati’s eastern outskirts, currently serves as the Taft Museum of Art.

Winemaking

Convinced that Cincinnati's terrain was well-suited for grape cultivation, Longworth initiated successful viticulture on the city’s elevated areas. He established a vineyard growing Catawba grapes on Mount Adams, producing sparkling wine through the traditional Champagne method. Between the 1830s and 1850s, both his still and sparkling Catawba wines were distributed widely—from California to markets in Europe—earning considerable praise. A journalist from The Illustrated London News in the 1850s lauded the still white Catawba as rivaling Rhine hocks and described the sparkling variety as surpassing French Champagnes.

Within the United States, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dedicated his Ode to Catawba Wine to Longworth’s product. The wine's success encouraged expanded vineyard plantings throughout the Ohio River Valley, extending northward toward the Lake Erie and Finger Lakes regions of New York.

Often regarded as the Father of American Grape Culture, Longworth’s wines found a strong customer base among German immigrants along the Ohio Valley seeking affordable table wines reminiscent of those from their homeland—effectively granting him near-monopoly status. His prosperity allowed him to contribute philanthropically across Cincinnati, including a significant endowment for establishing the Cincinnati Observatory site. Acknowledged as an innovative horticulturist and national expert on viticulture during his time, his written works influenced contemporary practices despite their brevity and now outdated content.

The location of his original vineyard is currently part of Eden Park.

See also

• Sebastian Rentz (winemaker)