Aug 28- Phillip DeSimone, MD – Owner, Grimes Mill Winery

“Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”  Benjamin Franklin in 1779 

 Mention Kentucky and many things likely come to mind:  thoroughbred horses, bourbon and basketball.  But not wine.  Today’s speaker, Philip A. DeSimone, MD, might take exception to that and at the very least is trying to change that perception. DeSimone is an owner of Grimes Mill Winery, located on Grimes Mill Road in Fayette County, Kentucky.   

 The Grimes Mill Winery web page notes the following history: The winery is located on thirty acres which formerly produced tobacco.  In response to the decline of tobacco sales and harkening back to the DeSimone family’s Italian heritage, the tobacco fields were converted to a grape vineyard and the barn to a winery.  All of their wines are hand crafted, produced, and bottled right on the premises. 

 The first grapes were planted in 2003; Grimes Mill Winery opened in 2012.  In in its second year of wine making, it received two gold medals in California for Malbec grape variety grown in Lexington Kentucky.  The following  year  the winery received double gold in the international wine competition in Indianapolis Indiana.  In 2024, the accolades continued as Grimes Mill Winery was a Best of the Bluegrass winner, being named best winery in Central Kentucky! 

 The winery specializes in dry, red wine. It imports juices and/or grapes from Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina. Its wine list has over thirteen varieties, including bourbon barrel and  specialty  wines made from black walnuts, pecans, paw paws,  peaches, peaches/grapes, cranberries and pumpkins. 

 Dr. DeSimone’s path to winery proprietor was a circuitous one.  He is a 1967 graduate of the University of Vermont medical school 1967. After returning from Vietnam in 1970 he attended the University of Kentucky medical resident training programs and received certificate accreditation in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology. 

 He has held a variety of academic positions at the UK Medical Center: Chief of Medicine Lexington VA hospital, Vice Chairman of the Department of  Medicine, Associate Dean for Ambulatory Care, Chairman Pro Tem of the Department of Radiation Medicine, and Chairman of the division of Hematology & Oncology. Dr. Desimone specializes in medical oncology and gastrointestinal malignancies.  He attained the rank of Full Professor as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky. 

 While in the military from 1968–1970, he achieved the rank of Captain and served as an army helicopter flight surgeon in Vietnam during the TET offensive.