Cleveland Heights Navy Veteran Crafts Wine with Local Flair; Holiday Reds and Murder Mystery Event Await

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO — CLE Urban Winery, nestled in the vibrant Cedar-Lee district of Cleveland Heights, is the passion project of owner and founder Destiny Burns. A Navy veteran with two decades of service, Burns returned to her roots after a corporate career to launch a winery that is uniquely Cleveland. “I decided, when I was 50, that I was done with the corporate world and that I wanted to come back to my hometown to open a business,” said Burns. Her vision has transformed an old auto repair shop into a community-centered winery that celebrates Cleveland, produces locally crafted wines, and hosts a variety of events.

Burns emphasized her mission to make wine approachable and fun, noting, “Wine can be really pretentious and intimidating, and we just want to take that out of it. We just want to make it fun and accessible; we have something for everyone’s taste.” Her business mantra, “Good wine, made fun,” is reflected not only in the wines but in the inclusive atmosphere she’s cultivated. Burns wants visitors to feel at home, whether they are wine aficionados or casual drinkers. “We are in the relationship business,” she explained. “Wine is very important to the business, of course, but it’s those relationships, the connections, the community services that’s really important to me as a business owner.”

The winery celebrates Cleveland’s culture in everything it does, from the artwork on the walls to the locally themed wine labels. Burns collaborates with local artists, musicians, and vendors to create a setting that feels both intimate and distinctly Cleveland. “It’s really important to me to celebrate my hometown in everything we do,” Burns said. The local flavor extends to the winery’s events, such as its partnership with The Candlelight Mystery Players, a group known for hosting immersive, interactive murder mystery nights.

One such event, the “Haunted Castle Séance Murder Mystery Night,” is scheduled for October 24. This marks the third year CLE Urban Winery has hosted this thrilling and theatrical experience. “They come in costume and they’re actors who create a scenario where someone is murdered,” Burns explained. “The actors go around to the different tables, and they plant clues and stir up trouble and they make everyone all engaged in the mystery scenario.” Participants will be tasked with solving the crime by interacting with the actors, gathering clues, and submitting their best guess. As The Candlelight Mystery Players note on their website, “It’s a social event… You can move around to observe and listen or exchange info with your fellow guests.” Tickets, priced at $28, include access to the event, a cheese and charcuterie buffet, and entry into a Halloween costume contest. Interested attendees can secure tickets via the winery’s Facebook page, where a link directs to Eventbrite.

For Burns, the emphasis on local culture extends beyond her events to the wines themselves. CLE Urban Winery crafts 15 different varieties, all produced on-site, in a style Burns compares to a craft brewery. “We are a working winery, so all of the wine that we serve here is produced right here; it’s like a craft brewery in style and operation, we just make wine instead of beer,” she said. Recent releases include the “Cleveland Rocks Christmas Red,” a holiday-spiced cabernet designed to be a wine alternative to Cleveland’s popular Christmas ales. “This is a holiday spiced cabernet, it has got cinnamon, clove and sweet orange peel,” Burns shared. With only 60 cases produced, it’s a limited edition treat that Burns described as “Christmas in a glass.”

Another standout is the award-winning “Buckeye Blackberry Merlot,” a double gold medalist at this year's Ohio Wine Competition. Burns said this wine, although technically a dry merlot, is sweetened by the infusion of blackberry. “It’s so good with a Reese’s peanut butter cup, or a chocolate covered Nutter Butter made by All City Candy,” she said, giving a nod to the local Richmond Heights-based candy store. After trying both wines, Cleveland 13’s Nikkie Brown, declared, “These are two of the best wines I’ve ever tasted,”.

CLE Urban Winery’s commitment to community extends to its wine club, where members pay $65 a month to receive two bottles of wine, along with other perks such as wine and food pairing events, festival access, and discounts. The monthly pairing events, held on the second week of each month, offer members a chance to connect over curated experiences. CLE Urban Winery also sells directly to consumers, shipping to 37 states. While the wines aren’t available at grocery stores, customers can order directly from Burns, who believes this approach keeps the focus on personal relationships.

Burns, a Euclid High School alum who enlisted in the Navy right out of high school, reflected on her journey from military service to entrepreneurship. “I joined the Navy right out of Euclid High School in 1983 and I served for 20 years in the US Navy,” she said. After her military career and a subsequent stint in the corporate world, she knew she wanted to return home and build a business that would create community through shared experiences. “We just want people to come here to connect, to celebrate, to enjoy the wine and enjoy each other,” she said.

With its unique wines, lively events, and community-first philosophy, CLE Urban Winery is a testament to Burns’ vision of creating a local gathering spot that brings people together.

Those interested in learning more can catch the segment on Cleveland 13’s “Hit The Town” with Nikkie Brown and revisit past coverage on “Cleve-It To Us” for a deeper dive into what makes this winery a local favorite. The upcoming murder mystery event is one more example of how Burns’ passion for fostering connections continues to thrive, making CLE Urban Winery a must-visit destination in Cleveland Heights.