Local Treasures

Summer is nearing its close, although the weather leads us to believe otherwise. The calendar, however, doesn’t lie. Have you made it to any of our local wineries this summer?

Don’t worry. Kevin & I haven’t either, but there’s still time! I know we plan on taking Sept 1 to visit Kinkead Ridge and Harmony Hill, maybe 1 or 2 others. Remember, most of the local wineries only open their tasting rooms through summer. Labor Day or the end of September might be your last chance to try these local treasures that we often underestimate.

At Kinkead Ridge, your last chance to visit is September 8. They’re running dangerously low on their whites, so if you’re interested, you need to act soon. Enjoy them now, as the next vintage will be small due to the terrible frost we had in 2007. On Sept 1, Kinkead Ridge is releasing their 2005 series of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Never shy, Kinkead Ridge has made a series of vignettes about running a small winery in all seasons and circumstances. You can view all of the movies here on YouTube.

Each weekend, Harmony Hill offers live music and entertainment, to go along with your wine tasting and apparently, dog petting. That sounds relaxing and perfect to me. (We don’t have a dog so I go a little dog crazy when I get to befriend one.) Based on their calendar, Harmony Hill is open Fridays and Saturdays until at least September 29.

You can also visit Lakeside Vineyards and Meranda-Nixon on your excursion. A reader sent me a great little Google Map from Cincinnati that takes you to all four locations. Looking to stay urban? Henke, Valley, Woodstone Creek, and Vinoklet tasting rooms are open year-round. We’ve got a Google Map with all the local wineries – there are more than you’d expect. And folks, I guarantee the wine is better than you expect as well. In some cases, it’s excellent.

Hope to see you at a local winery!

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