Ohio Wine Explorers

Greetings, Winos! Much like the Bandit, we decided it was time to get back on the road! No, we were not smuggling Coors beer, but we did head east, to the Youngstown-ish area. On this adventure, we added four more wineries to our list, two in the Canal Country region, and two just into the Wines & Vines region.

L’uva Bella has quite a selection of wines, predominately made from grapes that hale from California and Pennsylvania. Mike & Sara enjoyed flights of all their sweet wines, with even a Mimosa inspired choice! I thoroughly enjoyed the Chocolate Raspberry Pino Nior. I know, it sounds like some super sweet dessert wine, but it was, in a word, understated. A semi-sweet, but the taste was so good that I brought a bottle home.

Much like Snowman and Bandit, it was time to keep truckin’. We may have been under pursuit from Buford T. Justice, but we had a long way to go, and a short time to get there.

Opened in 2008, Country Porch Winery has put a lot of hard work into making good, consistent wines with names that fit right in: Scenic Route, Porch Party, Off Your Rocker, and Sweetie Pie. Once again, Mike & Sara sampled some of those sweet sounding wines, while I tried their Cab Sauv, a Noiret (a Finger Lakes fixture), and my favorite, the Zweigelt. It’s made from an Austrian grape, and, wow…..full of flavor. More Earthy, like you would expect from an Old World wine, but definitely with an Ohio vintner bend. Like you mixed Big Enos with just a touch of Little Enos. A lot of class, with a little bit of snark.

After enjoying some down home hospitality, it was time to move along.

Greene Eagle Winery, set back from the road, is a secluded little enclave of peace and wines. While it was still cold and gray when we visited, their grounds boast a stage and plenty of outdoor seating. Inside, multiple fireplaces, and wood accents. The tables and chairs look like something out of your family dinners.

Needing a little fuel, we shared an awesome cheese plate, but they also have pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. For wines, they have about 10 choices, leaning on the sweet side, but some very respectable dry options. I had the Blackjack Blackberry Cab. It was sweet, but more like a semi. It was very good, and if I had not been reminded that we have a lot of wine at home, I might have come home with some! The Ram Rod Red, a dry Malbec, was also first rate! To Sara’s delight, they have a couple wine slushie options, too! I would really like to come back here in the summer, when we can just hang out, take in a band, and enjoy good wine.

Hartford Hill Winery, our last stop for the day, didn’t disappoint. I’m a sucker for old, exposed beams, and lots of wood. With about 10 wines, there is plenty to sample. I enjoyed a glass of the Resilient Red Blend. After a few stops, I sometimes just move away from flights, and just enjoy a glass. I have no regrets! I lean towards blends – it’s like putting the together the perfect team to, I don’t know, smuggle Coors beer east of the Mississippi? A good blend combines the strengths of each contributor, making a full bottle of teamwork

I would like to go back when I am allowed to eat pizzas, again. They smelled great! But, with the sun setting, it was time to fire up the Trans Am and get on home.

Have I over done the Smokey & the Bandit? Don’t worry. Unlike Jerry Reed, I know when to stop.

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