the suite life of travel
a collection of worldwide adventures
Menu
Skip to content
  • #2801 (no title)
  • About Me
  • Blog Disclaimer
  • Blog Style 2
  • Contact
  • Photo Gallery

Tag Archives: Cayuga grapes

Ohio Wine Month Featured Winery: Old Mason Winery

10 June 202526 May 2025

Parking near the large pole barn, I noticed the dark clouds and picked up my  umbrella as I exited the car.  I was happy to sample a few local wines at Old Mason Winery in nearby Miami County which had opened its doors in 2013.  I entered into a beautifully transformed pole barn, decorated with light colored brick and  granite counter tops.

Several tables with chairs were open in the tasting room, so I took a seat near the beautiful fireplace.  Reviewing the menu, Donna stopped by to provide me with a tasting sheet and explained that I could select five wines in either 1 or 2 ounce pours.  There were so many options available that included:

  • Frontenac, a dry red wine with cherry over tones and characteristics of black currant, plums, leather and vanilla, aged on American Oak.
  • Marquette, a complex ruby colored wine with notes of cherry, berry, black pepper and spice
  • HyBlend is a blend of Frontenac and Marquette grapes. Fermented dry and then aged on American and French Oak, this smoky smooth wine satisfies.
  • Chambourcin – smooth, French oak, smokehouse and earthy

  • Sunlight – This white wine is made from local Cayuga grapes and is fermented dry.  With a slight citrus aroma, it has a crisp citrus taste.
  • Vidal Blanc – a hybrid white grape fermented dry provides a crisp and clean fruit flavor and texture
  • Traminette – a semi-dry white wine with a floral scent and fruit aromas.  The flavor is rich with hints of pear and honey.
  • La Crescent – a sweet wine made with 100% Estate grown grapes.
  • Nature’s Ink – smelling like a fruity Flintstones vitamin, you can tell the sweetness compares to the other Noiret grapes. With a  berry taste / green and black pepper, raspberry and mint, this wine is dry and has tannin structure
  • White Blossom – This white wine is made of three varietals that give it notes of melon with a slight citrus flavor on the finish
  • Dark Rose- a berry flavored wine best served chilled
  • Niagara – typical of Niagara with its off-putting smell, it has an average taste

  • Statesman – my favorite from the list, this is typical Ohio wine with a cherry finish
  • Razz – made from raspberries
  • Apple Blend – made from apples
  • Cool Mango – made from apple and mango

In addition to the Statesman, I also enjoyed the Razz, Cool Mango and LaCrescent and don’t forget their slushies.

As I left Old Mason Winery and Vineyard, the rain had let up and I noticed the picnic area.  I would love to return when the weather is clear.  Surrounded by open fields and lush green grass, the rural setting would be perfect for a picnic.

Have you visited Old Mason Winery & Vineyard in West Milton, Ohio?  Which wines did you drink?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my visit Old Mason Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels.

Ohio Mason Winery & Vineyard Inc.
4199 South Iddings Road, West Milton, OH  45383
Telephone:  937 698 1122

  • Hours of Operation:  Monday – Thursday from 12 – 6; Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 and closed on Sunday
  • 10% discount on a case of wine
Leave a comment
Share
  • Pin it
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print

Naughty Wines at Knotty Vines Winery

9 July 201918 September 2024

IMG_9693

Several groups of ladies sat around a table enjoying a few bottles of wine as I entered the Knotty Vines Winery in Wauseon, Ohio.  Clearly, “The best wines are the ones we drink with friends.”

IMG_9686

It was my first visit to Knotty Vines and I was pleasantly greeted by Layla, who patiently waited for me to place my order.  I enjoyed reading the menu with its detailed stats on each of their wines from the price per wine and residual sugar (RS) levels.  Knotty Vines offers the opportunity to sample five wines for the cost of three dollars and I could not wait to get started.

My first selection was the Knotty White which is a sweet and fruity  white wine made from their “signature sweet Cayuga grapes.”

IMG_9688

My next wine selection just happened to be the winery’s best seller, the Knaughty Blush.  I enjoyed the “signature sweet pink Catawba, sweet yet delicate, Ohio’s Lake Erie Claim to Fame variety!”  I understood why this was a winery favorite with its sugary sass and intoxicating watermelon color…not to mention the label is too darn cute.

IMG_9689

Knotty Red is another irresistible blend produced by the winery.  Listed as one of its newest wines, this grape jelly flavored sweet wine is their “signature sweet concord & deChaunac blend, with a distinct aroma of Grandma’s jelly”.

IMG_9691

As Layla poured the Knotty Blue wine, I noticed the blue hue and distinct aroma of blueberries.  While this is a grape and blueberry blend, there is no doubt that I could taste the tartness of the berry on the finish. This is also a New Release from Knotty Vines Winery and I thoroughly enjoyed the perfect balance of the blend.  The winery describes it as “signature sweet blueberry with a kick of tart”.

IMG_9692

The Peachy Keen, which is a peach dessert wine, is my final sample. It has a golden hue that sparkles like a million dollars.  Layla mentions that some claim to taste cinnamon, but for some reason, all I was picking up was peach. It is described as a “peach dessert wine that finishes with apricot undertones, perfect to sip and savor”.

IMG_9696

During my tasting I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Julie Nofziger, who owns the winery with her husband, Steve.   She is extremely kind and with a modest pride, told me about the success of their winery.  “This is our second career”, she stated, “prior to opening the winery, I was a teacher.” Knotty Vines Winery is in its fourth year and has grown exponentially since opening.  They have already accomplished their five year goals in two and a half years and will continue with their expansion to include additional fruit wines in the near future.

IMG_9685

The grapes that are harvested to create the wines for the winery were planted in 2008.  The winery sits in the heart of the crop, surrounded by endless vines, providing a scenic view.  It will be exciting to see the beauty of the vineyards at the height of their harvest, which takes place in late August and early September.  Future plans to plant a few hundred additional vines will bring the winery up to capacity, which means more delicious wines.

IMG_9695

By 5 o’clock in the afternoon, Knotty Vines Winery was a busy place.  I love that there are so many regulars who make this their afternoon stop after a long day of work.   I learned that the wine slushes, a fruit flavored mix which can be added to wine and frozen, are a great hit.  In addition to selling their wines, the winery also serves a variety of snack plates and a wonderful selection of wine-related merchandise.

IMG_9698

Knotty Vines Winery hosts a number of events and weekend nights of entertainment.  This year, they participated in the Defiance Home Show where they took place in a “tasting garden”, providing attendees an opportunity to sample their delicious wines.  In June, they bring in food trucks as a way of showing their customer appreciation and also host their “.5k wine crawl” where patrons are awarded with wine and food pairing stations strategically placed to complete half of a 5k distance.   This year, the event takes place on June 11th for a cost of $45 per person.
IMG_9697

I completed my wine tasting and decided to enjoy the ambiance of the winery with one more glass before heading home.  I had a difficult time making my decision among the 12 wines on the menu, but I decided that I would order the Naughty Blush and took a table in the newly expanded seating area at the winery.  I had a beautiful view of the vineyards from the window and mapped out the route I would be taking towards my way back home.  It was such a relaxing end to a wonderfully busy day and I see why it draws its happy hour crowd.

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Knotty Vines Winery?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Knotty Vines Winery
2920 CR 19
Wauseon, OH  43567
Telephone:  419 446 WINE (9463)

The winery is open all year around with changing hours to accommodate the winter and summer seasons.  For more information about the winery, the wines and to confirm the hours of operation, visit their website.

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
8135 OH-108
Wauseon, OH  43567
Telephone:  419 335 1177

Where to Eat:

Sullivan’s Restaurant
141 North Fulton Street
Wauseon, OH 43567
Telephone;  419 335 0790

I was looking for a nice cold beer and a simple dinner when I found Sullivan’s Restaurant in Wauseon, OH.  To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu selections.  I decided on the Kettle Chip Crusted Walleye, since this is a popular fish found near Lake Erie.  The portion sizes are enough for at least two meals and the service was spectacular.

What to Read:

  • The Great Black Swamp:  Historical Tales of 19th Century Northwest Ohio, by Jim Mollenkopf
  • The Great Black Swamp III, by Jim Mollenkopf
  • The Firebugs of Northwest Ohio, by M. A. Mimi Malcolm
  • Railroad Depots of Northwest Ohio
  • Glass in Northwest Ohio, by Quentin R. Skrabac
Leave a comment
Share
  • Pin it
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print

About Me!

I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

Categories

  • 2016 Trip Out West (26)
  • Africa (3)
  • Arizona (10)
  • Asia (23)
  • Bali (13)
  • Belize (2)
  • California (24)
  • Caribbean (34)
  • Central America (18)
  • China (1)
  • Costa Rica (1)
  • Egypt (1)
  • Europe (35)
  • Florida (18)
  • France (4)
  • France (1)
  • Greece (11)
  • Israel (3)
  • Italy (12)
  • Jordan (3)
  • Las Vegas (18)
  • Louisiana (4)
  • Maine (4)
  • Massachusetts (2)
  • Mexico (6)
  • Michigan (21)
  • Middle East (3)
  • New York (1)
  • North Carolina (12)
  • Ohio (211)
  • Pennsylvania (9)
  • Philippines (6)
  • South Africa (3)
  • Tennessee (24)
  • Texas (2)
  • Travel Tips (14)
  • Turkey (6)
  • Turkey (6)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • United Kingdom (7)
  • US travel (410)
  • Wineries (57)
  • World travel (110)

Recent Posts

  • Walnut Creek Cheese, Amish Country, Ohio
  • St. Peter’s Basilica: A Cathedral of Art
  • Dungeons and Doges at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice

Instagram

Pins

  • Document Travel-Ways to Remember the Adventure - The Boho Traveller
Follow Me on Pinterest
Site made with ♥ by Angie Makes
Angie Makes Feminine WordPress Themes