Tag Archives: dry white wine

The El Nino Wine Will Take You by Storm at A. R. Winery

All wines are not the same and Ohio wineries are learning how to ferment a wide range of products to create some of the most interesting libations in the state…including A.R. Winery.

I first noticed A. R. Winery while having dinner at Michael Anthony’s at The Inn in Versailles, Ohio.  I have to admit, I was drawn to the adorable dog on the label, but when I learned it was a local wine, I was excited to try it.  Supporting Ohio wines, I ordered a bottle of the “She Said Yes” a fabulous, semi-sweet wine, which paired quite nicely with the house carbonara.  With plenty of time after dinner, I was eager to visit the winery and sample a few more wines.

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Entering through the outdoor patio, I was immediately drawn to the winery’s laid-back, country character.  Heading straight for the tasting bar, I met Russell, a co-owner of the winery (He is the R in A.R.).  Russell is the wine maker and was happy to introduce me to the wines that he produces onsite.  With his great sense of humor, I listened as he quickly ran through the highlights of each wine, explaining their distinct characteristics and flavors.

Angie, his lovely wife, was taking orders and serving customers on this busy night.  Without missing a beat, she handled each interaction with such grace so I wasn’t surprised to learn she had been a meeting planner prior to opening the winery.

Russell is proud to point out that A.R. Winery is non-traditional as he explained that most of his wines are made from anything but grapes.  With his enthusiasm, I couldn’t wait to try some of the interesting combinations he has created.  I ordered a wine tasting ($5 for five) and purchased additional samples for $1 per pour thereafter.

Making wine is in Russell’s DNA.  His grandfather was a winemaker back in the 1800s.  He also knows the flavors that his clientele prefers and focuses on wines that sell in the Ohio region which are fruity and sweet.

Here is the selection of wine that I sampled that evening and a description of each:

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Lock, Stock and Berries is a three time silver medal award winner and their most popular wine.  Described as “a delicious blend of sweet blackberry, blueberry & red raspberry exploding in a mouthwatering finish.  Best Chilled.” has a wonderful sweet smell and a beautiful color.  Priced at $12.99 per bottle, it is the perfect summer wine on the deck.

County Fair Caramel Apple won the bronze medal at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.  I love the fact that it is made of cider using local apples from Downing Fruit Farms and enjoyed its smooth silky taste.  As the description suggests, “Let the sweet caramel & tart apple flavors take you back to the county fair!”.  A bottle of this apple wine is available for $13.99.

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Bluesberry is a “rich, sweet blueberry wine that has a smooth, bold and jazzy flavor. Pair this wine with your favorite tasty chocolates!” This was my first opportunity to try a blueberry wine, so I was not really sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was not too tart and had a great balance of blueberry flavor.

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OMB “Oh My Berry” is a strawberry wine with a nice, very light taste.  Described as “rich, sweet strawberries full of flavor!  This light refreshing wine has a pleasing aroma for all to enjoy!”  And I couldn’t agree more, who doesn’t absolutely love the smell of fresh strawberries?

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Forbidden Apple won both a gold medal and best of class awards at the 2015 Indy International Wine Competition.  This wine, incredibly priced at $9.99 per bottle  has a “smooth mixture of sweet apples.  The taste of sweet cider turned wine will tempt your every taste bud”. I loved the perfect balance of apple and purchased a bottle to enjoy again during the fall season.

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The next wine on my list was one of the most innovative of all the selections,  Fortunately, there was one bottle left because it was sold out.  El Loco Lime is “squeezed from fresh limes, it is a one of a kind wine!  Sweet, zesty lime wine with a hint of tartness.  If you love margaritas, you will love this wine!”  This Bronze Medal Award winner is quite unique and it was recommended that I try it with some salt along the rim and I could have sworn I was drinking a margarita.

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The El Nino Tropical will literally take you by storm.  When Russell explained that with each sip I would taste a different tropical flavor, I had to admit I was a bit skeptical.  Flavors of strawberry, pineapple, mango and papaya burst in tropical harmony and truly “warmed my every taste bud!”  This chemical reaction is spectacular.  Winning a Silver medal at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, I had to buy a bottle to share with friends.

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The next white wine holds a special place in the hearts of Russell and Angie.  It was their wedding wine that they labeled “She Said Yes”.  This wine is described as a “full bodied, sweet white grape wine with hints of pineapple and tropical!  Toast your wedding day with this perfect wine pick!”  I can see why she said yes.  This is a delicious wine and perfectly priced at $11.99 per bottle.

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I absolutely love the catchy names of these wines as well as their flavors.   Caught Red-Handed is “a fruity, sweet Fredonia red grape wine.  Amazingly flavorful!  Pairs well with a variety of fruits and cheeses!”  This is a wine for any occasion.

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Recently released is A.R. Winery’s Back In Blanc.  Made from the Diamond grape, it is a “dry white wine with hints of crisp green apples and lemons.”  I found it refreshing and is perfect for an afternoon drink on the porch.

With so many fascinating combinations of wines at A. R. Winery, it is no surprise that coming soon is their peach/peppermint bourbon barrel wine.  Bourbon barrel wines seem to be popping up all over the state, so this will be quite a novel blend.  I look forward to trying it at its release.

No doubt A. R. Winery caters to their customers and loves to offer unique blends of wine that are sure to please.  Their outdoor seating area is fabulous and it is one of the few wineries where Ohio State University sports are televised, which is perfect for those Saturday afternoon football games.  They also offer brick oven pizza which only proves A. R. Winery knows how to make their customers happy.

Have you visited A. R. Winery?  Which wines did you absolutely love?  I would be happy if you would let me know about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

A. R. Winery
3564 Gordon Landis Road
Arcanum, Ohio  45304
Telephone: 937 417 0565

Please consult the winery’s website for hours of operation.

Where to Stay:

Artist Junction Bed & Breakfast
6100 Routzong Road
Greenville, OH  45331
Telephone: 941 780 2490

Where to Eat:

Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe
125 N Broadway Street
Greenville, OH  45331
Telephone: 937 548 9340

Maid-Rite has been serving these amazing loose meat hamburgers since 1934.  Their signature beef sandwich, the Maid-Rite is only $2.15 and can be ordered with mustard, pickle and/or onion.

You can’t stop by Maid-Rite without checking out the “gum wall”.  For years, people have been depositing their chewed up gum on the wall….so very interesting.

Books to Read: 

  • The secret town:  The story of the founding of Arcanum, Ohio, by William Gunder
  • The Ren Faire at the End of the World, by Josef Matulich

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

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant, Manchester, Ohio – NOW CLOSED

UPDATE:  Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant is permanently closed.

Gorgeous vineyards overlooked the Ohio River and a secluded gazebo offered privacy to guests who wanted to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant. Sounds of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett shared the airwaves as I waited for my wine tasting on the second story balcony with a riverfront view.  I flipped through the menu and found myself immediately drawn to this mystical place, so I read the fascinating decades of history that had eventually led to the opening of the winery.

It wasn’t long and the fifteen small pours of wine were delivered to my table.  I could smell the fruit from the wines and slushies on the tray and was so excited to start my tasting.

  • Starting out with the Chardonnay, it is a dry white with a clean finish, very smooth with a beautiful clear color; it has a slight sweet aftertaste.
  • The Vidal Blanc is an estate grown grape that is also very clear in color and I find it to be a little drier, yet smoother than the Chardonnay.
  • River Valley White is a moderately sweet estate blend that has a sweeter smell with a dry finish that lands towards the back of my tongue.
  • Merlot is full bodied with an oak taste that I absolutely enjoy.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich full bodied dry red and it is absolutely perfect for a Cab.
  • Chambourcin is an estate grown wine.
  • River Valley Red is another moderately sweet estate blend with a perfect balance of sweet and dry. It has a fruitier taste than the Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Country Home Red is the most popular wine at Moyer Winery and Vineyard and it is a sweet red made from the Concord grape. Smelling like grape juice it has a rich, full jammy taste.
  • Blush is a semisweet with a hint of Concord, which makes this wine such a beautiful color, a light pink with a very light smell it has a floral taste at the finish.
  • Strawberry fruit wine smells just like fresh picked strawberries that I could enjoy as an after dinner drink for dessert or poured over ice cream.
  • Red raspberry is the winery’s most popular fruit wines and it has a delicious, full berry flavor.
  • Peach is light and delicate and it has a refreshingly sweet taste.
  • Strawberry sangria made my heart sing with its strawberry jam flavor that was crazy amazing.
  • Peach sangria tastes like nectar and has been created with perfection with a wonderfully rich taste.
  • Mixed berry sangria tastes like a Jolly Rancher hard candy and could drink any one of their sangrias on a daily basis (I really could!…yum).

I paid for my tasting and ordered the country home red, strawberry and peach wines and was so sad that they did not bottle their amazing sangria.  I walked the grounds of the restaurant and had permission to wander through the vineyard where they grow the winery’s estate Vidal Blanc, DeChaunac and Chamborcin grapes.

When I returned to the restaurant, I had the opportunity to meet Tom Hamrick one of several owners who discussed how he became associated with the winery and his current involvement with the restaurant.  He was happy to share with me some fun facts about the history of the property which is fascinating as you can read for yourself:

Situated on prime riverside real estate, the River By Restaurant opened in the late 1920s offering Nickelodeon music, square dancing and bootleg beer (oh yes, prohibition!).  I imagined boats tied up to the riverbank and the latest Ford model-T cars parked along the side of US 52.  Women wearing their flapper style dresses and wearing choche hats to accentuate their coiffed bob hairstyles.  While their dates are sporting slim dark suits, matching vests and a fedora hat….just a place to get together for the evening, dancing the night away.

In the mid 1930’s the barn-like structure built close to the restaurant became a training ring for amateur boxers. Cincinnati’s Ezzard Charles, a professional boxer and former World Heavyweight Champion was known to have made an appearance or two.

The restaurant would be hit hard by the flood of 1937 where six feet of muddy water made its way to the present day dining room.   By the late 1940s, the restaurant would be converted into a private gambling club called “The Top Hat” and would eventually become a truck stop in the 1950s and 60s.

Ken Moyer’s dream to become a vintner would transform the property into a winery that originally offered bean soup, French bread, cheese and of course, wine.  He later added the gorgeous deck with relaxing views of the Ohio River and his wine list continued to expand with their production of fabulous wines.  At the height of the winery’s success, the Moyers decided to sell their business.  A close group of their dear friends were entrusted to maintain the winery and restaurant with as much love and care as Ken and his wife Mary had done over the past 27 years.  From where  I was sitting, my conversation with Ken only proved that the restaurant would continue with its success.

Have you visited Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant?  Did you order dinner and try their fabulous wines?  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 to Moyer Vineyard and wishing you many Happy Travels.  Cheers!

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

What to See and What to Do:

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant
3859 US Route #52
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 2957

Where to Stay:

Riverhaven B&B
407 West Front Street
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 1999

Where to Eat: 

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant
3859 US Route #52
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 2957

Have dinner at Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant!  I recommend the River Valley Salmon and save room for the Toasted Pecan Caramel Ball!

Photo Guide for Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant: 

  • Views of the Ohio River from the second story winery
  • Gazebo along the Ohio River
  • The Vineyards