Tag Archives: fruit wine

Ohio Winery: Stone Crest Vineyard

“It’s all my wife’s fault,” Mike Barker said when I asked him why he and his wife Cheryl opened Stone Crest Vineyard.  Her father, Riece Brown, had been making wine for a few years and the Barkers decided to “hone his craft” and planted their first vines in 2005.   The name Stone Crest is based on both the soil, abundant with sandstone and its location on top of a hill.  Since officially opening in 2007, the Barkers have expanded their vineyards and offer nearly twenty varieties of wine.

Ranging from dry to sweet, Stone Crest Vineyard’s award winning wines are available to sample.  I found a great location at the tasting bar to enjoy some of the vineyard’s amazing wines and had a great chat with Fred.  My tasting included the Chardonnay, Gemstone, Red Stone, Blue Stone and Peach.

  • Chardonnay – lightly oaked, dry white….14.95; My sister loves Chardonnay, so I picked up a bottle for her
  • Gemstone – semi sweet rose blend of pink Catawba 10.95;  I absolutely love rose, so I couldn’t pass up adding this bottle to my collection
  • Red Stone – Concord, sweet red classic concord wine 10.95; Another great wine to have on hand for my friends who like “grape juice”
  • Blue Stone – blueberry and grape, sweet berry blend 11.95;  A gold medal winner at the Ohio Wine Competition for the last 12 years
  • Peach – sweet peach made with peach juice…9.95;  Crisp and fruity

Additional wines on the menu:

  • Winemakers Select 2013 – dry red with dark fruit flavors for 12 95
  • Winemakers Select 2017 (Malbec) – dry, bold red…17.99
  • Pinot Noir (out of stock) – dry red with great finish…17.99
  • Cabernet Franc (out of stock) – dry red with notes of cherry and black currant…17.99
  • Dry Riesling (out of stock) – dry white with hint of lemon….14.95
  • Tranquility (out of stock) – dry white that reminds one of Pinot Grigio …10.95
  • Semi sweet Riesling (out of stock) semi-sweet white with an apricot notes …14.95
  • De Vine – concord semi-sweet red, the fruit of the vine…10.95
  • Bouquet – Niagara – semisweet white with a fragrant bouquet 10.95
  • Dos Vinos – blend of semisweet red where two wines are blended to perfection…12.95
  • Red Raspberry – with a bite of raspberry pie (out of stock) – 9.95
  • Apple – sweet apple with a hint of cinnamon – 8.95
  • Waterfall Wine – out of stock; Niagara sweet white 9.95
  • White Stone (out of stock) – Catawba sweet white with flavors of citrus and kiwi…10.95

In addition to Stone Crest Vineyard’s spectacular wines, they winery offers slushies as well as the mix which is available for purchase. I tried their homemade slushie sangria which was absolutely delectable which is a combination of their Blue Stone, Red Stone, Cherry and Peach wines.  This would be the perfect solution for a hot summer day.

Stone Crest Vineyard is located in the rural plains of Frazeyburg, Ohio. This lovely winery is open year around on Friday and Saturday evenings from noon to eight.  Offering weekend dinners with a selection of two choices, these sold out gatherings include a baked potato, salad, roll and dessert.  Their website’s calendar lists offerings such as pork loin or chicken, prime rib or baby back ribs, scallops with the option of filet mignon or chicken. Reservations required.   Enjoy a bottle of wine with friends relax outside by the hillside waterfall or book a romantic weekend dinner at Stone Crest Vineyard.  The winery accommodates bus tours and private events, so sample a few wines and buy a few wines for the holidays or special occasions.

Have you visited Stone Crest Vineyard?  Which wines did you enjoy?  I would love to hear about your experience if you will kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for supporting The Suite Life of Travel by reading my post and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Stone Crest Vineyard
10310 O’Dell Road
Frazeyburg, OH   43882
Telephone:  740 828  WINE

You can also check out their Facebook page!

Where to Stay:

The Inn at Dresden
209 Ames Avenue
Dresden, OH  43821
Telephone:  740 754 1122

Where to Eat:

The Inn at Dresden
209 Ames Avenue
Dresden, OH  43821
Telephone:  740 754 1122

We enjoyed an amazing breakfast of Bananas Foster French Toast which was absolutely sumptuous!  In addition, we had a light dinner where we were served a couple of Filipino dishes of eggrolls and Chicken Adobo which were robust with amazing flavor!

Buckeye Winery in Newark, Ohio

Passing through Newark on my way home from Pennsylvania, I stopped by Buckeye Winery to pick up a couple of bottles of fruit wine and slushie mix.  I had visited a couple of months prior after shopping at the Canal Market, a short distance away.

Stepping into the shop, the décor made me feel as though I had been transported to a charming Italian vineyard with a seating area to enjoy a glass of wine. The shop within the winery is extensive with all wine-related items.

The winery makes wines using the finest juices outsourced from premium grape producers around the world.  From Chardonnay to Zinfandel and fruit wines in between, Buckeye Winery offers one of the widest selections of Ohio-made wines in the state. (See the list and pricing below from the date of my visit.)

Scanning through nearly fifty wine options, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to purchase a glass or a bottle of wine.  When I noticed they offered wine slushies, I couldn’t resist.

Another service Buckeye Winery offers is the ability to make your own wine by booking a session with the winemakers.  The result is close to 30 bottles of wine from the grape/fruit juice you select with specialty labels of your choosing.

On Saturday nights, the winery offers free entertainment where you can come together over homemade pizzas and cheese plates.  And of course, there’s wine.

What to See and What to Do:

Buckeye Winery
25 North 3rd Street
Newark, OH  43055
Telephone:  740 788 9463

Open Tues to Thurs from 12 – 7
Fri & Sat from 12 – 9

The list of wines and pricing per bottle may have changed. They offer 50 cent tastings and offer their wines $5 per glass.  Please contact their website for updates.

Reds: 

  • Luna Rossa – Harvest Moon – $14
  • Montepulciano – Jack’s MP – $14
  • Merlot – Cardinal Red – $16
  • Shiraz – Kanga* – $14
  • Cabernet Shiraz – Aussie – $14
  • Cabernet Sauvignon – Red River – $14
  • Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Trio – $14
  • Malbec* – $14
  • Zinfandel (dry red) – Tecumseh – $14
  • Pinot Noir – Ruby Red – $14
  • Chianti – Buckeye Red – $14
  • Sweet Red – Bourgeron Rouge – $12
  • Cherry – $12
  • Plum – $12

Whites: 

  • Chardonnay (unoaked) – Whitetail – $16
  • Pinot Grigio – Trillium – $14
  • Sauvignon Blanc – $14
  • Gewurztraminer – Intrigue – $14
  • Luna Bianca – Moonrise (oaked) – $14
  • Libfraumilch – Farmboy – $14
  • Riesling – Buckeye White – $16
  • Farmer’s Daughter (Sweet Wine) – $12
  • Moscato – $12

Blush: 

  • White Merlot – Satisfaction – $12
  • White Zinfandel – Celebration – $12
  • Pink Moscato – $12

Sparkling Wines (available by the bottle only):

  • Sparkling Watermelon – $15
  • Sparkling Acai Raspberry – $15
  • Sparkling Green Apple – $15
  • Sparkling Root Beer – $16.50
  • Sparkling Liebfraumilch – $16.50
  • Sparkling Moscato – $16.50

Fruit (Sweet) Wines:

  • CranApple – Holiday CranApple – $11
  • Green Apple – Forbidden – $11
  • Kiwi Pear – Nature’s Wonder – $11
  • Peach Apricot – Afternoon Delight – $11
  • White Cranberry – $11
  • Strawberry – Sweet Summertime – $11
  • Watermelon – $11
  • Acai Raspberry – Razzle Dazzle – $11
  • Blackberry – Brambles – $11
  • Blueberry – Berry Blue – $11
  • Cranberry – $11
  • Pomegranate Wildberry – Eternity – $11
  • Sangria – $11
  • Wildberry – $11
  • Apple Pie – $14
  • Cotton Candy – $14
    • Try this mixed with strawberries!
  • Maple Wine – $14
  • Pumpkin Pie – $14
  • Jalapeno Wine – $14
  • Bloody Mary with 1/2 Jalapeno Wine – $5

Dessert Wines – $6 per glass and 75 cent tastings

  • Cabernet Franc Ice Wine – Red Ice – $21
  • Riesling Ice Wine – Buckeye Ice – $21
  • Port – Sweet Harbor – $12
  • Coffee Port – $15.50
  • Caramel Port – $15.50
  • Chocolate,  Raspberry Port – Sweet Holiday Harbor – $15.50
  • Raspberry Mocha Port – $15.50

Wine Slushies are $5 per glass!

Caesar’s Creek Vineyards in Xenia

Rows of young vines bordered the gravel drive leading to the pole barn of Caesar’s Creek Vineyards.  I left a cloud of dust behind me, wondering if the winery was open on this Friday afternoon, because it seemed unusually quiet, or maybe I was just early.  Approaching the large double doors into the entrance, I stepped into a beautiful large tasting room that I had all to myself.  Trisha kindly offered me a list of wines and  I was so excited to sample a few wines, beginning with the Traminette 2013.

The Traminette is a semi-dry white wine “with orange blossom aromas. Notes of citrus on the palette.” I love the smell of this wine while the texture and taste was crisp yet smooth.  I enjoyed the light flavor of the wine and decided that this was one of my favorite wines from Caesar’s Creek Vineyards. To purchase a bottle, the cost was $15.95 and $6 a glass.

I decided to branch out with a sample of Creek Stomper.  My preferences are the drier reds and fruity wines, but I am surprised by how much I am enjoying the whites.  This 2013 wine is a semi-sweet white wine with apples and honeydew on the nose and palette.  I can definitely taste the apple but I am really stretching to savor the honeydew flavors but regardless, I definitely enjoy the smooth body of the wine.  They say you have to keep drinking wines to improve your wine tasting abilities, so that won’t be a problem.

My next sample was Just Peachy which is described as a sweet white wine with “delicious peach nose and palette.”  As soon as Trisha uncorked the bottle, my nose took in the beautiful fruity bouquet of peach and my mouth began to water.  This is such an easy wine to love.

Headwaters White is another 2013 vintage that is “very sweet with notes of honey and tangerine”.  I enjoyed the wine, but struggled to taste the fruit so I moved on to Miss Petunia Pie.

Of course, who doesn’t love the picture of a little Shih Tzu frolicking around in the grass as the label on the bottle?  Similar to a dessert wine, this is made from Frontenac Gris Grapes and California Chardonnay.  It has a thick texture and comes in a half sized bottle for $12.95.  I set aside a bottle of Miss Petunia to take home to enjoy at a later date.

My final tasting was the 2013 Twilight which is a semisweet with bright notes of cherry, undertones of citrus and a clean finish.  I learned that this is made from the Cayuga white grape which is a hybrid of Schuyler and the Seyval Blanc.  I enjoyed the fruity taste and gorgeous color, so I purchased another wine to take home.

I explained to Trisha that I was new to learning about wines.  She said that tasting and trying new wines were the perfect way to become more acquainted with wines.  She also suggested a couple of references that she thought would be helpful.  In addition, she mentioned that I contact Chip Emmerich from Burnet Ridge to set up an appointment for a tour.  She stated that he is very knowledgeable about wine and would give some great advice and encouraged me to try their Purple Trillium.

I was so thankful for the opportunity to learn more about Caesar’s Creek wines.  When I asked Trisha about the vines, she said that they planted their first vines in 2005 where they grow nine varieties of hybrid grapes on seven acres.  With the recent winter vortex, some of the grapes would take longer to produce grapes. I left Caesar’s Creek Vineyards with three bottles of wine and an abundance of suggestions and tips.  I could totally get used to this.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Caesar’s Creek Vineyards?  Did you have a favorite wine?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my afternoon at Caesar’s Creek Vineyards and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Caesar’s Creek Vineyard
962 Long Road
Xenia, Ohio  45385
Telephone:  937 479 4278

The winery’s hours change seasonally, so please reference the winery’s website for hours of operation.

Where to Stay:

Ramada Xenia
300 Xenia Towne Square
Xenia, Ohio  45385
Telephone:  937 372 9921

Where to Eat:

Acapulco Restaurant
88 Xenia Towne Square
Xenia, Ohio  45385
Telephone:  937 374 0582

The chips and salsa remind me of my days in Southern California, authentic and a little spicy.  I ordered the chicken burrito with rice and beans which was enough to feed me for three days.

What to Eat: 

  • Award-winning wings and steaks at Nick’s Restaurant
  • Tenderloin Sandwich at Linda’s Family Restaurant

What to Read: 

  • Ohio Town:  A Portrait of Xenia, Ohio by Helen Hooven Santmyer
  • Herbs and Apples by Helen Hooven Santmyer