Tag Archives: German

Engineering Fabulous Wines, Vinoklet Winery

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It was a beautiful day, so I planned a visit to Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant on Cincinnati’s Westside.   As I pulled into the parking lot, I was more than surprised by the number of cars and was having a difficult time finding a parking space.

Vinoklet hosts a buffet style dinner over the weekends and is also a popular place for hosting events.  That evening, there was a family reunion, a business dinner as well as a bachelorette party.  I was incredibly grateful that the hostess found a small table for me in a corner when I explained I was interested in a wine tasting.

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In addition to sampling wine, I decided to purchase the cheese tray which included Swiss, Cheddar and Pepperjack cheese, pepperoni, crackers and grapes.  It was the perfect amount for the tasting, but I wished that I had booked a reservation for the buffet-style meal where fish, steak and shrimp were grilled to perfection served with salads, sides and decadent desserts.

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There are a total of nine wines available for tasting, arranged from dry to sweet with the reds to my left and the whites on my right.  I began my tasting with the Brother Joe, a cabernet sauvignon described as “A premium red wine made with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and chambourcin grapes.  Rich ripe flavors with an elegant finish”.

The Cincinnatus was next, which is a “dry red table wine made with Merlot and Chambourcin grapes.  Vibrant flavor with a harmonious finish”.  I picked up a bottle for our family cookout that weekend, knowing it would be perfect with steak.

I enjoyed the Sunset Blush and It was such a great, refreshing wine that I ordered a glass after my tasting.  This is a “semi-sweet wine made with Catawba, Vidal and Niagara grapes. Aromatic fruit with a zesty finish.”

The last red wine on the list was the La Dolce Vita, translated as “The Sweet Life” in Italian.  It is a “sweet red dessert wine made with Chambourcin and Concord grapes.  Soft and fruity to enjoy anytime”.

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Halfway into my tasting, I had the privilege of meeting Kreso Mikulic, the owner of the winery.  Checking in with his guests, he was enjoying a glass of wine.  Making his rounds, he stopped by my table after coming in from outside and we chatted a few moments about his winery.

Kreso is originally from Croatia, where wine was a part of his everyday life.  Just like many of the northern Italians, each of the members in his village grew their own grapes to produce wine for their families.  He actively participated in the process as a child and has years of experience making extraordinary wines.

Kreso went on to become an electrical engineer, moving to the US and finding work with the General Electric Aviation division.  He is credited with a variety of patents for the aerospace industry.   Once he retired, he opened the winery in 1980 and has been hosting guests in Colerain for nearly forty years.

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Sunset Blush

Continuing with my fifth sample, I learned that the Traminette is a grape blend of the Seyve, a French American hybrid with the vitis vinifera of German descent.  It is the next wine on my list and described by Vinkolet as a “premium wine with spicy characteristics of honey and florals”.  The taste was strongest towards the back of the tongue.

Tears of Joy is definitely a drier wine and is made with Vidal Blanc grapes.  It is “crisp and full of flavor yet soft to the palate”.  It was a little too dry for me, but I really enjoyed the Dreamer, a semi-sweet wine made with Vidal Blanc grapes and an Ohio favorite, the Niagara. The winery labels it as “perfectly balanced and delicate to the taste.”

In Vino Veritas was another favorite wine at Vinoklet Winery.  Also made with Niagara and Vidal Blanc grapes, this is sweeter than the Dreamer and would be a great wine to enjoy on a summer afternoon.

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Passion was the last wine in the tasting and was absolutely delicious.  I couldn’t resist and had to purchase a bottle to enjoy at home.

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What I liked most about the winery was that it is also a restaurant and banquet facility.  Located on rolling hills, I enjoyed walking out to the acres of vineyards that would soon produce grapes over the summer months.  Relaxing at the bonfire after dinner is a favorite pastime with many of Vinoklet’s customers and the sunsets from here are absolutely breathtaking.

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The Weekend Dinner option includes the buffet and there are Weekend Grillouts over the summer months offering a wide selection of meats.  In the evening, the winery sets up the fire pit when the weather permits.

Vinoklet Winery is the perfect location to enjoy an evening meal or celebrate a special event.  With the scenic views, delicious foods and award-winning wines, we found the winery more than exceptional.  What makes Vinoklet so special is also memorialized in Kreso’s philosophy.  When it comes to wine, “the best wine is the wine that pleases you the most”, and at Vinoklet Winery there are so many award-winning options from which to choose.   It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make wines, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to be an engineer.

Have you visited Vinoklet and do you have a favorite wine from the winery? Do you have a favorite Ohio winery?  I would love to hear about it to experience it for myself.  If you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below, that would be great! Many Thanks for reading about our evening wine tasting at Vinoklet and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant
11069 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, OH  45252
Telephone:  513 385 9309

  • Hours: The winery is open from noon to 5 PM on Tuesday, noon to 8 PM on Wednesday and Thursday with wine tastings from noon to 4 PM, noon to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday with wine tastings from noon to 4 PM, from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday.  The winery is closed on Monday.  Hours are seasonal and are subject to change.  Please refer to the winery’s website for any updates to its hours of operation and schedule of events.
  • Amenities:  Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, outdoor seating, online shopping, wine, private events and scheduled events
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Please note that the wine tastings are only provided during certain hours and are subject to change.  As always, please drink responsibly.

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn Cincinnati – Northwest/Fairfield
430 Kolb Drive
Cincinnati, OH  45014
Telephone:  513 942 3440

Where to Eat: 

Enjoy the buffet at Vinoklet on Wednesdays and Thursdays or visit on Friday and Saturday nights for the opportunity to grill your own entree with a selection of side dishes, desserts and of course, wine!

Historical Christian Moerlein Brewery Reopens at The Banks in Cincinnati

After spending a beautiful day along the Banks of Cincinnati, I was ready for an outside table at  Moerlein Lager House.  With views along the Ohio River and northern Kentucky, I had the perfect Cincinnati Reds pre-game seat to enjoy a hearty lunch and a couple of beers.  The place was flooded in red with Reds game attendees.

Prior to Prohibition, Cincinnati was one of the leading beer producers throughout the United States with nearly one-hundred breweries opening before the 1920s.  One of these brewers was German immigrant, Christian Moerlein.

Moerlein arrived in the United States in 1841 and settled in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati popular with German and German-American immigrants.  He began brewing beer in his blacksmith shop before opening the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company on Elm Street in 1853.  He produced over 1000 barrels of beer in his first year of production.

Moerlein created brews that were not only popular in Cincinnati, but throughout the country.  The brewery became the largest in Ohio, the fifth largest in the country and began shipping internationally to Europe and South America.  By 1890, Cincinnati was called the “Beer Capital of the World.”

Unfortunately, with the passing of Moerlein in 1897 and Prohibition shortly thereafter, the brewery closed in 1920.

The Christian Moerlein brand was reintroduced to the public when Christian Moerlein Select Lager was produced by Hudepohl Brewing Company in 1981 and was considered on the “leading edge of the craft beer revolution.”  It was the first beer to pass the strict Reinheigsgebot Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 which requires a beer to contain only four ingredients:  malted barley, hops, water and yeast.

By 2004, local Cincinnatian, Greg Hardman purchased the Christian Moerlein and Hudepohl brands to re-introduce some of the best known brews of Cincinnati.  Six years later, Hardman bought the Husman Potato Chip factory in Over-the-Rhine just a few blocks from Moerlein’s original site.  The first beer produced was the 1861 porter which was introduced on New Year’s Eve 2010 in celebration of Arnold’s Bar and Grill’s 150th anniversary.

I was excited to see an amazing list of Cincinnati retro beers to include Hudy 14-K, Hudy Delight, Hudepohl, Little Kings and Burger on the Lager House menu.  I ordered the Purity Pilsner from their amazing selection , a wonderful light beer.

Moerlein Lager House opened in February 2012 along Cincinnati’s newest neighborhood, The Banks, located along the banks of the Ohio River.  This prime location is also adjacent to Great American Ball Park, home of Cincinnati Reds baseball along the riverfront.

Measuring 150,000 square feet and standing two stories, Moerlein offers plenty of seating with 500 seats inside and 600 outside throughout its multiple beer gardens.  A large beer garden connects to Schmidlapp lawn, an outdoor event space along the riverfront park.

With an extensive menu, Hardman wanted to include foods based on the 19th century German cuisine of Over the Rhine such as soft pretzels, German sausage platter and Reuben sandwich.

I couldn’t resist ordering the Cuban sandwich, chips and Hudy Delight.  With over 80 selections, I have time to try another beer before the Cincinnati Reds game.

Have you visited Moerlein Lager House in Cincinnati?  What beers did you order?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for reading about my visit to Moerlein and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 421 2337
Website:

Where to Eat:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 521 2337
Website:  https://www.moerleinlagerhouse.com/

Where to Stay:

AC Hotel by Marriott Cincinnati at The Banks
135 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone:  513 521 2337

What to Eat: 

  • Skyline Chili:  My go-to meal at Skyline is the 4-way chili with onion served with oyster crackers and hot sauce.  I always pick up two York peppermint patties after cashing out.  Cincinnati chili is a beef based sauce served over spaghetti noodles and cheese.  Additional toppings include onions and beans.
  • LaRosa’s Pizza:  A local chain pizzeria, this Sicilian style pie is made with a sweet crust and sauce.  My favorite menu item is the Caprese pesto Flatbread Pizza.
  • Graeter’s Ice Cream:  It’s the French Pot process that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so decadent and rich.  Towards the end of the process, they pour chocolate into the mix creating large chunks of yummy goodness.
  • Montgomery Inn BBQ:  Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience.  Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals.  Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
  • Glier’s Goetta:  While it looks like a slab of corn beef hash, this breakfast staple is made of sausage and oats, cooked until crispy.  Most breakfast restaurants carry it as a side, especially the local cafes and diners.
  • BonBonerie:  One of the most decadent pastry shops in Cincinnati, their rich confections are absolutely amazing.

Where to Drink:

AC Hotel Rooftop Bar
135 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 744 9900

What to Read:

  • Eligible:  A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Running, by J.T. Cooper
  • Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
  • Beloved, by Toni Morrison
  • Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
  • Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper

Photo Guide to Cincinnati:

  • City Hall – Inside and Out
  • Smale Riverfront Park
  • Union Terminal
  • Roebling Suspension Bridge
  • Washington Park
  • Krohn Conservatory
  • American Sign Museum

Hotter than Hale, Our Vacation in Michigan – Travel Day

Our family vacation began with a stop in Frankenmuth, Michigan where we decided to have lunch at Zehnder’s, famous for their chicken dinner.  We took an afternoon stroll to walk off our giant portions of homestyle cooking, exploring the Bavarian architecture of this charming village.  With a deep German heritage dating back to 1904, this is one of Michigan’s most visited towns offering exciting festivals throughout the year.

Within an hour and a half, we arrived at our rental house in Hale, Michigan where we would spend the next ten days of vacation.  Situated on the shores of the lake, we had access to a pontoon boat and a small ramp for fishing.  Grace couldn’t wait to drive us around.

After a long day on the road and settling into our rental house, we were blessed with a beautiful sunset.  We sat around the fireplace enjoying the solitude as the sun slowly drifted behind the lake and tall pines.

What a beautiful way to spend our first evening in Hale after a long day of travel.

What is your favorite family vacation?  I would love to hear about your travel memories if you will kindly provide them in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation in Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

  • Walk the charming town of Frankenmuth

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

Where to Stay:

Zehnder’s Splash Village
1365 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 330 1715

Where to Eat:

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

What to Eat:

  • Zehnder’s Fried Chicken
  • Schnitzel
  • Sauerbraten

What to Read:

  • Frankenmuth:  A Guide to Michigan’s Little Bavaria, by Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer

Photo Guide for Frankenmuth:

  • Bavarian Belle Riverboat
  • Frankenmuth Brewery
  • Illuminated Village Christmas Zehnder’s
  • Lager Mill
  • Old School House Brick