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Hundley Cellars, A Cozy Winery in Ohio’s Grand River Valley

An adorable cottage sits in the midst of northeast Ohio’s wine country.  With brown shingle siding, a stone fireplace, vaulted ceiling and hunter green roofing, it looks more like a hunting lodge than a Great River Valley winery .  From the moment I arrived, I felt as though I was sitting in the midst of a best friend’s great room.  The gorgeous light wood interior, accented with dark furniture was classic and extremely cozy.

I selected a table looking out towards the deck where it was still quite cold to be seated outside.  I placed my order at the tasting bar for a flight of wines and a small plate from the simple snacks menu which included cheese, crackers and meat for an additional charge.

My wines arrived and shortly thereafter the Cheese Board which had some amazing samples of Cotswold (Gloucester with Chives, England) cheese, Red Dragon (with Whole Grain Mustard, Wales) cheese, Five Counties/Stripey Jack (England) Vintage Cheddar (Canada), pickles and artisan crackers.  The meat selection was the perfect size that paired well with the wines I had selected.

Starting out with the Chardonnay, I noted the beautiful blonde color of the wine and simple body.  Lightly oaked, this perfect buttery Chardonnay would pair quite nicely with a lovely Camembert.  I knew that my sister will enjoy this wine over the holidays and added this to my list of wines I wanted to purchase.

The Estate Traminette was the color of sunshine and I could taste the minerals in this wine for certain.  It was a perfect pairing with the crackers that were placed on my board as the third set from the left.

Interestingly, the Niagara had what appeared to be bubbles and I enjoyed this wine with the selection of meat.  It was a semi-sweet wine that had a mild bite to its finish.

The Estate Seyval are grown on the property and are hand picked during harvest.  With a color of light straw, this wine had a medium body and a short finish and I imagined it would be perfect with grilled salmon or a tuna steak.

The Late Harvest Vidal was another estate wine which had a hint of light green to its light yellow undertones.  It had an intense honey taste with a strong apricot smell.  The taste was fruity with a smooth texture and I knew this would pair well with my spicy Asian dishes.

The Merlot had a nice dryness and full body.  A beautiful beet color, this purplish red wine was perfect with the meat and cheese and ended with a short tart finish.

My final sample was the Harvest Red.  Solid red in  color it had it had a very strong grape smell which reminded me of jam. A very sweet grape juice taste which I find to be typical of Ohio wines and always a delicious choice.

Hundley Cellars opened its doors in 2014 and offers an amazing selection of wines.  Sitting on 35 acres in Ashtabula County, the property includes a beautiful outdoor deck to enjoy the pond and surrounding vineyards.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Hundley Cellars?  I would love to hear about your visit and learn which wines you enjoyed most if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my visit to Hundley Cellars and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Hundley Cellars
6451 St. Route 307
Geneva, Ohio  44041
Telephone:  440 361 3088

  • Hours: The winery is open from 12 PM to 7 PM on Wednesday and Thursday, 12 PM to 9 PM on Friday and  Saturday and from 12 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. The winery is closed on Monday and Tuesday.  Hours are seasonal and are subject to change. Please refer to the winery’s website for any updates to its hours of operation.
  • Amenities:  Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, outdoor seating, wine, private events
  • Tips for Your Visit:  During the nights when the winery provides entertainment, wine tastings are not available.  As always, please drink responsibly.

Where to Stay:

The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake
4888 N. Broadway
Geneva on the Lake, Ohio  44041
Telephone:  866 806 8066

Where to Eat:

I recommend having snacks at Hundley Cellars because they are fabulous and unique!  Here are a couple of suggestions close by if you would prefer a full menu option:

Chops Grille & Tap House
1752 State Route 534 South
Geneva, Ohio  44041
Telephone:  440 466 7427

Crosswinds Grille
5653 Lake Road East
Geneva, Ohio  44041
Telephone:  440 466 8668 x4

My favorite menu item is the charcuterie board.   Crosswinds is known for its farm to table offerings where everything tastes so fresh.

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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

Halliday’s Winery in Lake Milton, Ohio

While driving to Pennsylvania to visit my brother and his family, I would notice several road signs advertising the wineries of northeast Ohio.  I was determined to make a stop on my way home in the little town of Lake Milton and had the opportunity to have lunch at Halliday’s Winery.

It was a busy lunch hour and I was greeted by a friendly server who sat me at a table near the window.   Handing me a food menu and tasting sheet, I selected a flight of wines and a flatbread pizza.

The winery was named in honor of James Halliday who is settled along the Mahoning River over 200 years ago.  The winery’s website includes a few interesting stories about the life of James Halliday who built a grist mill here and raised his family.

Waiting for my meal, I watched several families arrive, meeting each other for the afternoon.  Children played near the entrance as families waited for a table.  I could hear them discussing their week and upcoming plans as the room was filled with conversation.

With a few more minutes to wait, I read through the excerpts on their website about the Halliday family.  My favorite selection was titled “The Mill”, which emphasized the coming together as a community to support each other and help in times of need.

My Asiago Basil flatbread pizza arrived topped with sharp asiago cheese, mild pepper rings and sweet basil.

Finishing lunch, I submitted my tasting sheet with the list of wine I wanted to sample.

  • Mozina Creek is described as a delightful merlot with Chambourcin and Chancellor hybrids added for character. This well balanced wine offers aromas of juicy red berries, off dry, fruity characteristics and a touch of light oak.  Listed as a semi-dry, the wine is available at $8 per glass or $22 per bottle.
  •  Darak Sunrise is a light bodied red full of Concord fruit flavor.  Lush soft and smooth. Fresh grape aromas and flavors that provide a distinctive, juice taste.  Listed as a semi-sweet wine, it is available for $7 per glass or $19 per bottle.
  • Carosello is a white Riesling wine with aromas of white peach, pear, mineral and floral accents. Rich mouth feel it is bright on the palate creating an appealing balance of fruit and acid.  This semisweet wine is available for $9 per glass and $24 per bottle.
  • Sweet Sarah, made from local Niagara grapes tastes of candied lemon rind with hints of jasmine high notes.  A popular sweet wine, it is available for $7 per glass and $19 per bottle.
  • Mead is a wine made from honey which comes from local northeastern Ohio bee colonies.  It is available for $7 per glass and $40 per bottle.

Sampling wines and enjoying a light lunch, I enjoyed my time spent at Halliday Winery.  Before leaving Lake Milton, I stopped by the state park to walk off my lunch, enjoying the scenic views of the lake before leaving for Columbus, excited to spend time with my family.

Have you visited Halliday’s Winery?  Did you have lunch or sample their 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 quick stop in Lake Milton and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Halliday’s Winery
2400 NE River Road
Lake Milton, OH 44429
Telephone:  330 654 9463

Hours: Thursdays from 3 – 8PM, Friday and Saturday from noon to 10PM, Sunday from 11:30AM to 6PM

Grandpa’s Cheese Barn, Ashland, Ohio

Each time I travel to see my brother’s family in Butler, I pass the large white barn of Grandpa’s Cheese Barn in Ashland, Ohio.  Just off of the interstate, I think about stopping, but I always seem to be in a hurry arriving to either one place or the next.  This time I decided to stop for lunch and to pick up a couple of items for gift baskets.

“Grandpa” Yarman began the business with cheese, selling a portable RCA radio to purchase a wheel of Swiss.  Opening a shop  in West Salem, Ohio, he broadened his offerings to include smoked meats.  His daughter would marry Dick Baum and expand the business selling jellies and jams, dips, chocolates and more and eventually opened a total of three Cheesebarns in Ohio.

While there are many selections available, my favorite area of the store is searching for Ohio-made items, such as honey, flavored jams and syrups, perfect for filling gift baskets.

Not only is the barn a store, but a cafe as well where you can pick up a number of deli-style items such as sandwiches, soups and snacks for lunch.  The menu items are made to order or you can choose from premade selections, all served on a souvenir Frisbee.

Some of the locations also include an ice cream shop which uses whole milk to create a number of delicious flavors of ice cream and decadent milkshakes.  Select locations include a candy shop named Sweeties Jumbo Chocolates for a variety of baked goods and candies.  I prefer the homemade peanut butter fudge or the Buckeye Pizza with bits of Buckeye candies layered over white and milk chocolates which is an incredibly rich combination.

Of course you can’t go wrong with the cheese, which come from Ohio’s Amish Country.  With close to 300 varieties of cheese (from domestic to international), it may be overwhelming to make your decision.  Luckily, the Cheesebarn provides samples to help make your selection much easier. 

I could spend hours at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn sampling cheeses, searching for gift items and having lunch, but I only have a couple of hours to make it back to Columbus before dark.  From now on, I will stop at Cheesebarn on my to and from Butler to explore any additional items I may have missed.

Have you visited Grandpa’s Cheesebarn?  What is your favorite part of the store?  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 visit to Grandpa’s Cheesebarn and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Grandpa’s Cheesebarn
668 US Highway 250 E
Ashland, OH 44805
Telephone:  419 281 3202

Kinkead Ridge Winery and Its Bright Future

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Located in downtown Ripley, Kinkead Ridge Winery is an urban winery that has been producing exceptional wines over the last few years.  I had the opportunity to meet the new owners, Dr. Don Bowers and his wife Anna Marie, during a wine event over the Memorial Day weekend.

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Dr. Bowers provided me a list of his wines that included a detailed description.  I began my tasting with the 2014 Lowell Marie Pinot Gris.  “A nose of pear and melon is followed by a hint of fruity sweetness blending melon and pears with a rapidly developed crispness and a late burst of citrus rinds.  The finish brings to mind Meyer lemon and shows a light minerality.  A fine partner with hors d’oeuvres and milder cheeses, this wine will compliment seafood, white fish and mild chicken dishes.  Serve chilled.”

The 2015 Lowell Marie Viognier Roussanne “opens with sweet white blossoms on the nose with a hint of honey.  The style is off dry with pineapple and apple flavors from the Viognier (grapes) and mild citrus form the Roussanne (grapes). A relaxing refreshment by the glass, it would be enhanced by sharp, dry cheeses and cured meats.  It will pair well with meals of chicken, veal or mild pork featuring creamy sauces and  with shellfish especially seared scallops.  The alcohol content is 15% while the residual sugar measures at 1.5%.  The wine is 70% Viognier and 30% Roussanne.”

The 2014 Roussanne Viognier seemed much sweeter than the Viognier Roussanne, which is the perfect wine for me as I am beginning to learn more about the drier white wines.  “This wine begins with orange blossom and flint of the nose revealing the Viognier.  The flavor is pineapple with hints of tobacco and a bracing mouthfeel.  The mixed herbal note and the distinct finish of lime zest gives voice to the Roussanne.  This Rhone style white wine will complement aromatic cheese and salami, sausage and specialty hams and will being a bracing crispness to rich chicken and veal dishes, enrich scallops, cream sauces and pasta with shellfish.”   A bottle of this wonderful wine is $14.99.

My last sample of white wine was the 2015 Lowell Marie Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.  “This nearly equally partnership of two classic Bordeaux white varieties starts with aromas of lemon and green apple notes.  Reflects a surprising smoothness that would enhance soft creamy cheeses, nuts and succulent cherries, figs or plums.  This full bodied wine complements oysters, prawns, clams, flaky white fish, grilled salmon or tuna as well as chicken or veil.   Serve gently chilled”, this bottle is available for $13.99 per bottle.  I am a huge fan of seafood, so I purchased a bottle so that I could try it with my favorite grilled salmon recipe.

The 2014 River Village Cellars Traminette is a semi-sweet “captures the sweet fragrances of warm evenings, of honeysuckle and wild rose, of water lilies and lavender.  …Like its parent, Gewurztraminer, this wine stands up to the fiery spices of Asian cuisine but this year’s vintage was a bit softer and sweeter for sipping…Serve chilled.”  I enjoyed the spicy aftertaste of this wine which comes from the flavors of nutmeg, rose and star anise.

Described as a “New World hybrid grape with a pronounced character reminiscent of Gewirtztraminer from Alsace”, this wine was made from Traminette grapes provided by McCafferty Bridge Vineyard  and has a very light flavor and fruity aroma.

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Before moving on to the red wines, I enjoyed sampled some of the complimentary cheese and crackers provided by the winery.  Since I love the dry reds, I was so excited to sample the Merlot, a 2014 Lowell Marie.  Described as “light bodied and immediately drinkable, it is an early release especially well-suited for refreshing summer drinks and Sangrias as it doesn’t overpower fresh fruits and takes will to a bit of sweetness  and sparkle.  It also complements lighter outdoor meals and picnics and could be lightly chilled.”  It is perfectly priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Kinkead Ridge’s 2013 River Village Cellars comes from the Chambourcin grapes also produced by McCafferty Bridge Vineyard.  It is “full-bodied, deep-colored with notes of cassis, berry fruit and plum.” This wine is perfectly paired with “beef, lamb wild game and richly flavored cheeses”. Barrel aged nine months, the retail bottle price for this wine is $11.99.  I enjoyed the taste of this wine and loved the aromas of stone fruit.

One of my favorite wines at Kinkead Ridge was the 2013 Estate Bottled Petit Verdot.  “Hand harvested…, this intensely-colored dark purple tannic complex wine displays a fragrant nose with tones of violet and leather.  Small-lot fermentations with hand punch-downs and classic small scale winemaking techniques were used to create this wine.  Aged in premium French and American oak, one can enjoy this wine with beef, lamb or wild game.  Tasting this wine will leave you wanting more!” A bottle of Petit Verdot can be purchased for $24.99 and is well worth the price.

Kinkead Ridge boasts two Cabernets and I enjoyed both of these wines immensely.  The Sauvignon is “hand-harvested…, this wine is dark ruby red, well structured, and complex displaying classic Cabernet aromas of cassis, plum and black cherry.  The process for creating this wine were similar to the winery’s Petit Verdot, also aged in premium French and American oak.”  This excellent wine has a lovely, smooth texture.

The Cabernet Franc, bottled in 2013 was also “hand-harvested…this wine’s fragrant aromas of violet and black cherry precede a taste of full-bodied, richly flavored complexity, with raspberry and spice overtones.”  This wine is perfect with “beef, turkey, pork and rich stews.”

During my visit, I had the opportunity to discuss the future of Kinkead Ridge’s Winery with new owner Dr. Don Bowers.  He is a medical doctor by trade and since I work in the pharmaceutical industry in research and development, I found the explanation of his wine-making techniques to be very interesting…after all, it is all about chemistry.  Dr. Bowers and his family are very involved in the day to day process of wine making.  Having purchased Kinkead Ridge, the established winery has a long list of venues where their wines can be purchased and the owners have  plans for expansion.  I look forward to visiting the winery again in the future and continue to follow the winery’s success.

Have you had the opportunity to try some of the fabulous wines produced by Kinkead Ridge Winery?  I would love to hear about your favorite wines and your experience with the winery if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

I would like to thank Dr. Don Bowers and his family for their time and hospitality during my visit!

What to See and What to Do:

Kinkead Ridge Winery
904 Hamburg Street
Ripley, Ohio   45167
Telephone:  216 551 9093

Where to Stay:

The Signal House Bed and Breakfast
234 N. Front Street
Ripley, OH  45167
Telephone:  937 392 1640

Where to Eat:

Cohearts Riverhouse
18 N. Front Street
Ripley, OH  45167
Telephone:  937 392 4819

Delicious burger with a fabulous view of the Ohio River!

What to Read:

  • Ripley, Ohio It’s History and Families, by Eliese Bambach Stivers
  • Beyond the River: The Untold Stories of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad, by Ann Hagedorn
  • His Promised Land: The Autobiography of John P. Parker, Former Slave and Conductor on the Underground Railroad, by John P. Parker