Caesar’s Creek Vineyards in Xenia

11 June 202122 September 2024

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

The Lakehouse Inn and Winery, Geneva On The Lake, Ohio

18 June 201716 September 2024

The bridal party was waiting for the ceremony to begin when I entered the Lakehouse Inn and Winery. The bride was having a private conversation with her father as her bridesmaids stood in line waiting to begin the wedding procession. The groom was standing at the end of the stone platform where attendees had taken their seats for the event. The gorgeous blue lake and small sandy beach provided the perfect backdrop for exchanging vows. The view was absolutely stunning and I had almost forgotten I was visiting a winery in Ohio.

I quietly ducked into the restaurant before the festivities began. The elegant tasting bar, with its large window, looked out onto Lake Erie. As I reviewed the wine menu, the bartender listed a number of wines that were no longer available, including Red Sky, the Scarti Di Cantina and the Cabernet.

I began my tasting with the Pinot Noir, one of my favorite varietals. I enjoyed the silky texture of this wine and could taste and smell a hint of berry.

The Vino Della Casa NV, translated as the “wine of the house” is a semi-dry, light-bodied, oaky wine with a very nice finish.

Their strawberry wine was a semi-dry and had undertones of strawberries in both its smell and taste.

Just Peachy tastes exactly as it sounds. I enjoyed the smell of this wine and the light orange color that looked like a freshly picked peach.

I decided to enjoy a glass of the Pinot Noir while looking out onto the lake and although I did not have a direct view of the wedding from where I was sitting, I could not help but feel as though I was imposing. Selfishly, I was hoping for the ceremony to end soon so that I could take the path down to the beach and relax in an Adirondack chair.

By the time I had finished my Pinot, the wedding ceremony was completed and I opted for a glass of Just Peachy that seemed more appropriate for the beach. There was a light breeze and just enough cloud coverage for a comfortable summer day. I was mesmerized by the view of the lake and found it difficult to believe I was in Ohio. Far from the Caribbean, I felt like I was on island time and swore to return at least one more time before the colder temperatures invaded this tropical paradise.

Have you visited Lakehouse Inn and Winery or one of the other Ohio wineries near Geneva? I would love to hear about your favorite wines and wineries if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reviewing my visit to Lakehouse Inn and Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Lakehouse Inn and Winery
5653 Lake Road, East
Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 44041
Telephone: 440 466 8668

Where to Stay:

The Lakehouse Inn and Winery
5653 Lake Road, East
Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 44041
Telephone: 440 466 8668

The Lakehouse Inn and Winery offers luxurious accommodations along Lake Erie. Their cottages are situated 100 yards from the water. All accommodations include breakfast at their restaurant, Crosswinds Grille.

Where to Eat:

Crosswinds Grille
5653 Lake Road, East
Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 44041
Telephone: 440 466 8668

During the afternoon, we enjoyed a lovely winetasting within the restaurant and ordered the Charcuterie & Salumi Board (assorted house made cured meats, pickled vegetables, local cheeses and crostini) as well as the Baked Brie (Mayfield Road brie, puff pastry, seasonal jam, candied walnuts, toast points). We ordered a bottle of wine and headed out to the beach to relax on the Adirondack chairs for an afternoon of relaxation.

For dinner, we returned for the Caprese Salad and the Wood-Fired White Pizza (garlic, four cheese blend, red onion, red pepper and chicken).

What to Eat: