Tag Archives: Moscato

Hocking Hills Winery in Athens, Ohio

After making several trips to Athens to visit my sister, I decided to stop by Hocking Hills Winery in Logan on my way home to Columbus.  Beckoned by billboards along US-33, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample locally-produced wines and purchase a couple of bottles for myself.

Max and Loris Davidson owned the property and raised cattle on the farm until the land was passed down to their family by 2008.  Wanting to maintain the farm for agricultural use, it was their grandson, Blaine, who came up with the idea to plant a vineyard to produce wine as Hocking Valley Vineyards.  That same year, 2013, they planted their first 600 vines on just over one acre.  The grapevines included the hearty French-hybrid varietals that would thrive in the cold weather of Ohio to include the Chambourcin, Traminette and the Vidal Blanc.

The large room is a great meeting place with the tasting bar on the opposite side of the entrance.  I grabbed a seat and a menu and within minutes ordered their wine flight where I could sample eight of their sixteen varietals.

Their estate grown wines include:

  • Vidal Blanc, first harvested in 2013 from their estate grown grapes. It is a full bodied white which pairs with shellfish and chicken.
    • The Vidal Blanc grapes are also used to make the Lilly of the Valley wine
  • Sauvignon Blanc, first harvested in 2016 from the Lontue region of the Curico Valley of Chile, South America.  Pairs great with grilled chicken as well as Greek and Mexican cuisine.
  • Traminette, first harvested in 2017

Additional Wines:

  • Chardonnay aged in American Oak for 8 months
  • Pinot Grigio from grapes harvested from the Lontue region of the Curico Valley of Chile in South America. The cool wine region allows the grapes to flourish in the Andes Mountains providing a crisp, dry white.
  • Riesling from the Columbia Valley of Washington state in a cool climate resulting in semi-sweet wine which balances out rich, saucy dishes.  (This was one of my favorites!)
  • Moscato from Lodi, California
  • Sweet Chardonnay from California’s Central Valley
  • Malbec
  • Syrah
  • Zinfandel from Lodi, California is a region where much of the great Zinfandel is produced. Pair this wine with rich meats.
  • Hocking River Red, a sweet red wine blend
  • Rock House Rouge
  • Balanced Rock Port, a dessert wine
  • Peach Wine Slushy
  • Raspberry Wine Slushy

While the winery has been winning awards since 2015 and their wines have also been recognized by a number of organizations:

Awards and Recognition?

  • 2019: Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor!
  • 2019: Riesling awarded a Silver Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!
  • 2019: Chardonnay awarded a Bronze Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!
  • 2019: Hocking River Red awarded a Bronze Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!
  • 2018: Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor!
  • 2018: Petite Syrah awarded a Bronze Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!
  • 2018: Trillium awarded a Bronze Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!
  • 2017: Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor!
  • 2015: New Business of the Year Award by the Hocking Hills Chamber of Commerce!

Hocking Hills Winery offers a nice menu of appetizers ranging from $8 to $20 and visitors can also order food from local restaurants through UberEats, DoorDash or from the restaurant’s website as well.

What to See and What to Do:

Hocking Hills Winery
30402 Freeman Road
Logan, OH  43138
Telephone:  740 385 7117

  • Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1PM to 8PM,  Friday from 1PM to 10PM and Saturday from 11AM to 10PM; Closed Tuesday
  • Tips for Visiting Hocking Hills Winery:  The winery caters to hikers, so make sure to stop by!  In addition to wine, the winery provides additional juices and water.  Children are permitted as well as dogs.  They do not accept reservations.  Their white wines are vegan but egg whites are used in their red wines to soften the tannins.  Outside food and beverages are not permitted but they have a menu which is also located on their website.

An Amazing Urban Winery in Mt. Orab, Ohio: Bardwell Winery – NOW CLOSED

Update:  Bardwell Winery is now closed.

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Located in the lovely, rural town of Mt. Orab, Bardwell Winery is also a small-town eatery with a full menu of comfort food, a welcome addition of craft beers and of course, a wide selection of wines.

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Owned by Gayle and Randy Weddle, this Brown County gem is located next to a real estate business, also owned by the Weddles.   I had a lovely visit with Gayle sampling a few of Bardwell’s wines and learning about the history of their winery.

My wine tasting began with a sample of their Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, deep and red in color, the wine had an agreeable texture with a smooth finish. This wine “features velvety flavors of black cherry and oak with medium tannins”.

The Pinot Noir smelled of chocolate and was a beautiful deep purple.  With a smooth silky texture,  it is described as a “full body red exhibiting flavors of ripe cherry and strawberry.”

The Merlot is one of my favorite varietals, and Bardwell’s does not disappoint.   I enjoyed the fruity smell of the wine and the eggplant color seemed to be a shade more dense than the Pinot Noir.  A smooth wine that would perfectly pair with a medium rare steak.

The Niagara is a local grape that is described as a “semi dry white that is full of grape flavor and aroma.”  I noticed that it had a sweet taste at the start yet a pleasant tart finish at the end.

The Apple Wine took me by surprise as I felt as though I was biting into a honey crisp apple.  With its unique flavor, I added this wine to my list of bottles I would be taking home with me.

The Strawberry White Merlot is “crisp & tangy with bursts of fresh ripe strawberries”.  I could definitely taste the berries as well as a subtle lemonade flavor and I love the pretty pink color of the wine. Another perfect wine for the summer months.

Taking my first drink of the Black Raspberry Merlot, I could smell the robust aroma of black raspberry.  The bold fruit-forward flavor of this wine is offset by the subtle flavor of the Merlot.

The Blueberry Pinot Noir is a winning combination with a perfect balance of both fruit and wine.

I have learned through the process of wine tastings that I have a wide range of wines that I enjoy to include dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet reds and whites.   The Moscato was one of my favorite wines at Bardwell.  It had a perfect sweetness so I purchased a bottle for my sister who loves this varietal of wine.

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While sipping on my last sample of wine, I had the opportunity to meet Randy, who gave me an overview of his new brews and explained that he would be introducing a few more flavors in the near future.   About a year ago they began brewing their signature craft beers which include the Golden Buggy Lager, Bronco Beer and Orabian Dark.

Bardwell Winery is a hidden gem in the southwest region of Ohio offering a wide selection of wines and craft beer.  You can find the winery on their Facebook Page which lists their activities and entertainment schedule.   They are open each night until 10 PM and have karaoke the 1st Saturday of each month.  Whether it’s beer or wine, Bardwell Winery is the perfect place for date night or a girl’s night out.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Bardwell Winery?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many Thanks and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Many thanks to Randy and Gayle Weddle for their hospitality during my visit to Bardwell Winery.   Please note that all comments and opinions written in this post are my own.

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What to See and What to Do:

Bardwell Winery
716 North High Street
Mt. Orab, Ohio  75154
Telephone:  513 309 0781

You can also find Bardwell Winery on their Facebook page which lists their activities and entertainment schedule!  They are open each night until 10 PM and have karaoke the 1st Saturday of each month.

Where to Stay:

Bailey House Bed and Breakfast
112 N. Water Street
Georgetown, OH  45121
Telephone:  937 378 3087

Where to Eat:

Bardwell Winery
716 North High Street
Mt. Orab, Ohio  75154
Telephone:  513 309 0781

Bruschetta is one of my favorite small plates, so I couldn’t refuse trying this tasty dish prepared by Bardwell Winery!

Country Inn Restaurant
30 Sunset Blvd.
Georgetown, OH  45121
Telephone:  937 378 2100

I was looking for a down home country meal near the bed and breakfast and found a restaurant that serves Goetta!  Goetta is a meat-and-grain sausage inspired by the Germans who settled in Cincinnati and the surrounding area (in Pennsylvania they call it scrapple).  I ordered the Oldenburg’s Favorite Goetta Breakfast which included two large eggs (over medium), and Oldenburg’s favorite recipe homemade Goetta, home fries and made-from-scratch butter milk biscuits with real butter and strawberry preserves.  Yum!