Tag Archives: Ohio Sweet Wine

Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva On The Lake, Ohio

I could hear the beautiful, distinct sound of bagpipes through a large crowd of onlookers as I approached Old Firehouse Winery.   I immediately took notice of the quaint little antique fire truck at the front of the building, half the size of the ones today, and entered the winery to sample a few of their wines.  The sassy red barn had been converted into a firehouse before becoming a winery and restaurant twenty-five years later.  “Old Betsy”, a 1926 Graham Brothers engine, represents the historical evolution of Old Firehouse Winery.

Standing in line with other patrons, I soon realized that the slushies were one of the winery’s best sellers.   I was easily entertained by the television screen with interesting information about the winery and Old Firehouse wines.

I had watched the informative loop twice when I was next in line to be served.   I decided to try the preset Sweet Wine Tasting Samples which included ten 1-ounce sized  plastic cups for a cost of $8.99 plus tax.

The umbrella-covered table had a lakeside view where I could enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie.  An Arts & Crafts Show had been set up in an open area where visitors browsed the booths and made a few purchases. During the summer, the fair takes place every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day with hours from noon to 8.

Each Old Firehouse sample was numbered in the order of less sweet to the sweetest.

  • The Firehouse White is made of Catawba grapes was a Gold Award Winner.
  • The Firehouse Red is a semi-sweet wine, with a jammy taste and beautifully red in color.
  • Made from the popular, local Niagara grape, my next sample was the Lighthouse Niagara wine.
  • Lake Erie Riesling was surprisingly sweet compared to other Rieslings I have sampled in the past.
  • Raspberry Reflections has a sunset hue, but with its aromatic raspberry scent, it was perfectly prepared with just a hint of raspberry flavor.
  • Not quite sure what to expect with Spiced Apple, I was pleasantly surprised by its refreshing taste.
  • Frosty Peach, a lovely summertime wine,  was lightly flavored with a hint of peach.
  • Grape Jamboree is typical of an Ohio sweet wine and is one of the winery’s best sellers.  The Grape Jamboree is also an annual festival that takes place in Geneva during the month of September.
  • Pink Catawba, with its deep cranberry color was the sweetest wine yet.
  • My final sample was the Sweet Concord which tastes like grape juice that packs a punch.  This was my favorite sample and I purchased a bottle to make some sangria on a hot summer afternoon.

The view from where I was sitting was absolutely gorgeous.  Within a few feet from the seating area was an antique Ferris wheel at the edge of the lake.  This stand-alone attraction is well known to the locals and was built in 1956.  They call it the #5 Big Eli because it was fifth patent of George Ferris.   Old Firehouse Winery has a port wine named after this colorful wheel and has a spectacular view from the top.

Strolling through the winery before leaving for the Lakehouse Inn and Winery, I could not pass up the opportunity to try the slushie and I quickly learned why they are one of Old Firehouse Winery’s best sellers.

Have you visited Geneva on the Lake and tried the wines at Old Firehouse Winery?  I would love to hear about your fun experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for checking out my post about the Old Firehouse Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Old Firehouse Winery
9425, 5499 Lake Road East
Geneva on the Lake, OH  44041
Telephone:  440 466 9300

Open seven days a week year around, the winery and restaurant provides daily entertainment during the summer months with extended hours over the weekend.  For more information about the winery and their themed weekends which run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, check out their website.

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express Ashtabula – Geneva
1831 Austinburg Road
Austinburg, OH   44010
Telephone:  440 275 2020

Where to Eat:

Biscotti’s Restaurant
186 Park Avenue
Conneaut, OH  44030
Telephone: 440 593 6766

Serving  Italian cuisine, I ordered the Medallions Gorgonzola Alfredo to try their homemade Alfredo sauce, so rich and delicious.

Plum Run Winery Soon to Offer Craft Beer

IMG_9268

Plum Run Winery had just completed their renovations to provide its customers a larger space for sampling its award-winning wines and hard cider.  I was looking forward to visiting this Grove City winery, so I called my friend Karen to join me for the afternoon.

IMG_9259

The winery, offering a wide selection of wines, includes a few of the sweeter wines most popular in the state of Ohio.  These varietals include dessert wines, sweet reds and roses as well as a lovely selection of fruit wines.  Here are the list of wines that we selected for our tasting:

  • Apple: The winery buys their apples from Hugo’s, a local orchard.  The color of the wine is yellow and a bit cloudy.  It has a delicious taste that ends with a bit of a bite. It is described as “a blend of Gold Rush, Winesap and Yellow Delicious Apples, Ohio Grown!” 5% RS, $15 bottle, $6 glass

IMG_9266

  • Niagara: Plum Run Winery’s classic “Ohio Sweet Wine”;  I really enjoyed this one and Karen did as well.  5% RS, $13 bottle, $6 glass
  • Scioto Red: The combination between the Niagara and Concord grapes, this wine is described as a “sweet red wine that is light, fruity and aromatic”;  Two sweet grapes that make the perfect combination that we enjoyed so much we picked up a couple of bottles.    4% RS; $13 bottle $6 glass
  • Cranberry: Described as “tart and sweet with the aromas of pure cranberry juice”, this wine also ranks high on my list; 8$ RS, $18 bottle $6 glass
  • Seyval Blanc: This would have been my second choice for wine as I really liked this one.  It had a butterscotch smell and a smooth flavor; The winery labels this one as a “semi-sweet wine with hints of apple and pear.” 4% RS; $14 bottle, $6 glass
  • Dessert Wine, Red Tail: This is such a fabulous wine, and sampling it with a piece of dark chocolate made it even more enjoyable.  A “port style wine made from the Rougeon and St. Vincent Grapes; bottled in 500 ml bottles [this is] a perfect wine in front of the fire”  9% RS and 19% ABV  $18 bottle, $8 glass
  • Our final sample was the raspberry wine which really does taste like raspberry jam and has a high acidity.

There were so many great choices of wine, and Plum Run will soon be offering Chilean Chardonnay and Chilean Malbec.  My favorite wine choice for this visit was the Red Tail Dessert Wine, so I stopped by the grocery store for some dark chocolate to pair with this smooth delicious port.

IMG_9263

Having opened in 2012, Plum Run Winery had recently added the rustic seating area to their tasting room.  With elegantly exposed brick walls, highlighted with thick wooden counters, the new stylish space adds a level of country sophistication to the wine tasting experience.  My favorite addition was the barnyard siding windows and added counter space.

IMG_9262

Dave Crosby and his wife Diane, are owners of Plum Run Winery and have been making delicious wines for over 30 years.  Dave is well-known in Grove City because he taught school before opening the winery.  In addition to wines, Dave has also created Dave’s Gold Apples, a hard apple cider which is delightfully refreshing.

The winery hosts a number of events over the summer, such as music on Fridays and Saturdays.  The second Tuesday, they host a Wine and Canvas event, while every third Saturday is Wine and Yoga.  There is plenty of space to bring your event to the winery should you choose to host a Pampered Chef, Tupperware Party, etc.  And to confirm such events, make sure you visit their Facebook Page, Grove City Brewing Company to confirm the dates and times.  You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter which lists the entertainment for the month and soon their website page will be up and running.

IMG_9269

There is plenty of seating to accommodate close to forty visitors indoors as well as forty outdoors on their patio, which is only open during the summer season.

Plum Run Winery is a vendor at the Grove City Wine and Arts Festival where fifteen to twenty wineries are represented.   The festivities take place over the weekend of Father’s Day with an entry fee of $20 to include a souvenir glass as well as a set number of tickets to purchase wine.  The Ohio Grape & Wine Conference, scheduled in winter is another venue that the winery attends.

IMG_9260

There is some exciting news from Plum Run Winery with their announcement to open Grove City Brewery scheduled for late June.  A former brew master from Buckeye Lake Brewery will be heading up the craft beer creations, so it is sure to be a success.

Have you sampled the wines at Plum Run Winery or have a favorite Ohio winery that you like to frequent?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the in the comments below.  Cheers!

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Plum Run Winery
3946 Broadway
Grove City, OH   43123
Telephone:  614 991 0338

  • Hours: The winery is open from 11 AM to 10 PM on Tuesday – Thursday, 11 AM to 12AM on Friday and Saturday and from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.  Hours are seasonal and are subject to change. Please refer to the winery’s website for any updates to its hours of operation and for a list of entertainment.
  • Amenities:  Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, patio seating, Grove City Brewing Company, wine, beer
  • 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:

Drury Inn & Suites Columbus Grove City
4109 Parkway Centre Drive
Grove City, OH  43123
Telephone:  614 875 7000

Where to Eat:

Michael’s Hibachi
3985 Broadway
Grove City, OH  43123
Telephone:  614 317 7828

I had not visited a hibachi in such a long time that I was super excited to order some Japanese cuisine.  I started out with the Spider Roll and then ordered the Steak and Shrimp hibachi with a glass of wine.

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

  • Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:  Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
  • North Market:  A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
  • The Thurman Cafe:  The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village.  There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
  • Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant:  While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read: 

  • Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
  • Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
  • Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
  • Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus: 

  • Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
  • Columbus Museum of Art:  the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
  • Everal Barn and Homestead:  landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
  • Frank Fetch Park:  gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
  • Franklin Park Conservatory:  beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
  • Gantz Park:  barn, beautiful trees,
  • German Village:  brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
  • Grove City:  brick roads, small town, shopping area
  • Hayden Falls:  wooden walking path, waterfall
  • Historical Village of Hilliard:  a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
  • Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
  • Inniswood Metro Gardens:  gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
  • Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
  • Ohio State University:  campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
  • Park of Roses in Clintonville:  various types of rose gardens
  • Riverfront Park:  city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Schiller Park:  gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
  • Scioto Mile:  city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Scioto Park in Dublin:  statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
  • Short North:  restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
  • Topiary Park:  depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.