Tag Archives: Ohio sweet wines

A Million Dollar View at Georgetown Vineyards, NOW GEORGETOWN TAVERN ON THE HILL

IMG_0323Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Georgetown Vineyards was established on a parcel of land once owned by Thomas Jefferson.  In addition to producing their estate wines, Georgetown Vineyards also makes wine from California grapes under the label, J. Nico Wine.  In January, their Moscato made Amazon’s White Wine list.

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The smell of cheese and tomato sauce was coming from the wood-fired pizza oven as I entered the winery.   I selected a seat at the counter and decided to try a flight of sweet wines.  I collected my wine samples and exited the tasting room to explore the pavilion and enjoy the intoxicating view of the city of  Cambridge below.

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There was plenty of seating both indoors and out to experience the wines of Georgetown Vineyards.    The relaxed setting and friendliness of the staff felt as though I was stopping off at a friend’s house for the afternoon.

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Georgetown Vineyards offers a list of pre-selected tasting options of four samples for the cost of $3.50.  I decided upon the grouping that included an apple wine and three grape varietals, Fredonia, Concord and Niagara.  Each sample was the size of a one ounce pour and there were additional flight options for the same price.

Here is an overview of my winetasting experience:

  • Apple – light tasting, not too strong, has a very light alcohol flavor and would be a super refreshing at a very cold temperature
  • Fredonia – loved the smell! Beautiful, dense reddish pink color with a sweet aftertaste, but colder, this would be another refreshing summertime drink.
  • Concord – love this grape! Cranberry color and so easy to drink.  The flavors come out towards the back of my throat and tastes very similar to Fredonia.
  • Niagara – clear wine from one of the most popular grapes grown here in Ohio, it was not my favorite wine, but one that seems to be a common selection at most Ohio wineries.

These are just a few of the fabulous wines that are available at Georgetown Vineyards.

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While enjoying the fabulous views and sipping my wine samples, I had the pleasure of meeting the resident cat, Miles.  He’s a friendly little guy and if you give him attention he will be your friend for life. I am a cat lover, so he could have hung out with me all day.

In addition to wine tastings and a great selection of food options, Georgetown Vineyards schedules a wide range of activities for visitors throughout the week.   Wednesdays are wine and paint nights with a local high school art teacher from Cambridge.  Live entertainment draws a great crowd on Saturdays and a bonfire is lit as long as the weather cooperates.

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There is nothing more entertaining and relaxing than the spectacular view from this cute winery on the hill.  Looking down into the town of Cambridge, the location is nothing less than spectacular.

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The total property covers fifty acres, with approximately four acres dedicated to the vineyards, which include Fredonia and Niagara grapes.  These are perfect grapes for Ohio, hearty for acclimating to the winter months of the state.

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The owner and winemaker of this fabulous winery is John Nicolozakes whose family originates from the Greek island of Crete.  Growing up in the Greek tradition of pairing sumptuous food and delicious wines, he has become quite the expert at producing wines that mirror this Greek culture for which he is accustomed.   He began developing his winemaking skills as a hobby out of his garage while working full time as a miner back in 1993.  It wasn’t long after that he planted the first vines and opened up the winery for business in 1998.   More vines were planted in 2013 to extend their vineyard an additional 140 x 30 feet wide.

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Coming soon, Georgetown Vineyards will be selling craft beers under the label, Southside Brewing Company. This will be a great addition and will appeal to craft beer lovers to the winery as well!  With the breathtaking view, exciting entertainment and a wide option of choices of food and drink, Georgetown Vineyards is positioned to continue its amazing success.

Are you already a fan of Georgetown Vineyards or have just recently visited?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Georgetown Vineyards
62920 Georgetown Road
Cambridge, Ohio  43725
Telephone:  740 435 3222

  • Hours: The winery is open from 11 AM to 8 PM on Monday – Thursday, 11 AM to 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. The winery is closed 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 schedule of events.
  • Amenities:  Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, outdoor seating, online shopping, wine, Southside brewery, private events and scheduled events to include
  • Tips for Your Visit:  During the nights when the winery provides entertainment, wine tastings are not available.  As always, please drink responsibly.

There is an interstate sign off of I-70 and additional signage that will bring you to the winery.  They are open year round and offer a variety of wines for tasting as well as brick-oven pizzas.  There is a gift shop and of course, one of the most scenic views for an Ohio winery.   Visit their website for more information about their wines, hours of operation and upcoming events or check them out on Facebook.  Please note that the winery’s hours change from the winter to summer months.

Where to Stay:

Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center
14755 Cadiz Road
Cambridge, OH   43725
Telephone:  740 439 2751

Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center is one of Ohio’s State Park Lodges.  This fabulous property offers a great selection of summer activities including pontoon rentals, hiking, fishing, archery, outdoor pool, beach, lounge, restaurant and more.  The rustic accommodations of the lodge rooms were perfect for our extended weekend stay.

Where to Eat:

Georgetown Vineyards
62920 Georgetown Road
Cambridge, Ohio  43725
Telephone:  740 435 3222

Georgetown Vineyards offers a great selection of custom-made Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizzas. I ordered the Margherita Pizza which was absolutely delicious with a perfect blend of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil, drizzled with olive oil.

Timber’s Restaurant at Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center
14755 Cadiz Road
Cambridge, OH   43725
Telephone:  740 439 2751

During my first night’s stay, I had expected to order a full dinner, but after having left-over pizza from Georgetown Vineyard, I decided on an order of chicken wings with the tropical habanero sauce. The appetizer was the perfect size and I enjoyed the heat and sweet of the wing sauce.

The Forum
2205 Southgate Parkway
Cambridge, OH  43275
Telephone:  740 439 2777

Flaming cheese Saganaki is one of my favorite dishes and you can’t go wrong by ordering the Greek sampler.  All foods are made from scratch and are absolutely delicious!

Books to Read: 

  • The Mansfield Killings: A Novel Based on True Events by Scott Fields
  • Green Bay Tree by Louis Bromfield
  • The Haunted History of the Ohio State Reformatory by Sherri Blake

Photo Guide to Mansfield: 

  • The Ohio State Reformatory’s Facade, Cell Blocks and scenes from the movie, Shawshank Redemption
  • The Iconic Carousel at Richland Carousel Park
  • Kingwood Hall, the peacocks and gardens at Kingwood Center Gardens
  • Malabar State Park’s home of Louis Bromfield, the farm animals on the property and Mt. Jeez
  • The beautiful view of Georgetown from Georgetown Vineyards

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant, Manchester, Ohio – NOW CLOSED

UPDATE:  Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant is permanently closed.

Gorgeous vineyards overlooked the Ohio River and a secluded gazebo offered privacy to guests who wanted to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant. Sounds of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett shared the airwaves as I waited for my wine tasting on the second story balcony with a riverfront view.  I flipped through the menu and found myself immediately drawn to this mystical place, so I read the fascinating decades of history that had eventually led to the opening of the winery.

It wasn’t long and the fifteen small pours of wine were delivered to my table.  I could smell the fruit from the wines and slushies on the tray and was so excited to start my tasting.

  • Starting out with the Chardonnay, it is a dry white with a clean finish, very smooth with a beautiful clear color; it has a slight sweet aftertaste.
  • The Vidal Blanc is an estate grown grape that is also very clear in color and I find it to be a little drier, yet smoother than the Chardonnay.
  • River Valley White is a moderately sweet estate blend that has a sweeter smell with a dry finish that lands towards the back of my tongue.
  • Merlot is full bodied with an oak taste that I absolutely enjoy.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich full bodied dry red and it is absolutely perfect for a Cab.
  • Chambourcin is an estate grown wine.
  • River Valley Red is another moderately sweet estate blend with a perfect balance of sweet and dry. It has a fruitier taste than the Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Country Home Red is the most popular wine at Moyer Winery and Vineyard and it is a sweet red made from the Concord grape. Smelling like grape juice it has a rich, full jammy taste.
  • Blush is a semisweet with a hint of Concord, which makes this wine such a beautiful color, a light pink with a very light smell it has a floral taste at the finish.
  • Strawberry fruit wine smells just like fresh picked strawberries that I could enjoy as an after dinner drink for dessert or poured over ice cream.
  • Red raspberry is the winery’s most popular fruit wines and it has a delicious, full berry flavor.
  • Peach is light and delicate and it has a refreshingly sweet taste.
  • Strawberry sangria made my heart sing with its strawberry jam flavor that was crazy amazing.
  • Peach sangria tastes like nectar and has been created with perfection with a wonderfully rich taste.
  • Mixed berry sangria tastes like a Jolly Rancher hard candy and could drink any one of their sangrias on a daily basis (I really could!…yum).

I paid for my tasting and ordered the country home red, strawberry and peach wines and was so sad that they did not bottle their amazing sangria.  I walked the grounds of the restaurant and had permission to wander through the vineyard where they grow the winery’s estate Vidal Blanc, DeChaunac and Chamborcin grapes.

When I returned to the restaurant, I had the opportunity to meet Tom Hamrick one of several owners who discussed how he became associated with the winery and his current involvement with the restaurant.  He was happy to share with me some fun facts about the history of the property which is fascinating as you can read for yourself:

Situated on prime riverside real estate, the River By Restaurant opened in the late 1920s offering Nickelodeon music, square dancing and bootleg beer (oh yes, prohibition!).  I imagined boats tied up to the riverbank and the latest Ford model-T cars parked along the side of US 52.  Women wearing their flapper style dresses and wearing choche hats to accentuate their coiffed bob hairstyles.  While their dates are sporting slim dark suits, matching vests and a fedora hat….just a place to get together for the evening, dancing the night away.

In the mid 1930’s the barn-like structure built close to the restaurant became a training ring for amateur boxers. Cincinnati’s Ezzard Charles, a professional boxer and former World Heavyweight Champion was known to have made an appearance or two.

The restaurant would be hit hard by the flood of 1937 where six feet of muddy water made its way to the present day dining room.   By the late 1940s, the restaurant would be converted into a private gambling club called “The Top Hat” and would eventually become a truck stop in the 1950s and 60s.

Ken Moyer’s dream to become a vintner would transform the property into a winery that originally offered bean soup, French bread, cheese and of course, wine.  He later added the gorgeous deck with relaxing views of the Ohio River and his wine list continued to expand with their production of fabulous wines.  At the height of the winery’s success, the Moyers decided to sell their business.  A close group of their dear friends were entrusted to maintain the winery and restaurant with as much love and care as Ken and his wife Mary had done over the past 27 years.  From where  I was sitting, my conversation with Ken only proved that the restaurant would continue with its success.

Have you visited Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant?  Did you order dinner and try their fabulous 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 visit to Moyer Vineyard and wishing you many Happy Travels.  Cheers!

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What to See and What to Do:

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant
3859 US Route #52
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 2957

Where to Stay:

Riverhaven B&B
407 West Front Street
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 1999

Where to Eat: 

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant
3859 US Route #52
Manchester, Ohio  45144
Telephone:  937 549 2957

Have dinner at Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant!  I recommend the River Valley Salmon and save room for the Toasted Pecan Caramel Ball!

Photo Guide for Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant: 

  • Views of the Ohio River from the second story winery
  • Gazebo along the Ohio River
  • The Vineyards