Ohio Winery: Stone Crest Vineyard

9 March 202414 May 2025

“It’s all my wife’s fault,” Mike Barker said when I asked him why he and his wife Cheryl opened Stone Crest Vineyard. Her father, Riece Brown, had been making wine for a few years and the Barkers decided to “hone his craft” and planted their first vines in 2005. The name Stone Crest is based on both the soil, abundant with sandstone and its location on top of a hill. Since officially opening in 2007, the Barkers have expanded their vineyards and offer nearly twenty varieties of wine.

Ranging from dry to sweet, Stone Crest Vineyard’s award winning wines are available to sample. I found a great location at the tasting bar to enjoy some of the vineyard’s amazing wines and had a great chat with Fred. My tasting included the Chardonnay, Gemstone, Red Stone, Blue Stone and Peach.

Chardonnay – lightly oaked, dry white….14.95; My sister loves Chardonnay, so I picked up a bottle for her
Gemstone – semi sweet rose blend of pink Catawba 10.95; I absolutely love rose, so I couldn’t pass up adding this bottle to my collection
Red Stone – Concord, sweet red classic concord wine 10.95; Another great wine to have on hand for my friends who like “grape juice”
Blue Stone – blueberry and grape, sweet berry blend 11.95; A gold medal winner at the Ohio Wine Competition for the last 12 years
Peach – sweet peach made with peach juice…9.95; Crisp and fruity

Additional wines on the menu:

Winemakers Select 2013 – dry red with dark fruit flavors for 12 95
Winemakers Select 2017 (Malbec) – dry, bold red…17.99
Pinot Noir (out of stock) – dry red with great finish…17.99
Cabernet Franc (out of stock) – dry red with notes of cherry and black currant…17.99
Dry Riesling (out of stock) – dry white with hint of lemon….14.95
Tranquility (out of stock) – dry white that reminds one of Pinot Grigio …10.95
Semi sweet Riesling (out of stock) semi-sweet white with an apricot notes …14.95
De Vine – concord semi-sweet red, the fruit of the vine…10.95
Bouquet – Niagara – semisweet white with a fragrant bouquet 10.95
Dos Vinos – blend of semisweet red where two wines are blended to perfection…12.95
Red Raspberry – with a bite of raspberry pie (out of stock) – 9.95
Apple – sweet apple with a hint of cinnamon – 8.95
Waterfall Wine – out of stock; Niagara sweet white 9.95
White Stone (out of stock) – Catawba sweet white with flavors of citrus and kiwi…10.95

In addition to Stone Crest Vineyard’s spectacular wines, they winery offers slushies as well as the mix which is available for purchase. I tried their homemade slushie sangria which was absolutely delectable which is a combination of their Blue Stone, Red Stone, Cherry and Peach wines. This would be the perfect solution for a hot summer day.

Stone Crest Vineyard is located in the rural plains of Frazeyburg, Ohio. This lovely winery is open year around on Friday and Saturday evenings from noon to eight. Offering weekend dinners with a selection of two choices, these sold out gatherings include a baked potato, salad, roll and dessert. Their website’s calendar lists offerings such as pork loin or chicken, prime rib or baby back ribs, scallops with the option of filet mignon or chicken. Reservations required. Enjoy a bottle of wine with friends relax outside by the hillside waterfall or book a romantic weekend dinner at Stone Crest Vineyard. The winery accommodates bus tours and private events, so sample a few wines and buy a few wines for the holidays or special occasions.

Have you visited Stone Crest Vineyard? Which wines did you enjoy? I would love to hear about your experience if you will kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for supporting The Suite Life of Travel by reading my post and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Stone Crest Vineyard
10310 O’Dell Road
Frazeyburg, OH 43882
Telephone: 740 828 WINE

You can also check out their Facebook page!

Where to Stay:

The Inn at Dresden
209 Ames Avenue
Dresden, OH 43821
Telephone: 740 754 1122

Where to Eat:

The Inn at Dresden
209 Ames Avenue
Dresden, OH 43821
Telephone: 740 754 1122

We enjoyed an amazing breakfast of Bananas Foster French Toast which was absolutely sumptuous! In addition, we had a light dinner where we were served a couple of Filipino dishes of eggrolls and Chicken Adobo which were robust with amazing flavor!

The Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton, Ohio

24 June 202022 September 2024

Taking the last sip of my wine sample of Space Cowboy, I noticed a group of bubbly young college students walking through the door of The Winery at Wolf Creek, dressed for a bachelorette party. They approached the tasting bar where I was enjoying a glass of wine when we struck up a conversation. It was their first time here, so they asked what I was drinking and if I had any suggestions for what they should order.

This was their first winery experience but they were not new to wine. We discussed which types of wine they would normally purchase and I shared with them my wine list with all of my hand written notes. I suggested that they start out sampling some of the wines before they commit to a bottle. They agreed that the sweet, fruit wines were more their style so they started out with samples of Blue (blueberry), Original Sin (apple) and Space Cowboy (peach).

The server set them up as I took a glass of Redemption out to the patio, waiting for a pizza from Fat Boys. Redemption is a French-hybrid blend that is light on the sweet side which I absolutely enjoy chilled.

I took a menu outside to look over the beer selection that includes craft beers from local and popular breweries as well as ciders and fruit based ales. The Winery at Wolf Creek has a limited menu of cheeses, meat and crackers but they welcome patrons to bring their own foods to enjoy with their wines while enjoying the spectacular view.

With a few minutes to spare, I reviewed my tasting notes and information that I had collected from my server. Distracted by the beautiful view of the Akron skyline, I noted which wines I would be purchasing before leaving the winery.

The Vignoles was my first sample which is a semi-sweet estate wine that I found had a lingering sour finish. This having been my first experience with this wine, I was curious to learn about specific food pairings that may alter the taste of the wine and found an unusual list to include pumpkin and ginger-based foods as well as gingers snaps*.

One of the varietals grown on the estate, Vignoles is one of three grapes that make up about 80 percent of their white wine production which also includes the Pinot Gris and Leon Millot.

Peppery and smooth, the Zinfandel was my absolute favorite but having learned that the winery makes a great Cabernet Franc, I had to sample this wine as well.

Summit County provides a grape growing terrior that includes sandy loam, clay loam and gravel. Because the climate is similar to the Loire Valley in France, this provides the potential as a perfect location for growing Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin varietals.

Switching over to sweet wines, Sweet Revenge is a beautiful Ohio rose that the winery has been making for over twenty years. A blend of Seyval Blanc and French Hybrid wines, this crisp, delicious wine is a classic.

I am always interested in sampling the fruit wines from Ohio wineries because they have the potential to be extremely fruity or combined with grapes, have subtle notes of fruit flavor in the blend. Blue, a semi-dry blueberry wine was rich in color as well as a little tart which I found to be an absolute lovely combination.

Original sin is the perfect name for this crisp, apple based wine, but it is Space Cowboy that wins my vote with its full peach flavor in every sip.

The sun is starting to set on this beautiful, brisk October evening. I bring myself inside where I can continue admiring the outside view from the beautiful glass windows of the tasting room.

My pizza had just arrived, so I ordered a bottle of Zinfandel, knowing that the winery can repackage the remaining wine for me to take home.

The Winery at Wolf Creek is open year around, with limited hours during the winter season. Cellar tours are available by appointment and wine tastings are offered daily. The winery offers a great selection of wine accessories, clothes, gift baskets and of course, wine which ranges from $14 to $24 per bottle.

The bachelorette party is going strong in the tasting room and I stop by to inquire how they enjoyed the wines. The bride-to-be, dressed in red, mentioned that they had such a difficult selecting a favorite that they purchased one of each to enjoy with their large group. I told her to beware of the Big Bad Wolf as I exited the winery, happy to see they were having the time of their lives.

Have you had the opportunity to visit The Winery at Wolf Creek? Did you pack a picnic or order some food? What was your favorite wine? I would love to hear about your visit to The Winery at Wolf Creek if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading my post about The Winery at Wolf Creek and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Winery at Wolf Creek
2637 South Cleveland Massillon Road
Norton, Ohio 44203
Telephone: 330 665 1445

Where to Stay:

The Whimsical Pig Bed & Breakfast
2682 South Cleveland Massillon Road
Norton, OH 44203
Telephone: 330 576 6104

Ron and Sue Bishop were absolutely lovely hosts. The French toast for breakfast was amazing!

Where to Eat:

Wolf Creek Tavern
3044 Wadsworth Road
Norton, OH 44203
Telephone: 234 571 4531

Seated on the outside patio, I was so excited to try an order of homemade pierogis and I selected the fish and chips for my entree.

Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery: A Sweet Wine Experience

2 July 201918 September 2024

If you live in Ohio, you have most likely heard of Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery. I first learned of Raven’s Glenn while attending the AAA Travel Show in Columbus. Meeting the winery reps attending the booth, I was excited to see they were pouring wine. Promising to visit, I made a weekend of exploring the Three Rivers Wine Trail near Coshocton, Ohio and I could not have picked a better day for wine and wanderlust. Entering the winery, I felt miles away, surrounded by Tuscan charm and endless rows of vines.

I approached the tasting bar at the perfect time as a motor coach had pulled in with a busload of excited wine tasters. Within minutes, the winery was packed with visitors enjoying an afternoon of wine tasting and lunch. Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery produces a long list of wines that are sure to compliment any wine lover’s palate. The winery makes it easy to decide which wines to sample with pre-selected packages and recommendations. I couldn’t pass up the semi-sweet and sweet wine options which included the following:

White Raven which is described as a “semi sweet white, inviting, fruity, fragrant. Blended Niagara varietals, grapey, crisp and clean finish”…all I can say is this hardly tastes like a wine but rather grape juice which is absolutely spectacular. It would not be difficult to enjoy this wine chilled by the pool on a hot summer day.

My next selection is the Raven Rouge, a semi-sweet red is a “Concord blend with other estate grapes, fruity and grapey, serve chilled or room temperature.” I found this wine delightful and very similar to the White Raven, a wine I could keep on hand at all times.

The White Merlot is a semi-sweet Rose which is described as “smooth with a mixed berry taste, sweet jammy flavors, clean finish worthy to bear the name Merlot.” This is not your average, dark red, drier Merlot, but I wouldn’t turn away a glass of this fabulous wine.

I had the opportunity to try the Strawberry Lemonade which is a semi-sweet with “hints of strawberry with lemon aromas. Citrus tones with a clean berry finish”. I was absolutely smitten with this wine because it is so different than what I had expected. Another wonderful summertime selection for a tropical day.

I was excited to try Raven’s Glenn Sangria which is a sweet wine described as “a delightful combination of luscious, zesty, tropical fruits that started as crisp apple wine”. Like they say…an apple a day. I will take two bottles please.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a tropical wine on the menu. Tropical Temptations is a sweet wine described as a wine of “ripe mango and papaya with hints of coconut and a smooth lingering finish. This wine was perfect for transporting me to an exotic beach with the sound of waves crashing around me. I enjoyed the fruit combination of this blend.

Raven’s Glen Wildly Cherry is also a sweet wine with a “deep yet gentle flavor….reminiscent of eating a fresh picked black cherry”. I was delighted by the beautiful color and smooth taste of this fabulous, fruity wine.

The Blackberry Wine is super sweet, but I was also able to try this as a spritzer which cuts down the sweetness and makes it a fun bubbly wine to drink for all occasions. It is a “sweet and smooth…well rounded blackberry aromas will prepare your senses for a gentle modestly sweet wine”. It is perfectly priced at $13.99 per bottle.

Chantilly Lace is an incredibly tasting dessert wine with “soft aromas of apricots and honeysuckle, succulent sweet and creamy flavors with a long lingering finish. I remembered tasting this at the AAA exhibit a couple of years ago and fell in love with this wine. Priced at only $9.99 per bottle, I had to pick up a couple of bottles.

After experiencing a fabulous wine tasting, I made a reservation with the restaurant where there were a few visitors ahead of me waiting to be seated. From where I was standing, I noticed the towering stone fireplace and stunning picture windows which let in the afternoon’s light. Tables were at a premium as they were occupied with customers who had just completed their tasting and couldn’t wait to enjoy the fabulous Italian selections from the menu. I could smell the mouthwatering aroma of pasta and cheese and decided to order the Three Cheese Manicotti and the Arancini,

Sitting along the Tuscarawas River, Raven’s Glenn Winery provides romantic river views and an opportunity to dine outdoors along the scenic waterway. I found the location of this winery reminiscent to some of the beautiful wine estates that one would find out west. The intricate design and thought that was given to the details of this estate added to the wine tasting experience. No wonder it is consistently rated one of the best wineries in Ohio.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Raven’s Glenn Winery? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks and Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery
56183 County Line Road 143
West Lafayette, OH 43845
Telephone: 740 545 1000

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn, Newcomerstown
200 Morris Crossing Avenue
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
Telephone: 740 498 9800

Where to Eat:

Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery
56183 County Line Road 143
West Lafayette, OH 43845
Telephone: 740 545 1000

The cheese manicotti was flavorful and creamy. I had also ordered the Arancini, which has become one of my favorite Italian dishes.

Wine Barrels at the Entrance of Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery

Wining Down in Old Mission, Michigan

9 April 201921 September 2024

Did you know that Michigan is not only known for its production of cherries, but also its wine? I took the day to explore the Old Mission region of Michigan to visit their wineries and started my afternoon at Black Star Farms.

Black Star Farms has three tasting rooms located near Traverse City and two wine processing facilities. I browsed through the charming gift shop to wait for a space at the tasting bar in search of a wine to bring back home.

Sparkling Fruit Wine: Black Star Farms Hard Apple Cherry Cider: Bubbly with crisp apple & cherry; $12 per bottle
Fruit and Sweet Wine: 2013 Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling, Rich apricot, pear and honeysuckle notes $17.50 per bottle
Sweet Red Wine: Artisan – Fruit driven with very soft tannins; $13.50 per bottle
Dessert Wine: Sirius Raspberry Dessert Wine – excellent!!! $27.50 per bottle
Dry White Wine: 2013 Arcturos Pinot Noir Rose: Bright & fresh berry fruit notes; $13.50 per bottle
Dry Red Wine: 2012 Arcturos Pinot Noir, peppery; bright berry nose delicately touched with spicy oak; $25.00
2012 Vintners Select: Rich dark fruit flavors and a hint of cocoa and spice $25.00
2012 Arcturos Cabernet Franc: Raspberry & blackberry with herbal spicy oaks $28.50 per bottle

Recommended: Red House Red – fruit driven with layered flavors and hints of oak; $14.50 per bottle

A Premium Flight included 5 wines from the regular list, 1 from the Reserve List and a complimentary wine glass. There were quite a few wine selections from which to choose. A Reserve Tasting included 2 selections of their more expensive wines for $5. For $5, Black Star Farms offered a sample of their dessert wine. I decided on trying their Ice Wine Sample Tasting for $5, which included the 2013 A Capella Ice Wine. The grapes for this wine were frozen on the vine and then picked and immediately pressed. This process results in an extremely concentrated dessert wine exploding with the flavors of ripe fruit, exotic flowers and subtle spices. It could be purchased for $92.50 per bottle.

Before continuing on to my next winery, I realized it would be best if I ordered something to eat at Black Star Farms’ Hearth & Vine Cafe and decided on the Arugula Pizza. While I would have preferred to have ordered the Cured Meats and Aged Cheese Board, the serving size would have been more than enough food for at least two guests.

Driving further north on the Old Mission Wine Trail, I found another highly recommended winery, the Chateau Chantal. Charming wine barrels posed at the entrance and fabulous views of the vineyard from the tasting room added to the experience of tasting some of the best wines Michigan has to offer.

I was greeted by the Sommelier (pronounced So-Mo-Yare), who recommended a few wines after learning that I love the dry reds and fruity locals. For only $3 I had the option to choose five wines or for the same price I could have opted for the pre-designed flight. The wines I chose included: Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc, Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider (new), Cherry Wine, Last Harvest Riesling and Nice Red.

At the time of my tasting, there were twenty-four wines as well as six brandies and dessert wines. My first choice was the Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2012 retailing at $26 per bottle. It was described as “rich with red berry flavors and is robust but not aggressive”. My next selection was a new product listed as a semi dry wine, the Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider. It was created from Michigan Golden Delicious and Gala apples. It was such a light tasting wine and not as dry as I had expected. I bought a bottle to enjoy that evening which cost me only $12.

Wine Sample number three was Cherry Wine, which was appropriate as Michigan is the Cherry Capitol of the Nation. I had to buy a bottle of this to enjoy at a later date, especially for hanging out by the pool on a hot day. This wine was another great buy for only $10. The winery suggests having this wine with pork, chicken, beef, salads and sunny days.

Before ending my tasting with the Nice Red, I selected the Late Harvest Riesling ($16). I was drawn to this wine by the description it was given…it is “sweet, but it has something a lot of sweet wines don’t have – acidity to give it backbone and structure. The nose is lively lime, honeysuckle & Gala apples. The palate is light-bodied but the fruit & acidity are lively & the sugar & alcohol give a little viscosity to it”. They suggest drinking this wine with spicy Asian dishes and fruited desserts.

My last wine was the Nice Red ($10), which was served chilled. It is a “fruity, semi-sweet wine made from a blend of the first red grapes.” It was an excellent selection to round out my tasting and I learned that it could be served with most any type of food…I had to buy a bottle. Three fabulous wines for just a little over $30.

I was sad to leave Chateau Chantal, but I had made plans for lunch. Just as customary with most wineries, the venue can be rented out for special occasions and events. In addition there is a bed and breakfast on the grounds, perfect for a long weekend stay.

What do you think of the wineries in Michigan? I would love to hear your recommendations or to hear about your experience at Black Star Farms or Chateau Chantal. Please leave a message below in the comments section. Many thanks for reading about my visit to some of the amazing wineries in Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Black Star Farms
360 McKinley Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone: 231 944 1270

Hours of operation are seasonal, so check out the website to confirm when the winery is open.

Visit the Heart and Vine cafe for simple meals which are absolutely delicious!

Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone: 231 223 4110

Hours of operation are seasonal, visit the website to confirm when the winery is open.

The Vineyard at Black Star Farms

The Wine Press at Chateau Chantal