Tag Archives: Seyval

Featured Ohio Winery: Hanover Winery

The Pink Toad Party, Hanover Winery’s fundraiser for breast cancer was well underway when I entered the tasting room.   A steady stream of women, many dressed in pink, stood in line to order the winery’s Pink Toad Blush in support of a great cause for loved ones and fellow breast cancer survivors.  I felt honored to listen to some incredible journeys of survival from the brave women who had battled cancer and the dear family members who cared for them along the way.

I have since returned to Hanover Winery several times because of its picturesque, rural setting, its charming tasting room and of course, wonderful selection of wines.  I, myself, am particularly fond of the Statesman and the Black Dahlia wines, yet there are over twenty-five wines to sample and purchase.  From wonderful dry reds to a wonderful range of fruit wines, the winery offers a wide variety of award winning wines that are sure to please.

Here is a list of wines I have sampled:

REDS:

  • 2015 Malbec: Robust, full body dry red with interesting notes of plums and dark berries. Notably higher tannins with a sweet tobacco finish.  $23.99;  Residual Sugar: 0%;  Alcohol:  3%;  This wine was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2018 Finger Lakes International Competition
  • Cabernet Sauvignon: Bold layers of dark fruits with subtle notes of vanilla and caramel.  Medium smooth tannins.  Well balanced in oak with a nice finish. $36; Residual Sugar: 0%; This wine was awarded the International Double Gold Medal at the 2017 Competition
  • Chambourcin: A complex red wine with rich dark fruit flavors, oak aged;  $13.99;  Residual Sugar:  1%;  This wine was awarded a Gold Medal at the Ohio Wine Competition

  • Black Dahlia: Merlot Blackberry, dark and delicious; $18; Residual Sugar:  5%;  This wine was awarded the Bronze Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
  • Baco Noir: A bold dry red with layers of plum and vanilla flavors, oak barrel aged;  $17; Residual Sugar:  1%
  • Pink Toad: Flavorful Catawba, a nice blush wine; $9.99; Residual Sugar: 9%; This wine was awarded the Bronze Medal at the Ohio Wine Competition

  • Sweet Lizzy: Sweet rose’ wine named in memory of our black Labrador Lizzy.  $10.99; Residual Sugar:  9%;   This wine was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2018 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and a Bronze Medal from the Ohio Wine Competition

WHITES

  • Chardonnay: Stainless steel fermented lightly oaked; $13.99; Residual Sugar  5%
  • Vignoles: Dry, oak aged with hints of pineapple and apricot.  $12.99; Residual Sugar:  1%; This wine was awarded the Bronze Medal at the Ohio Wine Competition

FRUIT

  • Dammit Annie: A delicious blend of Blackberries and Haskap Berries; Sweet enough for dessert.  Named after their Labrador Annie;  $16.99; Residual Sugar:  5%
  • Peach: A smooth and delicious peach wine. A great summer treat  $11.99;  Residual Sugar: 9%; This wine was awarded the Silver and Bronze Medals at both the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and the Ohio Wine Competition

PORT

  • Attitude: A port style dessert wine, oak barrel aged.  Alcohol 19.5%; $23.99; Residual Sugar: 5.9%; This wine was awarded the Silver Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

SPECIALTY

  • Unleashed: Raspberry Riesling, a sweet Riesling blended with real raspberries.  Labeled in memory of our yellow Labrador Ellie; $13.99; Residual Sugar:  5%;  This wine was awarded the Silver Medal at the Ohio Wine Competition

Additional wines available at Hanover Winery include:

REDS

  • 2015 Tampranillo
  • Marquette
  • Marechal Foch
  • Hanover Red
  • Mason’s Red
  • Soft Red

WHITES

  • Soft White
  • Vidal Blanc
  • Riesling – New Release
  • Traminette – New Release
  • Seyval Blanc
  • Hanover White
  • Kiss Me

FRUIT

  • Blackberry
  • Ohio Apple
  • Cranberry

SPARKLING

  • Bubbly

My drive from Oxford took only about ten minutes and the rural route was a welcoming change to my city life.  I could use a little leisurely wine time and knew I had finally arrived when I noticed the rows of Marquette and Seyval grapes.

According to Eddie McDonald, co-owner of the winery, the vines were planted in the spring of 2016 and it will take a few years until the crop produces grapes.  He and his wife Elizabeth opened the winery in 2009 after making wine for family and friends as a hobby for over ten years.  Known as Butler County’s sole winery, the gorgeous property is perfect for relaxing along the pond with a bottle of wine, enjoying the weekend entertainment or attending one of Hanover Winery’s many sponsored events. Visit their website to learn more about Hanover’s Annual Summer Wine Festival in August (expect a large turnout) and their Annual Animal Rescue Fundraiser in the Spring.

Business was soon picking up and Eddie was needed to bring some more wine up from their “wine cellar”.  He asked if I wanted to check it out and of course I was curious to see where the magic happens.  The entertainment was setting up on the patio, so I stopped by the tasting table and ordered a glass of Pink Toad to enjoy the pond.  I brought my list of wines to purchase for upcoming events, and bought a few favorites for my friends and family.   While Hanover Winery is one of my favorite wineries to visit because of the hospitality of Eddie and Elizabeth and the delicious award winning wines, I always enjoy visiting with the resident celebrities, Mason and Annie.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Hanover Winery?  What wines did you try?  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 one of my favorite Ohio wineries and wishing you many Happy Travels.  Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Hanover Winery
2165 Morman Road
Hamilton, OH  45013
Telephone:  513 863 3119

Where to Stay:

The Elms
75 South Main Street
Oxford, OH  45056
Telephone:  513 524 2002

Where to Eat:

LaRosa’s Pizza Hamilton
770 NW Washington Blvd.
Hamilton, OH  45013
Telephone:  513 347 1111
Website:  www.larosas.com

Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast, Conneaut, Ohio

It was harvest time for grapes in Ohio, and with so many vineyards, I planned to spend a weekend exploring some of the more established wineries around Ashtabula County.  Traveling as far northeast as possible, I found the little town of Conneaut, the home to Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast, a vineyard with a charming bed and breakfast.

Joanna and Fred Buccia have been tending to their vineyard since the 1970s and I looked forward to sampling a broad representation of this region’s wines.  Resting under an arbor of grapes above me, Joanna picked a few grapes for me as she sat down at the picnic table eager to tell me more about the history of grape growing around this area.  She reminded me that the weather in May was cold and while July and August were unusually hot, the harvesting of grapes would come early this year.

From dry and full bodied Cabernet Francs to the semi dry Lake Erie blend of Reflections, there seemed to be an endless selection of premium wines and new grapes of which I had never heard.  For example, the Baco grape produces a wonderful red wine that was dry, smooth, with a minimum acidity while the Chambourcin, a French-American hybrid that thrives in the cold temperatures, producing a red wine with a higher acidity and low tannins.

Many of the wines at Buccia Vineyard are made from the grapes that they grow on the property, called estate wines, while the remaining grapes and juice come from Chile, Argentina and California.  My next sample was the Seyval, another French hybrid that is grown mainly to produce white dry wines.

A small group of four unloaded out of an early model station wagon.  Inquiring if they could try a few of the wines, they also asked if they could stay the night at the bed and breakfast.  Joanna excused herself from our conversation and tended to the visitors as I overheard Fred tell them that the winery was for sale.

Enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by vines full of grapes, I continue sampling the Vignoles and another new wine for me, the Agawan that has  “fruity start with an herbal finish”.  Rounding out my wine tasting, I poured a small taste of Reflections, a red blend made from the “best of Lake Erie grapes”, then took my last sip of Maiden’s blush, a sweet wine combined with the juices of local blueberries.

Joanna returned after setting up her new guests in one of the four rooms at the bed and breakfast.  She gave me a quick tour of the property and showed me the available rooms with quiet decks, hot tubs and fireplaces.   I listened to the faint sounds of Jimmy Buffett coming over the radio as I gave Joanna my list of remaining sites I planned to visit in Conneaut.  It was a lovely summer day and I had the beautiful shores of Lake Erie to explore.

Have you visited Buccia Vineyard?  Did you have a favorite wine?  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 Buccia Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast
518 Gore Road
Conneaut, Ohio   44030
Telephone:  440 593 5976

Where to Stay:

Stay at the Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast or there are several options along the Lake Erie seashore.

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.

Indian Bear Winery in Walhonding, Ohio, NOW INDIAN BEAR CORK AND COFFEE

Update:  The Indian Bear Winery is now Indian Bear Cork and Coffee

Update:  On June 4th, 2023, a fire broke out at Indian Bear Winery and the structure was destroyed by the fire. 

Update:  On September 20, 2022, Indian Bear Lodge & Winery announced that they were under contract to sell 97 acres to “Because I Said I Would”, a non-profit organization making an impact on the local youth. 

Indian Bear Winery is one of the most beautiful locations to sample wines in Ohio.  A beautiful, country setting on two-hundred plus acres is only an hour east of Columbus and began as lodge in 2001.

From the moment I pulled onto the gravel drive, my senses were on full alert.  The smell of fresh cut grass led me to sprawling acres and a lake where a teepee stood at its water’s edge.

It was early spring so the vineyards were just beginning to bloom and would be ready for harvest in the fall.  Trellises supported a wide range of wine varietals, including those from Ohio.

In the summer of 2014, the owners, Brad Collins and Tom Lechner planted Concord, Seyval and Vidal grapes.  Until the vines began producing fruit, the owners imported juices from California, Chile and New York to begin their wine making process.  Head winemaker, Joe Hollabaugh will be creating new wines for the winery.

Approaching the entrance into the winery, I couldn’t help but notice its beautiful red and gray exterior.  The building was completed by April 2015 and soon thereafter, was open to the public.   The winery entered the 2015 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and won a Gold Medal for their “Roscoe’s Red Blend” as well as a Bronze Medal for their Vidal Blanc.

The tasting room was even more extravagant with its rustic, architecture and country decor displayed in its large exposed beams and expansive stone flooring. The hand-written list of available wines in addition to their wine tasting costs were posted above the service area.

I completed the laminated menu and decided on the 3 for $5 samples selecting the Peach Apricot Crush, American Vidal Blanc and the American Carmenere Reserve.

At the last minute, I included the Red Berry Crush slushie which tasted like heaven.

With my slushie in hand, I took the stairs to explore the areas available for private and semi-private events.  On-site lodges provide accommodations for guests who wish to stay at the property.   There are also two carriage houses and four cabins to sleep a total of more than 100 guests.   From the second story deck, I could look out for miles into the countryside.

My favorite part of the decor were the oak barrels that are typically used for fermenting and storage.

Returning to the first level of the winery, I was in complete awe of the spectacular stone handiwork of the fireplace flanked by two storage compartments for firewood.  I reached out to touch the smoothly sanded wood planks for the mantle which were designed from beams from a local area barn.

In addition to the interior, Indian Bear Winery has several outdoor settings including a fire pit.   I found a stone bench to finish up my drink and could hear the visitors as they discussed their weekend plans.  As I enjoyed the beauty of Indian Bear Winery, I could also hear the large tractor approaching as it mowed the high blades near the tasting room and I could once again smell the scent of freshly cut grass.

Have you visited Indian Bear Winery?  What wines did you enjoy?  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 Indian Bear Winery along the Three Rivers Wine Trail and wishing you many Happy Travels.

What to See and What to Do:

Indian Bear Winery
3483 McCament Road
Walhonding, Ohio  43843
Telephone:  740 507 3322

Open Fridays from 3:00pm to 10:00pm and Saturdays from 12:00pm to 10:00pm.

Where to Stay: 

Indian Bear Winery
3483 McCament Road
Walhonding, Ohio  43843
Telephone:  740 507 3322

Where to Eat: 

Indian Bear Winery
3483 McCament Road
Walhonding, Ohio  43843
Telephone:  740 507 3322

Open Fridays from 3:00pm to 10:00pm and Saturdays from 12:00pm to 10:00pm.

For appetizers, they make a gorgeous charcuterie board, fittingly called, “The Napa.” A popular choice on the menu is Alfredo Chips- homemade kettle chips topped with alfredo sauce, blue cheese and green onions.