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Tag Archives: wine tastings

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

16 July 201516 March 2025

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.

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

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!

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Sonoma’s Sebastiani, Continuing to Make Wine History

12 June 201431 August 2024

During a conference in San Francisco, my boss Joe wanted to thank a few of our clients for working with us over the years, renting a limousine to tour California’s wine country.

One of the wineries on our list was Sebastiani, located in the heart of Sonoma.  This historic winery has been providing some of the best wines in the region for over a century.  Opening in 1904, Samuele Sebastiani, an immigrant from the Tuscany region of Italy wanted to provide wines to San Francisco restaurants and his friends and family.

The only Sonoma winery to survive prohibition (they provided wine to the local churches), the winery was passed down from one generation to the next (August, Sam) and has grown to become one of the most recognized wineries in all of Sonoma.  We were so excited to visit the winery’s tasting room and explore the winery with an informational tour.

Today, Sebastiani is focused on developing its exceptional estate wines from vineyards with optimal terroir for wine production.  Daily wine tastings are offered for groups of six and less without a reservation from 10AM to 4:30PM.  The 30 minute tasting costs $20 per person and wines by the glass are offered as well ranging from $7 – $10.  In addition, the winery offers a wide range of educational tasting opportunities to include wine and food pairings in addition to locally crafted foods, cheeses and chocolates, the winemaking process, and the history of winemaking.

Have you had the opportunity to visit one of Sonoma’s oldest wineries?  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 brief visit to Sebastiani and wishing you many Happy Travels!  Cheers!

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

What to See and What to Do:

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery
389 4th Street East
Sonoma, CA  95476
Telephone:  707 933 3200

  • Amenities:  a hospitality center, barrel room with antique redwood tanks, grand event space and daily tours and tastings; culinary and wine tastings;

Where to Stay:

Silverado Resort and Spa
1600 Atlas Peak Road
Napa Valley, CA   94558
Telephone:  707 257 0200

Where to Eat:

The Girl & The Fig
110 West Spain Street
Sonoma, CA  95476
Telephone:  707 938 3634  x10

I love the concept of food and wine pairings in this charming brasserie. I would definitely order the fromage tower.

What to Eat in Sonoma: 

  • Dungeness Crab from nearby Bodega Bay, usually starting in November.  Call ahead to confirm as “crab catches can be unpredictable”.
  • Free-range chicken from Petaluma Poultry has been serving up juicy birds since 1969.
  • Goat cheese
  • Lamb at Marin Sun Farms
  • The Olive Press produces Sonoma’s second-largest harvest of olives.
  • Peaches in Healdsburg from Dry Creek Peach & Produce
  • Pekin Duck from Liberty Ducks/Sonoma County Poultry in Penngrove has been around for four generations
  • Pork from Front Porch Farm which offers a wide range of breeds to include European Mangalitsa, Mulefoot, Red Waffle and Tuscan Cinta Senses pigs.

What to Read: 

  • Divisadero, by Michael Ondaatje
  • A Fire Story, by Brian Fies
  • Into the Forest, by Jean Hegland
  • The Life She Wants, by Robyn Carr
  • The Road to Hope, Crissi Langwell
  • The Underside of Joy, by Sere Prince Halverson

Photo Guide for Sonoma: 

  • Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve, Guerneville
  • The Barlow, Sebastopol
  • Domaine Carneros Villas and Vineyards for incredible views of the chateau and gardens.
  • Duncans Landing at Bodega Bay for coastal views and beach scenes
  • The Fremont Diner, Sonoma:  Check out the “Greetings from Sonoma” sign
  • Paradise Ridge Winery Sculptures, Santa Rosa for works of art throughout the estate
  • Petaluma Historical Library & Museum for its amazing interior
  • Petaluma Pumpkin Patch for the sunflower field and animals from the petting zoo
  • River’s End Restaurant in Jenner is perfect for photographing the sunset
  • The Russian River
  • Salt Point State Park’s Sandstone Hills showcases spectacular sandstone rocks and panoramas of the Pacific Ocean
  • Screamin’ Mini’s to photograph all of the ice cream flavors of the rainbow and interior
  • Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Santa Rose for beautiful waterfalls and spectacular nature
  • Tea Room Cafe in Petaluma for foodie photos
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I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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