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Tag Archives: winemaker

On the Three Rivers Wine Trail: Rainbow Hills Winery

10 June 202323 September 2024

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Driving to Rainbow Hills Winery along the winding dirt road, I could hear the sound of cicadas calling me towards the vineyards, while wooden directional signs were strategically placed along the route.  Soon I approached the final bend in the road where beautiful vines greeted me with sumptuously ripe grapes.

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Recognized as one of the wineries on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, Rainbow HilIs Winery resides in a beautiful rustic hideaway.   With gorgeous flowers springing up throughout the landscape,  and a beautiful fountain on the lawn, I was excited to sample some of the unique wines produced by Rainbow Hills.

The tasting area is to the far right, so I climbed the stairs leading up to the bar where I met winemaker, Bob.  Since I was not familiar with a couple of the varietals on their wine list. he was extremely helpful in pointing me in the right direction after telling him the types of wine I prefer.  He was spot on when I made my selections and I enjoyed every sample he poured as more visitors arrived for a tasting.

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Rainbow Hills Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in Ohio, established in 1988.  Founded by the late Leland (Lee) Wyse and his wife, Joy, this beautiful retreat sits on an 82-acre farm that offers fabulous views and promises a getaway of solitude and relaxation.

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There is ample space indoors and out for sampling the wines produced by Rainbow Hills.  The rustic interior of slate floors and sandstone walls is a beautiful setting for sampling the wines created onsite.   Walkways and outlooks create the perfect opportunity for a stroll through the natural beauty of the winery’s surroundings.  Joy has planted four-hundred flowers producing a splendid rainbow of colors while in bloom.

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Back at the tasting bar, I started out with the Drumming Grouse which is a Concord semi-sweet wine.  It has a beautiful color, a slight acidity and sells for $11.75 per bottle.  It is a great wine for self-proclaimed non-wine drinkers, easy on the palate and an entry into broadening one’s wine appreciation.

The Trillium was a new wine that Rainbow Hills began producing about a year ago.  A blend of Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc and Traminette, this combination makes a lovely semi-sweet wine.

My next selection is Ares and it is a perfect wine made of Ohio Foch grapes.  This full body red is high in tannins and has a lingering finish.

Bob surprised me with a sample of their Pink Champagne.  Served chilled, this is made for celebrations and summer outings. I purchased a couple of bottles of the Champagne because I loved the sweet berry taste.

My final sample is White Gold and according to Bob, this was the perfect year for this wine made from sweet Niagara grapes.

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As I completed my tasting, I had the pleasure of meeting Joy Wyse.  As she was enjoying a glass of Ohio Chardonel, her favorite wine, I mentioned I had visited Yellow Butterfly Vineyards and learned about Lee’s contribution to this winery’s success.  Many other wineries have praised Lee for his willingness to help new winemakers.  I wished I could have met him.

As I was ready to leave, I noticed the winery was preparing for their summer cookout.  Provided every Friday and Saturday night during the summer, visitors can select a NY Strip or Boneless Chicken Breast with side dishes.  Reservations required. The winery is open all year, Monday through Saturday, while the Bed and Breakfast is available seven days a week.

I had a wonderful time visiting Rainbow Hills Vineyards and look forward to an opportunity to return when I can stay overnight.  I would have loved to have explored the grounds in more detail and maybe to have had the chance to catch a glimpse of Bigfoot. Newcomerstown is said to be home to this legendary furry beast, so you never know what surprises may await you with a stay at Rainbow Hills Winery, Bed and Breakfast.

What to See and What to Do: 

Rainbow Hills Winery
26349 T.R. 251
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
Telephone:  740 545 9305

Many thanks to Bob for his hospitality and assistance with my wine selection and a thank you to Joy Wyse for her generosity as well!  Please note that all comments provided were based solely upon my own opinions and experience.

Where to Stay:

Rainbow Hills Winery
26349 T.R. 251
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
Telephone:  740 545 9305

Because the hours of operation are set seasonally, ensure that you check the Rainbow Hills Winery website for the most up-to-date information.

Rainbow Hills Winery is also a bed and breakfast!

Where to Eat and Where to Drink:

Rainbow Hills Winery
26349 T.R. 251
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
Telephone:  740 545 9305

Make reservations for Friday and Saturday night at 5:30 to grill your own dinner.  Rainbow Hills will supply the sides which include baked potato, salad, rolls and chocolate cake for dessert.

Railroad Restaurant & Saloon
509 Main Street
Coshocton, OH  43812
Telephone: 740 575 4151

It was a day to try some fried food and I could not pass up the opportunity to try the deep fried pickles because I prefer the chips over the spears.   The spicy cajun dipping sauce was the perfect condiment.  I also ordered the lobster bisque which was creamy, delicious and full of lobster meat.

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Cheering Myself Up at Brandeberry Winery

25 June 201716 September 2024

“Wine cheereth God and Man” is a Proverb posted on the wall of the Brandeberry Winery and I could not agree more.  Having spent the afternoon in the charming  village of Yellow Springs, I was happy to visit this lovely winery in nearby Enon.

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It was a beautiful country drive to the winery where I easily found the entrance into the tasting room.  I immediately noticed the impressive display of awards that hung from the wall and was greeted by the winemaker himself, Jim Brandeberry.  He is an extremely smart, soft-spoken man with a passion for wine who was eager to share with me the history of Brandeberry Winery and the wines that he produces.

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There are several award winning wines on the tasting list and I had the opportunity to try a few of them.  While I made my selection, I read through the descriptions and noticed the many accolades.  From Bronze medals to Double Gold, there were also a few that held the honor of the Ohio Quality Wine Award.  I decided that I would choose six wines so that I could keep the complimentary glass.  Most of the samples cost $1.00, with the exception of the Reserve Premium Syrah and the Polar Crush Ice Wine which are $1.50.

My first selection was IKE, a dry white table wine.  This wine was originally named after Hurricane Ike, whose strong winds reached the Midwest region in 2008.  It was during that time that a stray cat found his way to their front door and made the winery his home.  “Ike” immediately became a part of the family and was a favorite resident among the winery’s guests.

I was happy to see a wide selection of sweet wines, which are popular varietals produced in Ohio.  The remaining samples that I selected just happened to fall under this category and I was ready to try the Sweet Mingo.  It too is named after one of the Brandeberry’s beloved pets and is a grape wine with natural peach flavors.  Mingo is a sweet little black and white dog that the family rescued when he was just four months old.  For the past three years he has been seen hanging around the winery greeting customers and adding to the wine tasting experience. The Sweet Mingo was definitely one of my favorites wines.

I could not resist sampling the blackberry wine, made from 100% blackberry juice.  It was no surprise that this was a silver medal award winner.

Pink Passion is a delicate wine made from a blend of Cayuga grape and cherry wines.  This beautiful pink wine is absolutely delicious.

The cherry truffle is a blend of cherry and grape wine with a flavor of chocolate and of course I had to try the Polar Crush Ice Wine.  Made from the Vidal Blanc grape, Polar Crush has an elegant peach color and tastes just as sophisticated.

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After my wine tasting, Mr. Brandeberry provided me with an impromptu tour of his production room, which was quite impressive.  I enjoyed learning about the technology and science that goes into creating wine.  Although he is an engineer by trade, he explained the process in a language I could understand.  I admire his passion for making wine and great sense of humor.

Brandeberry Winery provides live music, holds several events and caters to private parties.  One of their most popular events is the Annual Dogtober Fest where patrons bring their dogs dressed up in their favorite Halloween costumes.  On occasion, the winery will also host release parties to introduce their new wine creations. This summer they will release a new wine titled “Party Girl”.  I had the pleasure of seeing a draft of the label and it is going to be spectacular.

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In addition to the wines, what I love about Brandeberry Winery is its support of the community and local charities.  When their wine, Sweet Mingo was first released, the winery dedicated a percentage of its sales to aid their local Humane Society, an organization dedicated to help stop animal cruelty and suffering.  They are also supporters of Honor Flight Dayton which is “dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of [war veterans] and their friends”.  This organization raises money to transport World War II veterans to Washington DC to honor them and offer them the opportunity to explore our nation’s Capitol.

Brandeberry Winery recently hosted an event, The Red Affair, on Saturday May 28, 2016 from 12PM to 10PM as both a release party for its latest wine and a benefit for Honor Flight Dayton.  The winery’s latest creation is a dry blackberry merlot, “Not Your Mother’s Red”, an honorable tribute to the memory of Jim’s mother, Virginia Brandeberry.   I felt privileged to try a sample during my visit and wished it had been available for sale.  For each bottle sold, Brandeberry Winery donated $5 per bottle to Honor Flight.  The event was a success with patrons dressed in 1940’s costumes to celebrate this new vintage while supporting a great cause.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Brandeberry Winery?   I would love to hear about your experience and what wines you enjoyed, so if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below, that would be great!  Cheers!

To learn more about Brandeberry Winery and their fabulous charities, visit their website at www.brandeberrywinery.com.  You can purchase their wines from the winery as well as local stores such as Belmont Party Store, Wine Works and Keg & Cork.  The winery also creates beautiful gift baskets for sale as well.

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

What to See and What to Do:

Brandeberry Winery
5118 W. Jackson Road
Enon, OH  45323
Telephone:  937 767 9103

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jim Brandeberry and his family for their time and hospitality during my visit.  Please note that all comments provided were based solely upon my own opinions and experience.

  • Hours: For Fall (September to December), the winery is open from 12 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, 12 PM to 9PM on Friday and 12 PM to 10 PM on Saturday. The winery is closed from Sunday thru Wednesday. Hours are seasonal and are subject to change. Please refer to the winery’s website for any updates to its hours of operation.
  • Amenities:  Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, wine club, wine baskets, wine, gift shop, private events
  • 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:

Mills Park Hotel
321 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH  45387
Telephone:  937 319 0400

Where to Eat: 

Winds Cafe
215 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH  45387
Telephone:  937 767 1144

My favorite menu is the Winds Charcuterie Plate, a selection of Winds kitchen’s pates and terrines, including imported and domestic cured meats, pickles and house condiments.

What to Read: 

Not That I Could Tell, by Jessica Strawser

Photo Guide to Yellow Springs: 

  • Clifton Gorge
  • Colorful, Artsy Streets
  • Glen Helen Nature Reserve
  • John Bryan State Park
  • Sunflower Field, located at 4625 US-68, Yellow Springs (The Tecumseh Sunflower Field)
  • Wall Murals
    • Preparation for Life Work by Axel Horn hangs in the Yellow Springs Post Office
    • Village Cyclery is the location of the oldest mural in Yellow Springs
    • “Kieth’s Alley” located behind the shops on the east side of Xenia Avenue between Cory and Glen Street showcases several murals
    • Winds Cafe displays one of the largest murals in town
    • Ohio Silver Co. displays a beautiful painting by Maxfield Parrish
    • The patio of Sunrise Cafe
    • The Smoking Octopus displays the works of Sarah Dickens
    • The Xenia Avenue Shops’ painting was created by local Mandy Knaul (Mandy Sue)
    • Corner Cone mural designed by Pierre Nagley
    • Kings Yard murals
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About Me!

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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