Stop Number 13: Presque Isle Wine Cellars

Our next stop was Presque Isle Wine Cellars, also in North East, PA.

As you can see from just the sign alone, there's a lot going on at Presque Isle. There are two main places that visitors will want to see- the Isle House, which is where the tasting room is, and the creekside building that has wine and beermaking supplies for sale. The creekside building is close to a small waterfall where visitors can have a picnic- it's very scenic and very peaceful!

It was really crowded in the tasting room when we were at Presque Isle so we didn't get a chance to talk to our tasting server as much as we would have liked to. Regardless of the crowd, however, our experience here was mediocre. The gift shop has the same items most other wineries have, the decor wasn't anything over-the-top impressive like any of the wineries we visited earlier in the day (Mazza, South Shore, Courtyard), and while our tasting server was nice, she didn't seem to know much about wine. I would have liked to know more about the history of Presque Isle too, but she didn't seem to know much about that either.

The wine itself was so-so. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon was decent. It had a hint of licorice and cocoa in the flavor but all around it didn't have the bold flavor a Cab should. The 2010 Syrah was similar in the fact that there wasn't a lot to be excited about. There was a little blackberry in the flavor and cherry cola in the finish but it wasn't full of flavor like you'd expect a Syrah to be. The Noiret was my favorite of the reds we tried since it was smooth and mild a Noiret should be, but there wasn't anything notable or overly exciting about it.

The whites we tried were a little better than the reds. The 2011 Chardonnay had a bright citrus flavor and a smooth finish, which would be good to pair with fish or a fresh salad for a summer dinner. The 2012 Gewurtztraminer had too many floral notes for me. A Gewurtz is supposed to have floral notes, yes, but drinking a glass full of fermented flowers wasn't going down easy. The non-vintage Pennsylvania Viognier was the best of the three. It's oaked for six months before it's bottled and has a light body with clear notes of oak in the finish. It reminded me an oaked Chardonnay with a lighter body. This would be a good wine to pair with heavier winter dinners, such as a lobster bisque or any pasta with a creme-based sauce.  This is the bottle that ended up coming home with us.

For those who like sweet wines and fruit wines, there are plenty of them here that we didn't try, so this may be a good place for you! If you don't bring your own picnic, Presque Isle offers small plates to pair with tastings. Be mindful that the prices here are a little on the high side, at least for the wines we tried. If you can't make it out to visit or want to taste a few wines before your trip to North East, Presque Isle's wines are available for purchase in their online store- check it out to see if they can ship to you! 

Overall, Presque Isle Wine Cellars didn't wow us. Presque Isle's scenic setting is very nice. As I mentioned, there are a lot of sweeter wines and fruit selections here; those are more common given the climate of the area. They aren't for The Bear and me, but for those who like sweet wines and fruit wines, this might be a new favorite. The dry selections weren't bad by any means, but they didn't stand out to us as something unique or special. This is a place that any group of wine drinkers can go and everyone can find something that will be suitable for their tastes. If we lived closer, I could see us meeting our coworkers here on a Friday after work like we do at John Christ Winery in Avon Lake, OH; we go mostly for the atmosphere. It might not be a go-to winery for those of us who like dry wines, but it's a decent place with passable options and nice scenery. I wouldn't say this is a must-go for dry drinkers, but it's worth a shot if you're in the area and you can fit it in. 

Next up, we go back to Ohio and visit Markko Vineyard, which is one winery I've been excited to write about since our trip in August. See you soon, enjoy your grapes responsibly! Cheers!

Stop Number Twelve: Courtyard Wineries

After leaving Mazza's sister winery, South Shore Wine Company, we arrived at Courtyard Wineries in North East, PA.

The Bear and I both have SO many nice things to say about Courtyard. This was truly an enjoyable visit from start to finish. We were wowed by just about everything here, from the people to the wine to anything in between.

Courtyard Wineries opened in 2010 and has two separate brands: La Courette, which has Courtyard's dry to semi-dry wines and Barjo Bons, which is comprised of their sweet selections. While having two different brands from one winery isn't a first, the way they were presented was impressive- each brand has it's own tasting bar. The Barjo Bons bar will definitely be the first thing to catch your eye, and not just because it's close to the entrance. It's mostly glass block and lit by color changing neon lights! I couldn't resist taking a video.

The gentleman that we met while we were tasting at Courtyard was such a pleasure to talk with. He was so knowledgable about the wines he was serving, I almost felt like I was in a wine master class. It was clear that he enjoyed talking to us, he could tell how much we appreciate good wine and the hard work that goes into making it.

We felt welcome and comfortable here, and our host was the kind of person that you can meet for the first time and feel like you've know them for life. He even allowed us into the Barrel Room, which he is building by hand- it is remarkable. The handcrafted wooden wine storage area was still under construction while we were there, but it spans more than a full wall of the room. True to it's name, the Barrel Room has large oak barrels full of wine, and getting to see these up close was a first for me so I was pretty thrilled.

The stunning wine storage display in the Barrel Room

I told The Bear to take good notes because I want something like this in our home. A girl can dream...

Courtyard's wines were some of the more impressive ones we had on our trip. Generally we prefer the dry wines, so we spent our visit at the La Courette tasting bar. Overall, the most outstanding aspect of our tasting was that this was the first time the description of the wines matched the taste. Many times we try a wine and we get some of what the notes say it's supposed to taste like, but Courtyard's were spot on.

The Chardonnay was delicious. It's oaked for fourteen months and has the robust flavor an oaked Chard should have, and has a toasted buttery caramel flavor in the finish. This would be a good wine to pair with bold flavored seafood dishes. The Cabernet Sauvignon was another notable selection. There's a vanilla-cherry burst of taste at first, a smooth body, and a rich, velvety finish. If you're having a hearty meat dish, this is the wine for you.

The Noiret really wowed us, me especially. I haven't had a lot of experience with Noirets, but I'm quickly coming to like them. It's a perfect fit for the climate of North East, PA; I really enjoy tasting wines that are made from grapes the vineyard actually grows themselves rather than imports. Courtyard's has a full-but-subtle body and a slightly peppery finish. It would pair well with just about any meal but could also easily hold its own.

We tried the Chardonel, which is a newer grape and isn't very popular in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area yet. Chardonel is very similar to Chardonnay and is another delicious creation out of Cornell University. It's not oaked but the natural acidity of the grape gives the wine a little bit of a bite. It has a apricot-tangerine flavor and a bright finish. This is a little more versatile for food pairings than the Chardonnay since it's more mild and wouldn't overpower more delicately flavored meals. We ended up taking the Noiret and the Chardonel home with us.

We didn't taste the sweet wines, but it should be noted that the shiny, glowing Barjo Bons bar shares the same whimsical air as the names of the wines it serves. With names like Radiance, Dazzle, and First Kiss, I cannot think of a better stage for presenting these vintages.

If you're looking to visit Courtyard, they're open year-round, seven days a week and offer standard and group tastings as well as a Reserved VIP tasting in the Barrel Room. You can find various upcoming events on their website and Facebook page. Courtyard also can help you host a private event at their location or accommodate a group if you're interested in having a party with some good friends.

If you can't make the trip to North East, Courtyard's wines (and some gifts!) can be ordered online. You may also be able to find some of their wines in a store near you. I was pretty jazzed to see a few La Courettes and Barjo Bons in a Pennsylvania wine and spirits store when we were shopping yesterday (October 19)!

Courtyard was far and away one of the more memorable wineries we visited on our trip. Not only was the wine excellent, but it was nice to be able to have a good conversation with someone so knowledgable and enthusiastic. This is another must-go if you're in the area or looking to try something new on a weekend getaway. We both really liked the fact that they separate the sweet and dry varieties by brand and have completely separate tasting bars. Make a reservation for the Barrel Room for your visit, it's worth it just to see the beautiful craftsmanship. You won't be disappointed at Courtyard Wineries and it is well worth the trip.

Next up, we head over to Presque Isle Wine Cellars, so check back soon for another update. Thank you for visiting and enjoy your wine responsibly!

Crossing the Border for Stop Number Ten: Mazza Vineyards

After a delicious breakfast at Buccia Vineyard, we traveled east to start day two of our trip at Mazza Vineyards in North East, Pennsylvania.

North East, PA, sounds a lot farther away from Ohio than it really is. It's near the northwest corner of the state by the city of Erie, but it's in the northeast corner of Erie county, which is likely how it got its name. So, it's north, and it's east, but not very far east. Go figure, Pennsylvania.

This was a very scenic drive because we could see the Lake Erie shoreline as we traveled and everywhere we looked, there were grapevines. Everywhere. Anyone who owns land, from a small parcel to acres of farmland, grows grapes in North East. You would think there's a city ordinance that mandates it. Fruit growing was part of the economic foundation of the borough and, as it turns out, it still is since one of the largest employers for those living in North East is Welch's. Seeing grapes for miles made the drive to the winery very enjoyable.

Mazza has a beautiful facility. The exterior has a rustic, coastal Italian feel. Just through the entrance is the gift shop which had a lot of unique items for wine lovers as well as shelves full of wines for sale. The girl at the counter, who also assisted us with our tasting, was a pleasure. She greeted us like we were old friends and she knew her stuff when it came to the wines.

Our experience was a lot of fun here. We got there early in the morning and had the whole place to ourselves, so it was easy to learn about the wines and the winery from our server. The Mazza brothers, Robert and Frank, came to the United States from Italy in 1955- a year after their father, an Italian vintner- and established Mazza Vineyards in 1973. One thing we found interesting was that the winery, built by Italian-born winemakers, makes German-style wine because the climate of the area is more supportive of the Germanic production method.

The tasting room is absolutely stunning. The large, open space is reminiscent of contemporary Tuscan style, with tiled floors and a gorgeous, wrap-around lacquered wood bar. Mazza clearly put a lot of money into developing this room but still managed to foster a comforting, relaxing atmosphere. Bravo, Mazza. The craftsmanship is truly breathtaking.

Mazza offers a six tastings for $3.00 deal, which the Bear and I split. I ordered the Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sparkling Riesling. The Chardonnay was a very crisp, lightly acidic, oaked Chard. There's a little butterscotch in the nose and some apple in the taste. The Pinot Grigio was fruity and dry, with some peach and apple notes and a smooth finish. Both of these would pair well with most foods, especially light pastas and fish.

The Sparkling Riesling had my attention immediately because his is the first winery we've been to that has a sparkling option on their tasting menu. There's usually concern about it going flat before finishing the bottle, so I don't blame other wineries for not offering it since there's a definite potential for waste. I'm not sure if Mazza somehow resealed the bottle to keep it fresh or if business is steady enough that they don't have to worry about it, but whatever they did, it worked. I am SO glad we got to try it because it was excellent. It was crisp and bubbly, with the sweet aroma of the Riesling grape in the nose. The bubbles cut the traditionally sweet Riesling taste perfectly- not too bitter, not too sugary- and made the finish light and effortless.

The Bear ordered the Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. The Chambourcin was pretty good- the Bear liked it more than I did. I liked the plum and cherry nose but there was a little too much smoke in the taste for me. The Cab was decent, but not exceptional. There were hints of berry in the aroma but the taste and finish were average. The Sangiovese was unique with a little bit of pepper and a little bit of tobacco in the taste. The finish is mild even though it's full of bold flavor. It would pair well with flavorful meat dishes, especially ones with a more gamey taste.

In addition to the wines we tasted, there are ice wines, fruit wines, and sweeter, traditionally domestic options like Concord, Niagara, and Pink Catawba.

We purchased the Sparkling Riesling which didn't even make it home because it turned into the mimosas that we enjoyed with our breakfast the next morning.

Mazza Vineyards is a lot bigger than just the winery we visited, which is the original establishment. They have three sister wineries: South Shore Wine Company, also in North East (our next stop), and two Mazza Chautauqua Cellars locations in New York state. Their wines are available in two retail locations in Erie, PA, one in North East, and will soon be available in a retail shop in Pittsburgh. They also ship wines throughout the state of Pennsylvania and to other states as well, depending on the state laws. Call 814-725-8695 or 1-800-796-WINE to place an order and see if they can to ship to you. Orders are not able to be placed online.

If you're looking to stock up your wine cellar before the winter weather hits, there's a 20% discount on purchases of 12 bottles or more and a 10% discount on purchases of 6-11 bottles. To the best of my knowledge, and likely due to state law restrictions, this is unheard of in the state of Ohio.

We need to cross the border more often.

I highly recommend visiting Mazza. The facility is beautiful, the wine is fantastic, and the girl who helped us (whose name I wish I remembered) was great. It's open year-round and tours are available for anyone interested. You can follow their Facebook page for information on special events. The tasting room alone is worth the drive. The craftsmanship is incredible; any description I could write couldn't possibly do it justice.

Mazza is a must-visit if you are, or ever will be, in the area. We both liked it a lot and we'll hopefully be returning shortly.

Check back soon for a review of our next stop, one of Mazza's sister wineries, South Shore Vineyards. As always, enjoy your grapes responsibly! Cheers!

Stop Number Seven: Old Mill Winery

Our seventh stop was Old Mill Winery in Geneva, Ohio.

I really don't want to start a post off negatively, so let's discuss the positives about this visit:
1. Their menu looks good.
2. The interior has an old-time, rustic, homey feel.  Very charming.

Sadly, that's it.  This is a hard one to write about.  In (my short career in) blogging and in life, I always try to focus on the best parts of a situation and downplay the bad to the point where whatever it was that left a sour taste in my mouth, no pun intended, is forgivable and my lasting opinion is, at worst, fair, neutral, or indifferent.

That being said, it will be a very cold day for all those people who went to hell for stealing their wine glasses at South River Vineyard before I go back to Old Mill.

This is the only place where we had to stop twice during our trip.  The first time was nothing short of a total disaster and the second wasn't significantly different.  In fact, the only notable difference between the two was that we actually got to taste wine the second visit.

We planned to stop here for a late lunch on the first day of our vacation.  The Bear had eaten here before and he liked it, and he recommended it to friends of ours who said the food was fantastic, so I wanted in on the excitement.  We learned, or at least were reminded of, a few crucial lessons here:
1. The Geneva area has fairly poor cell coverage for mobile internet access.
2. Always, always, ALWAYS check a winery's website before leaving home.
3. The kitchen at a restaurant/winery combo doesn't always share the same hours as the winery.

The slow web access wasn't totally unexpected since the town is one cornfield short of full-blown rural status and I have been in the area before, but I forgot how slow it really is and ended up giving up on my attempt to check them out on the drive there.  I should have stuck with it so that we knew the food service hours differ from their general business hours.  It's not surprising that the kitchen has shorter hours but normally when this happens, it's because it closes prior to the bar closing, not because it opens after the bar; in this case, it's both more days than not.  This practice isn't unheard of, but it is somewhat uncommon, at least in our area.  Be aware of this if you plan to visit for a meal.

This information is clearly stated on Old Mill's homepage and we didn't think to look before we left home, so this was definitely our faux-pas, not theirs.  We will never make this mistake again.

FYI, the hours of operation are:
Monday-Thursday: 3-9, dinner hours: 4-8
Friday: 3-midnight, dinner hours: 4-10
Saturday: noon-midnight, dinner hours: noon-10
Sunday: noon-9, dinner hours: noon-8

Lesson learned.

This was a bummer because I had saved my hunger for this meal, but it isn't the reason the first go-round was less than satisfactory.  The service is what completely annihilated any chance I had of having a good time.

We walked in about twenty minutes after opening and there were no other patrons.  None.  At all.  We saw a girl behind the bar getting things ready and organized to start her shift so we stood there and waited to be greeted.  And waited.  And waited.  There were also two guys who looked like they needed a shower were cooks buzzing around getting the outdoor grill ready and helping this girl move some boxes.  I know they saw us- they walked right by us- but neither of them paid us any attention.  So finally, we said "hi!" and got the girl's attention.  Okay, fine.  She was busy, maybe she didn't hear us, and it's not a cook's job to be a host or waiter, so I let it go.

In hindsight, I'm baffled as to why this prep work wasn't done before they opened for business. Sure, no one else was there besides us, so I can understand doing a little housekeeping if there aren't any/many customers to attend to, but this was pretty involved work and clearly required enough focus and attention that she was oblivious to the fact that someone came in.  Things like this should be done before customers could arrive but, if that cannot be done and it absolutely cannot wait, employees should be a little more discreet and alert.

Also, even though it's not technically a cook's job to greet customers, I have a hard time believing that any member of a crew who takes pride in their work and is proud of the business they work for would think twice about being hospitable toward guests regardless of their designated function.

But, I digress.  Once we had the waitress' attention, we told her we wanted to split a wine tasting.  She showed us to our table outside, gave us a sheet of paper with Old Mill's wines on it, and told us to mark what we wanted.  I think we annoyed her because we asked for a pen or pencil to mark our selections and asked to look at food menus.  She got us a menu, bluntly told us we could taste now but couldn't order food for another forty minutes while she begrudgingly dug up a pen for us, then promptly disappeared.

Just as we did when we first arrived, we waited.  And waited.  And waited.

A good ten minutes had passed with no sign of our waitress and I was starting to turn into a hungry monster.  I had some pretzel sticks in the car so my Bear went inside to ask if he could grab them to hold me over, probably out of fear that I was about to start gnawing my own arm (or his).  She came back with him to the table and said she couldn't allow that, but she could bring some chips and salsa.  I understand that she has to follow company policy and I appreciate the fact that there's a snack option prior to the kitchen opening.  My dissatisfaction doesn't stem from what she said but rather how she said it.

I declined.

I am almost certain the "I really cannot believe the request we made merited the tone you're using" look I gave her scared her away because that was the last time we saw her.  After waiting another fifteen minutes, she didn't come back, so we said forget it before we could even place our order for tastings and moved on.

I didn't want to give up totally on Old Mill because of one bad apple, so on our way home, we gave it another try.  We sat at the bar this time and were greeted fairly quickly. There was a different girl helping us and she had a much better personality, mainly just because she had one.

Unfortunately, we weren't looking to eat this time so I cannot speak to the quality of the food but the menu does look good.  The wines were so-so.  I tried the Chardonnay and it was satisfactory.  It was dry and crisp with a bright, citrus nose that was contrasted by a hint of oak in the taste which nicely darkened the overall flavor.  The wine stopped there, though- the finish was the same as a glass of water.  The Riesling was overly sweet for me and was more similar to a sweet Piesporter than a Riesling.

The Bear had the Cabernet Sauvignon and it was average.  It had a thin taste, didn't have much going on in the finish, lacked the bold flavor of the grape.  The Chambourcin was a winner, though.  This is another Chambourcin with a delicate cherry flavor and a hint of sweetness in the overall dry body.  It goes down easy so it's definitely a silly wine.  This is the one that came home with us.

Our second visit to Old Mill was clearly much better than the first but, when we were ready to pay our bill and purchase our bottle, we again had to wait.  And wait.  And wait.  It turns out that when you sit at the bar, you apparently have to walk to the corner of the counter to be able to get your check and pay because once you're done with your wine, everyone disappears and you will no longer receive service.

I truly apologize that this hasn't been a ringing endorsement.  If anyone is looking to pair live entertainment with their wine, Old Mill has a schedule online as well as a list of special events.  There is a nice outdoor seating area and the interior has a rustic appeal.  This may attract people who aren't visiting to focus on the wine itself.

I don't think I need to write an overall summary of this experience, it's pretty clear how it went.  I was so disappointed that this is how the Old Mill played out.  My expectations were high because of the impressive buzz from our friends but ultimately, I was let down.  This may sound bizarre, but if you haven't been there and you'll be in the area, try it.  It's important to support local business and I would love to be proven wrong.  In fact, I challenge you to change my mind.  If you have a story about a great time at Old Mill, please share it.  If you haven't been there, go and make your best effort to have a completely opposite experience than ours.

Next up will be The Old Firehouse Winery, which is where we ended up eating that day.  Remember to enjoy what you pour, but enjoy responsibly!  Cheers, all!

Number Six: Deer's Leap Winery

The sixth stop on our trip was Deer's Leap Winery and Restaurant in Geneva, Ohio. 

This is truly one of a kind.  It looks like a large, old warehouse and, as you can see in the second picture, there are large piles of some sort of material outside.  We almost passed it!  We were so thrown by the setting and the fact that we almost drove right by that we forgot the get a picture of the sign the first time around, so we stopped a few weeks later for these pictures.

On the side of the building there is a nice, covered area for outdoor seating, which is more reminiscent of wineries we've seen so far.  We walked inside and immediately the atmosphere shouted blue collar.  There is seating for the restaurant inside and all of the tables and chairs looked like they were temporary, like everything there needs to be easily moved or rearranged.  We sat at the bar and looked at the menu, which was an array of average Americanized dishes.  Above the bar, there is a long shelf with popular, brand name beer bottles from end to end.  Past the bar, there's a room in the back where there are bottles of wine available for purchase, a small display of rhinestone wine shirts that most wineries now sell, and birds.  Big, beautiful, exotic birds.

So...Is this supposed to be a hall that can be cleared and rented for events?  Is this a diner?  Is this a beer bar?  Is this actually a winery?  Animal sanctuary?

Deer's Leap frequently hosts live entertainment so I am assuming that is the reason for the makeshift interior.  The bar area was decent and the girl that helped us was nice but didn't offer a whole lot of information on the wines.  The display of beer bottles threw me off a bit.  They aren't a brewery in addition to being a winery so none of the beers were theirs; it looked like the beer selection at Heinen's.  I was under the impression that we were in a bar that happened to make and sell wine and not a winery.

If you're going to Deer's Leap for a meal, you can comfortably bring the whole family.  There's an appetizer menu that, for the most part, reminded me of the menu board at a bowling alley.  The regular menu is meant to appeal to a true cross-section of the country, offering burgers, a reuben, wraps, chicken parmesan, meatloaf, linguini with marinara and meatballs or alfredo and chicken, and $.75 tacos with the purchase of a beverage on Mexi Mondays.  Deer's Leap also has a senior menu for guests 65+, which is an abbreviated version of the lunch menu.

I didn't particularly care for the fact that there was a kids menu because I don't particularly care for kids, especially at wineries, but this may help bring in business if the restaurant is what keeps the winery afloat so I can't fault them.

There wasn't a signature dish of note and the lunch choices seemed more like a collage of the Stouffer's frozen entree case at your local grocery store.  These options are fine because anyone who visits can find something they'll like, but I would have expected those meals to be in addition to foods that follow the winery theme.  Instead, the menu seemed a little out of place at a winery.

Perhaps it is more appropriate to say the winery is the element that is out of place.

The wine wasn't overwhelmingly good.  The Bear had the Cabernet Sauvignon and we both thought it was a little flat tasting and plain.  It was dry like Cab should be, but that was about it.  I ordered the Chardonnay and that was a little better.  It was dry, crisp, and would pair well with most foods.  It didn't have the robust Chardonnay taste that this wine usually has, but it wasn't too mild either.  We ended up taking a bottle home with us.

We opened this bottle recently and I was shocked because wine tasted nothing like what we had on our visit.  This Chardonnay wasn't good on it's own and needed to be paired with strong cheese and crackers to bring it to life.  We ended up having some smoked cheddar and smoked swiss on sesame crackers with this and the smoked cheeses were this wine's saving grace.  The nose smelled like caramels melting on the stove but it had a very abrasive, astringent taste.

My guess is that it had bottle shock from the car ride and didn't have enough time to return to its normal state before we opened it.

Overall, the jury is still out on Deer's Leap.  The atmosphere was interesting to say the least, and the menu fit in better with the bar aspect of the winery than the winery itself.  For some people, that may actually be a big draw- the food prices are great and the restaurant part of the winery seemed more like a place to bring the family for dinner than a winery.  There's also an online store if you're interested in buying some wines but don't want to make the drive to Geneva.  There were a lot of fruit wines that we didn't try when we were there, so if those sound good but you live far away, give online ordering a shot.

But, don't order online today.  The online store is down as of 9/10/2013 at 9:30 AM.  You can call 440.466.1248 during normal business hours: Sunday-Thursday, 12-8, Friday and Saturday, 12-10.

I don't think our experience was a true representation of the winery and it would be better if we could get more information from the tasting servers.  Deer's Leap's website shows a more formal, cozy tasting room.  It might not have been open when we were there but we had no clue it existed until visiting the website to obtain links for this post.  Even if it was closed, it would have been nice to hear about it.  We will definitely go back for a more complete tasting experience and hopefully we'll be able to access to this portion of the winery.

Deer's Leap is, again, one of a kind.  It is so unique that I cannot simply dismiss it even though our first try was less than spectacular and the wine wasn't that good.  It has the same appeal as your favorite local dive bar- the place you want to go back to but can't quite put your finger on why.  It may not be soon, but check back for a second look at Deer's Leap!

Next up on our list is the Old Mill Winery!  Remember to enjoy your wine safely and responsibly!  Cheers, all!

Next Stop: Chalet Debonné Vineyard

The next winery on our list was Chalet Debonné Vineyards, just a short drive from our first stop, Grand River Cellars, in Madison, OH.

Like Grand River, Debonné boasts a restaurant, indoor and outdoor seating, live entertainment, a gift shop, and a tasting bar.  Debonné also sells wine for charity; an undisclosed portion of the proceeds from each bottle of Pour Donner sold goes toward People In Need, Inc., of Delaware County, Ohio.

Chalet Debonné is unique in that they make their own beer at Cellar Rats Brewery.  This on-site brewery and beer tasting room adds an interesting dynamic that is perfect for couples comprised of one wine drinker and one beer drinker- everyone wins!  I rarely drink beer anymore and I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen the Bear with a brew since I've known him, so we can't speak to the quality of their beer but, in theory, this is a strategic business move to help broaden Debonné's customer base.

A few other notable things Chalet Debonné has to offer include party rentals of various parts of the winery such as their outdoor pavilion and gazebo, events such as jazz festivals, hot air balloons, classic car shows, and personalized wine labels which are perfect for a special occasion.

If you're a shopper or looking for a present for a wine lover, Debonné's gift shop is also more diverse than other wineries.  One thing I have learned from visiting quite a few places is that many will carry the same kitschy items as the rest, and Debonné has some of that, but they also have a lot of unique items we had not seen before.  For example, that is where I purchased this nifty apron!

As for the actual wine experience, the Bear and I had been here together previously so we had an idea of what to expect.  We knew that this winery is heavily invested in the entertainment aspect of the wine business, which generally means a greater menu of sweeter wines, larger crowds, and less opportunities to talk to the tasting staff about the wines.

This experience was no exception.  But, at least we knew what was coming, which helped soften the blow.

The tasting bar was crowded but we managed to find two seats.  It took a minute to get service, which wasn't surprising, and we ended up splitting a dry tasting tray.  The dry varietals tray consists of á Cab, Chambourcin, a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, a Pinot Noir/Syrah blend, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay Reserve, and their standard Chardonnay.  There was no souvenir wine glass included with this one, which was kind of a bummer.

One thing to keep in mind while tasting at Chalet Debonné is that Debonné's owner, Tony Debevc, is also in charge of wine production at Grand River Cellars.  If you go to both, you will notice some of the wines are almost identical, just with different names (and prices).

Starting with the reds, the á Cab is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Chambourcin.  It is aged in oak and has some bell pepper in the nose and is a full bodied wine that would require a bold main dish if it were to be paired with food.  The Cab/Cab blend is forgettable. The Cabernet Franc almost diluted the Cabernet Sauvignon, and there is some Syrah in the blend as well.  It is very bright and light tasting for a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and is relatively disappointing.

The Chambourcin has some black cherry in the taste and it is pretty tasty for a Chambourcin, which is traditionally a wine that will get you silly without even knowing it.  Though it generally has a higher alcohol content, this Chambourcin isn't too dry, and the black cherry isn't too sweet.  This is one I would go back to try again.  The Pinot Noir/Syrah blend is very interesting, with notes of vanilla and coffee in the taste and a remarkable finish for a red.  The typical acidic, dry feeling that reds leave in the mouth is absent, which was refreshing.

Moving on to the whites, the Chardonnay Reserve is an oaked Chard that wasn't quite what we had expected.  I like to be able to taste the oak and the Bear prefers oaked wines that taste like you're drinking the tree itself and neither of us feel this is up to par.  Aging Chardonnay in oak usually gives it a more robust flavor but this is flat tasting and unexciting.  The Pinot Gris has a little of the hazelnut flavor from its description, but I didn't get any apple, floral notes, etc., that it supposedly has.  The Pinot Gris also qualifies as flat, I would even go as far as boring.

The standard Chardonnay is a 2010 that had a bold, crisp apple flavor that popped as we drank it. For being aged in stainless steel, I am impressed.  This is a perfect wine to pair with a mild-flavored meal but also good to enjoy on its own.  The apple flavor is very fall-like and this, like Grand River's Chardonnay, would also be a good autumn wine.  Keep in mind, Grand River's wine production is at the hand of Debonné's owner, which is likely why the stainless steel Chardonnay at each winery tastes nearly identical.

The Pinot Grigio is a 2012 vintage that outshined the rest of the wines we tried here.  It is slightly (very slightly) sweeter than a normal dry Pinot Grigio, but it is smooth from start to finish.  It would be a great wine to pair with any food or to enjoy outside on a warm evening while watching the sunset.  It had a crisp, refreshing apple taste and a little bit of caramel in the nose.

We ended up taking the 2010 Chardonnay and the 2012 Pinot Grigio home.

2010 Stainless Steel Chardonnay

2012 Pinot Grigio

We were both surprised by Debonné's wines this time around.  The 2012 Pinot Grigio and the 2010 Chardonnay are definitely winners, as is the Chambourcin.  There are also plenty of sweet wines that we didn't try, so if you or someone you know is looking for something on the sweeter side, Debonné may be a good choice.  Also, they're reasonably priced which is helpful for any wine drinker on a budget.

Be aware that Debonné will be crowded more often than not, which makes it difficult to get any wine education from the tasting servers.  If you're curious about these wines but don't want to or can't make the trip to Madison, some Debonné wines are available at local grocers, liquor stores, convenient stores, or drugstores.  Debonné's website also has an eShop available and can ship wine anywhere in the state of Ohio, or wine can be ordered by calling 1.800.424.WINE.

Thank you for visiting!  Up next will be our journey to the wineries down South River Road.  As always, enjoy the wine (or other drink of choice), but please do so responsibly.  Cheers!