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Catoctin Breeze Vineyard- Thurmont, MD
Rarely do I find wineries in Maryland or Virginia that are both scenic and make good wine. Of the obscene amount of wineries in the two states, only a handful make truly tasty vino. Many do not even grow their own grapes, but rather prepare blends from purchased juice. Some that do grow their own grapes produce a product that is only palatable when you substantially lower your expectations- for instance, it’s a cold beverage on a hot day. Catoctin Breeze Vineyard is an outlier. Situated on a beautiful piece of land in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains, they produce a genuinely good product. To have a quality wine,…
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Ponzi Vineyards- Sherwood, OR
It is my firm belief that Willamette Valley produces the best Pinot Noir in the United States. Not that I don’t have a lot of love for California, but my wine loyalty lies further north. Almost all of my favorite wineries are located scattered across various AVAs in this small corner of the world; while I would be hard pressed to pick an absolute favorite, my short list would absolutely include Ponzi. It is a wine I am always excited to see on a menu, and its tasting room did not disappoint. Surprisingly modern, their tasting room perfectly complements their wines. Concrete and wood works well with nearly floor to…
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Geneva-on-the Lake, OH
I absolutely adore nostalgic beach towns. Small towns, with no chain hotels or restaurants. Towns that were thankfully missed by developers, and their hulking high-rises. Relics from another era, virtually preserved in amber. Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio is one such place. A not so sleepy little enclave on the shores of Lake Erie, where it is always magnificently mid-century. Geneva-on-the-Lake as a destination dates back to 1869, when Cullen Spencer and Edward Pratt purchased land on Lake Erie, and opened a public picnic park with beach access. Soon people started camping at the park, which was seen as an escape from the surrounding smog filled industrial cities of the day. It even…
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Baltic Mill Winery- Baltic, OH
Winery tasting rooms come in all shapes and sizes; some cozy, some rustic, some all gleaming glass and concrete. Then there are some that are truly unforgettable, like Baltic Mill. As the name would suggest, the tasting room is located in a former flour mill; stepping through the doors is truly like stepping back in time. Originally constructed in the mid-1800s, and known as Troyer’s Mill, it was rumored to be the largest flour mill in Ohio. When the railroad arrived in town, it became possible for them to ship their product across the state, as well as the country, making it a very prosperous concern. That is until July…
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Ferrante Winery- Geneva, OH
As I have already covered the background of Ohio wine over at my Hundley Cellars post, I will skip right to the wine at Ferrante. It is…OK. For a family business, it is a huge operation, and more than just a little impersonal. I would consider it the buffet of wine tastings. It will get the job done, but probably not in the most elegant way. Don’t get me wrong; the grounds at the winery are absolutely lovely. I certainly don’t want to evoke images of the Golden Corral. Manicured gardens, vines and a pond surround their large patio. On the weekends, a band plays all afternoon. Additionally, they have…
