Dec 31stHappy New Year! Have a great 2023!

Dec 24thHappy Holidays!

Dec 5thDecember 5, 1933

This was the official date when the 19th Amendment was finally repealed and Prohibition ended. Franklin D. Roosevelt is said to have remarked, “What America needs now is a drink!” It’s a great day for a wine lover to pour a glass and celebrate. Happy Repeal Day!

Nov 24thThanksgiving Message

Nov 5thPike Street Wine House – Cynthiana

Kentucky’s newest winery is unique. A visitor to Pike Street Wine House tasting room and winery in downtown Cynthiana would probably expect to be greeted with a tasting menu with selections of Runners Ridge wines. Runners Ridge is their nearby vineyards. But that visitor is in for a pleasant surprise! Pike Street Wine House is just that, a wine bar that features Runners Ridge wines, wines from several other Kentucky wineries, wines from selected wineries, both domestic and foreign, and ciders from a Kentucky cidery. You can also try some small bites, beers, and other beverages.

Meeting the owners, Skip and Janette Hobbie, and talking about wine makes the visit complete. Their vision was to offer their wines, but to also welcome visitors to the wine culture of the state. During our first visit we were pleased by the selections. Our selections were a Runners Ridge Prima Vino which was a delightful Cabernet Franc and a delicious Wise Bird Commonwealth Gold cider.

A bonus to a trip to Cynthiana is a lovely dinner at Biancke’s and a tour of the city itself. We enjoyed the mural featuring Joe B. Hall, famous former coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Cynthiana is a small Kentucky community with many events to welcome visitors.

Unlike most wineries in the state, being a downtown winery, their hours are Friday 4 to 9, Saturday from 1 to 9, and Sunday from 1 to 6. Pike Street Wine House is a good find and a great place to try a variety of wines.

Oct 19thNational Kentucky Day

October 19th is recognized as National Kentucky Day, the date when approval was given for Kentucky to become the 15th state in the United States.

A perfect way to celebrate is to toast the day with Kentucky wine.

Raise a glass, “Here’s to Kentucky!”

Aug 2ndKentucky Monthly

I wanted to share some exciting news with you all! Vineyard to Table Cooking with Kentucky Wine is featured in the August issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine.

Check it out. Kentucky Monthly is available wherever you get your magazines. Order a copy of Vineyard to Table Cooking with Kentucky Wine through my blog, ordering directly from butler books.com or at many of the states’ wineries.

Jul 31stChrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery

Bad news and good news are both coming from Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery in Nicholasville. Chrisman Mill was the first winery to open in the 1990s that is still operating today. But things are changing. Chris and Denise Nelson are leaving Kentucky and moving back to the Texas Hill Country where they met. We wish them all the best in the future years!

The bad news is that they are selling the vineyard and winery property, but the good news is that hopefully new owners will continue to make wine and spirts for the many fans of Chrisman Mill.

They will be open till early fall and are welcoming visitors on Saturdays until then. If you’ve enjoyed the winery over the years, you might want to visit and bid farewell.

Jul 31stVineyards in Summer

In the month of June and July visitors to vineyards and wineries are treated to views of the new grapes as they grow, but by the beginning of August those same visitors are asking why the beautiful grapes are covered with netting. There is a simple reason.

Veraison has begun in the vineyard. In vitaculture, this mean that the grapes are beginning to change color. During this period they are especially vulnerable to birds and insects. The netting protects the grapes from being pecked or eaten by the birds or have bees and other insects sip at the pierced grapes. This protects those grapes that will be producing the wines that wine lovers are anxiously waiting to taste.

So don’t be disappointed by the views. Your viticulturalists are simply protecting the future wine.

Jun 11thKentucky Wine and Vine Festival 2022

In an earlier post, I mentioned a save the date for the Kentucky Wine and Vine Festival. Saturday, June 18, is just around the corner. Wine lovers in Kentucky should be making plans to attend. The festival is being held at the Jessamine County Fairgrounds in Nicholasville.

For those of you who have never been to a wine festival, and by the way I have to ask why, a wine festival is a great way to introduce yourself to many wineries, taste a wide variety of wines, and enjoy a day in the sun. The Kentucky Wine and Vine Festival has a day planned with wineries, food trucks, craft vendors, and fun activities. Check out their website for participating wineries, craft vendors, a schedule of events, and a map of the site, https://kywinefest.com/