Sep 7thRecent Winery Visits

Getting my book out to the wineries has given me the opportunity to visit many wineries that I haven’t been to in a while. The end of summer is a beautiful time to visit a winery. The vineyards are at their peak ready for harvest. Many of the grape growers are covering the vines to keep the birds from getting to the grapes before they do. Go to my Winery Photos Page to take a look at the beautiful late summer views inside and out.  Hope you enjoy the photos from many of my recent visits.

Sep 7thBaker-Bird Winery

We were able to return to the Baker-Bird Winery for the first time in two years. I was impressed with the changes and renovations that Dinah Bird has been able to accomplish. Baker-Bird Winery is unique among the wineries of the state because it is located in the same building that held the winery owned by the Baker family in the 1800’s. When I visited in December of 2010 to interview Dinah, we went on the first weekend the winery was open to the public. Dinah was enthusastic about the winery, its history, and her plans for the future. Most of those plans have come to fruition.

Three German craftsmen, in the early 1850s, constructed a 40 by 100 foot stone building to house a winery for Abraham Baker, Jr. Baker and his son constructed a wine cellar. In 1860, when the census reported that Kentucky was the third-largest producers of grapes in the country, Abraham Baker’s wine cellar was well-known as one of the finest in the nation. Visitors can tour the cellar, as well as hold a special event there. The winery building was a commerical winery as well as being the Baker home. In the winery building, visitors can taste wines created for the winery by other vintners in the state.

The historical ambiance that greets visitors is appealing. With my lifelong interest in history, the visit was a treat.

Aug 28thSpringhill Winery and Plantation B&B

One of the nicest things about getting my book out to the wineries is getting to revisit the wineries and talk to the owners and winemakers. One of the most enjoyable of those visits was with Eddie O’Daniel at Springhill Winery. Eddie was one of the pioneers in the Kentucky wine industry and is one of the most interesting individuals to sit down and talk to.

When Eddie began planting grapes, he had to experiment with what would grow well because experts in other states didn’t know what would grow well in Kentucky. He had made wine in amateur competitions in the 1980’s. The Kentucky legislation in 1990 allowed him to finally open Springhill Winery in March of 1990. Springhill Winery continues to draw visitors who enjoy the wine, the visit, and hearing the stories from Eddie of the early days of Kentucky wine.

Visitors to the winery notice immediately the lovely antebellum Victorian plantation manor that sits next to the winery. The winery sits on the grounds of Springhill Plantation, formerly known as Anoatop, a plantation built in the late 1850s that has a Civil War history. The house is open as a bed and breakfast, with six suites that mix modern amenities with a historical setting.

Springhill Winery and Plantation B&B is open to the public every day but Mondays and is located just off the Bluegrass Parkway.  I recommend going for a visit.

Aug 25thLovers Leap Vineyards and Winery

We were pleased to finally get back to Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery for a visit. The winery is certainly flourishing under the new ownership. The thirty-three acre vineyard looks better than I have seen it look in years.  We enjoyed tastes of many wines, both those that have been around for a while, like Cynthiana, as well as a new white called Trifecta.  Brian and Carla Sivinski were excellent hosts and made our visit memorable.

If you are visiting the Lawrenceburg area, I recommend a visit. Their wines are available in many stores also, I suggest giving them a try.

Aug 17thWinery Visits

I have been out and about visiting wineries, sharing my book, and getting them into the wineries. Since it had been awhile since I visited some of the wineries, I thought I would share some new wines and changes.

Elk Creek Vineyard and Winery has released Estate Sangiovese and Estate Cabernet Franc. If you get the chance, you will want to try them. Both are very good wines.

Grimes Mill Winery has Malbec again. We loved the wine and were anxiously waiting until the new vintage was ready for the bottle.

Chrisman Mill Vineyard and Winery are currently out of Norton and Norton Reserve, but will have the new vintage ready soon.

Smith Berry Vineyard and Winery’s reds are excellent as always. It is difficult to choose between the Norton, Cabernet, Brother John, and Barbera when you want a glass of wine.

In the next couple of weeks, I plan to visit several others and will let you know what’s new.  I’m contacting some of the wineries by mail because of how far away they are; I want them to see the book and didn’t want to wait until I was able to visit. 

Look for a whole new photo gallery soon.

Jul 19thCedar Creek Vineyards and Winery

On a trip to Renfro Valley last weekend, we enjoyed a visit to Cedar Creek Vineyards and Winery. After a tasting and looking around, we sat outside enjoying both the wine and the scenery. Cedar Creek is located on a hill in southern Kentucky. In every direction the view is beautiful. Visitors to the winery follow a winding road through the woods and arrive at the top of the hill to view the vineyards and the tasting room.

The tasting room has a gift shop and a beautifully built cedar tasting bar. Jeff Wiles welcomes visitors who want to taste the wines. Their offerings range from the drys such as Maréchal Foch to sweet such as Catawba and Niagara. We were disappointed because the Cynthiana was sold out.

The Wiles try to work in harmony with nature by establishing native grasses and wildlife habitats. Their endeavors have created a picturesque setting to enjoy a glass of wine on a beautiful summer day.

Jul 19thSinking Valley Winery

Recently, I had the opportunity to return to Sinking Valley Winery for the first time since I visited when writing my book. We missed the road and as it happens that was a good thing because they have moved. The new location is just off Highway 461 in a larger building with the name written on the roof. Visitors are much more likely to find it on a drive to the Somerset area.

While missing the charm of the old Plato Post Office building where they were previously located, the new site offers the Burton’s the opportunity to have a wider variety of wine related items on display. One of their most popular wines is Prohibition Repeal Red, a sweet red featuring three collector labels depicting the beginning, enforcement, and repeal of Prohibition.  Also popular are their fruit wines such as blueberry and blackberry. For dry wine lovers, they have a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Zane and Amy Burton welcome visitors at this new location with tastings, wine sales, and unique gift items.

Jul 2ndSmith Berry Vineyard and Winery

Smith Berry Vineyard and Winery is located in New Castle, in Henry County. Those traveling on I-71 have seen the signs for the winery at Exit 34 for several years. The winery has made a name for itself it the state for producing excellent wines. It has been a favorite of mine for many years.

Chuck Smith and Mary Berry Smith have spent their lives farming, from dairy farming to tobacco to fruits and vegetables. They are still farming, now they are growing grapes. Their five-acre vineyard is made up of Norton, Chambourcin, and Vidal Blanc grapes. They purchase grapes or juice for some of their other wines.

Chuck has been making outstanding wines since the winery opened ten years ago. They offer a wide variety for wine lovers from dry whites and reds to sweeter selections and fruit wines. My favorites are Norton Reserve, Norton, and Barbera.

This weekend we spent a few hours at the Kentucky Renaissance Faire in Eminence. It was exceedingly hot, but we were able to enjoy ourselves as we always do. We decided to stop on our way home for a brief visit at Smith Berry. As always, our visit was fun. The winery has added Sunday hours and can now be enjoyed seven days a week. During the summer months many enjoy their concerts and dinners as well.

If you find yourself near Exit 34 on I-71 and have some time, I recommend a visit to Smith Berry Vineyard and Winery. You will find a lovely location, friendly people, and excellent wine.

Jun 10thVerona Vineyards

Most people spend a lot of time planning trips and choosing spots to visit while they’re traveling. Often we miss out on great finds close to home. That is what happened to me. While spending time visiting wineries in the state and in the region, I overlooked visiting a local winery.  After all, I could go there anytime. Saturday evening I finally visited Verona Vineyards. While it was worth the wait, I can’t believe I hadn’t visited sooner. The vineyards are lovely, the winery is located in a charming tasting room, and the wine is really good.

Verona Vineyards (Isn’t that a great name for a winery?) opened in the summer of 2011. The owners are Charlie Payne, his daughter Peggy Payne Montgomery and her husband Dan Montgomery. Charlie oversees the day-to-day activities at the vineyard. Peggy and Dan both have outside careers, but spend a lot of their time running the winery. Dan is the winemaker and is producing wines that visitors will enjoy. The winery is open to visitors on Friday evenings and on Saturdays. Special events such as Saturday’s Art Show are frequently held.

The vineyard was planted in 2005, mostly with Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc vines, later Dornfelder was added. Wines from those grape varieties are offered for tasting along with some sweeter selections of Muscato, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. The sweeter wines are made from purchased juice.

As a lover of big reds, my personal favorite was their Dornfelder. The Dornfelder is a relatively young grape variety having been developed as a cross of two other red varieties. It is one of the most popular red grapes in Germany. Dornfelder wines are a deep red with a floral aroma and flavors of berries.

On Saturday, we strolled through the booths of arts and crafts vendors, dined on barbecue sandwiches, tasted the wines, toured the winery, and drove back to the vineyard. We were welcomed by the owners and made to feel at home.  This won’t be our last visit.

Jun 10thRock Springs Winery & Vineyard

If you’re driving through Eastern Kentucky, you should stop and visit Rock Spring Winery in Grayson. The winery is located about 14 miles from I-64. We stopped in on our way to Virginia last month. Dr. John and Sue Bond opened their winery on their hillside property in Carter County in June of 2010. The views of the vineyard and the surrounding hills are definitely worth the visit.

Visitors will find an eight-acre vineyard, a lovely tasting room and an old fashioned barn used for events. They offer wines ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to plum and elderberry fruit wines. The winery is a great spot to buy a bottle and relax on the patio and enjoy the beautiful Kentucky views.