This post is sponsored by The Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Come visit Ohio and try our wine! Seriously, it’s a thing here. Don’t believe me? Check out my recent visit to Camelot Cellars right here in Columbus, OH.
Did you know Ohio is the 8th largest wine producer in the U.S.? Kind of unexpected since it’s not the usual area of the country one thinks of when thinking about wine but 268 wineries call Ohio home! Ohio’s fertile soil and temperate growing climate are responsible for producing award-winning wines. For example, 216 Ohio wines earned medals in the 2017 Ohio Wine Competition, 92 at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, 40 from the 2016 Indy International Wine Competition, and Harmony Hill Vineyards & Estate Winery garnered silver medals for wines entered in the Great American International Wine Competition. A full list of Ohio wineries can be found here.
In celebration of June being Ohio Wine Month, I made sure to visit at least one. From Ohio’s lakes to its countryside, Ohio wineries each offer something unique and many feature restaurants, overnight accommodations, patios, live music and vineyard tours. Originally I had grand plans to venture out to Lancaster, Ohio to visit Rockside Winery and Vineyards because I’ve heard it’s beautiful out there and it happens to be near Rockmill Brewery which I’ve also had on my to-do list in addition to a couple restaurants and bakeries. But nature had other plans as it rained the entire day I had planned to do so. Instead I decided to show some love to one of the wineries right here in Columbus.
Camelot Cellars is an urban boutique winery that used to be located in the Short North but recently relocated to Olde Town East and if you didn’t notice from my photo above, they’ve won more than a couple medals. I love this winery because they have something for everyone from candy sweet to super dry. But not only do they make their own wine and offer tours and wine flights, you can also sign up for their wine club, rent their space for events, stay for happy hour and dinner, or even make your own wine! They always have something fun going on so check their event calendar to pick the perfect night to go.
Originally we had planned to just try a couple glasses of wine and return home to cook dinner, but after being enticed by their freshly made pasta by the same people who run Borgata, our plans quickly changed. Who wants to do dishes on a Friday night anyway? As for the wine, Bob chose the Camelot Sampler wine tasting which included Sonoma DC Chardonnay, Stags Leap Merlot, Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer, Italian Montepulciano, White Zinfandel and Australian Cabernet/Shiraz. Bob said it was the best Chardonnay he’s ever had! As for me, I chose the Pinot Noir flight because the owner suggested it would pair well with their basil pesto which I’m obsessed with. This flight came with Oregon Pinot Noir, Chilean Pinot Noir, and Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir which was my favorite.
As for the food, I had already visited recently with the Columbus Food Bloggers and as I mentioned fell in love with their basil pesto, so we made sure both of our orders involved pesto in some form. Bob had the Genovese which is house-made gnocchi with fresh house-made basil pesto – duh. I ordered the Antipasto Platter which was a spread featuring prosciutto di parma, salami, mortadella, and assorted Ohio cheeses served with Mediterranean olives, house-made basil pesto and toasted baguette slices. Yes pesto on a meat and cheese plate. Try it you won’e regret it. But it honestly was had to decide what to order because my last visit there were pretty much had one of everything and it was all delicious. Oh the joys of being a food blogger.
Which Ohio wine is your favorite? Show them some love on social media this month because the Ohio Grape Industries Committee is hosting a contest! To enter, share a photo on social media at an Ohio winery or enjoying an Ohio wine from a participating retailer and tag it with #OhioWine and #30CheersOH. Each day the committee will randomly pick a winner using those hashtags and give away something wine-related, including gift certificates, wares and souvenirs via participating wineries and retailers. At the end of the month all 30 winners will automatically be entered into a grand prize drawing for pizza, a winery tour and overnight stay at French Ridge Vineyards!
One year ago: Hot Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
Two years ago: Sourdough Banana Nut Bread
Three years ago: Funfetti Stuffed Chocolate M&M Cookie Cake
Four years ago: Everything Bagel Bites with Bacon-Scallion Cream Cheese Dip
Six years ago: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
3 comments
YUMMMMMMM.
I can’t wait to try out more Ohio wines, especially if it comes at all close to the beer scene.
What a cute little spot! Definitely moving Camelot Cellars up on my wineries-to-try list. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I had no idea that Ohio is a wine growing region. Unfortunately we don’t make it to Ohio very often, even though I have a good friend in Dayton. We have some good wine here in Texas, and have found very nice wines in Tennessee and North Carolina. Next time we’re in Ohio, we’ll have to check out a winery.