Ohio winery tour

For those interested, I came across this in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07077/770091-37.stm

Has anyone visited any of the listed tour stops? If so, would it be worth the drive?

Lizbeth, first welcome to the forum you have found the best wine discussion group on the internet. About Ohio wines, I have tried a few of them but it has been quite a while since my last. I never found one that I could like so I quite trying. I won't speak to whether it would be worth doing, I see that they want you to shell out $30 for the privilege plus the cost of transportation or gas for your car. Usually on a winery tour the tastes are free, except for some really high end wines such as icewine. Personally I might just pass on this opportunity.

Lizbeth, we have exchanged some posts in the recent past and I was remiss in not welcoming you to the board. So welcome!

Not familiar with any of these wineries. There are a couple of wineries in the metropolitan Cincinnati area but I have not been impressed. They mostly do not produce vinifera wines.

In Ripley, Ohio, Kinkead Ridge produces a very nice Cabernet Franc (which sells out rapidly) and a decent Syrah. They also make a Riesling and a Viognier/Rousanne blend which I have not tasted but are in my cellar. As a testimony to their quality, you can find their wines on the lists at a number of nicer restaurants and at most Cincinnati retailers.

Usually on a winery tour the tastes are free, except for some really high end wines such as icewine.

Unfortunately, that is not possible in Ohio. The law that sets up the 3 tier system also mandates minimum markups. Distributors must mark up 50% on cost, then the retailers must add another 50%. So if the producer charges $5, the distributor must charge at least $7.50; if the distributor charges $7.50, the retailer must charge at least $11.25. This law applies to the tasting room as well. Retailers seem to calculate out that the one ounce tasting pour needs to be charged at like $0.50 each. Some charge less, some more.

[quote="MikeH"In Ripley, Ohio, Kinkead Ridge produces a very nice Cabernet Franc (which sells out rapidly) and a decent Syrah. They also make a Riesling and a Viognier/Rousanne blend which I have not tasted but are in my cellar. As a testimony to their quality, you can find their wines on the lists at a number of nicer restaurants and at most Cincinnati retailers.

Unfortunately, that is not possible in Ohio. The law that sets up the 3 tier system also mandates minimum markups. Distributors must mark up 50% on cost, then the retailers must add another 50%. So if the producer charges $5, the distributor must charge at least $7.50; if the distributor charges $7.50, the retailer must charge at least $11.25. This law applies to the tasting room as well. Retailers seem to calculate out that the one ounce tasting pour needs to be charged at like $0.50 each. Some charge less, some more.[/quote]

Mike, I wasn't aware of just how stupid Ohio alcohol law really is if they apply it to telling a producer that he/she can't even use tasting as a means of getting their wines before the public. I was aware though of the (doubling?) of price at each step along the trail from producer to consumer. Still the Canal Country Spring Fling producer(s) are IMO shooting themselves in the foot. I agree that as you state the law they would have to charge according to the law, but $1 to $2 per oz is pretty steep. My math is that if there are 16 wineries, and the charge is $30 per works out to almost $2 per pour, and I doubt that a pour is more than about an oz..

well, might as well chime in. i've never been charged for tasting in ohio; so this may b e a rationale from wineries who want to charge. i think the ohio wine producers have an 800 number. i'd call and ask about that. as to the quality: check out the websites of the various wineries and see what competitions they got medals in. if the only medals are for sweeter wines and you like dry, then go on to the next one. at some point you will have a list of wineries (or not) that seem to have quality wines you would like. this will tell you whether the trip is worthwhile.

a second point that was alluded to in the story is about whether the wines are in fact ohio wines. buying you grapes from elsewhere in ohio - or even just across the border in PA in one thing; buying them in CA - or having juice or even the wine shipped in, is another thing. i don't drink CA wine at all; but if i did i wouldn't drive to ohio for the privilege.

there are a number of ohio wines i've enjoyed in the past - even the maligned hybrids - but unfortunatly i haven't actually been to this part of ohio. good luck.