DRINK

Your Ultimate Guide to Wineries

The best Midwestern wineries for the change of season

By Brianna Vacca

The crisp fall air pairs exceptionally well with a glass of wine crafted for your palate, so check out these must-visit wineries in Indiana and Ohio.

Urban Vines With berries, strawberries, apples and grapes sourced from honorable farmers and vineyards, Urban Vines Winery & Brewery in the heart of Westfield, Indiana, offers an assortment of luscious wines matched with award-winning charcuterie boards, tasty plates and live music. Reserve a fire pit, cozy up with your favorite sweater and let the wine do the talking.

What to try: Carnival Candy Wine, Pink Magic, Chocolate Covered Cherry, PB&J.

Daniel’s Vineyard This complete production winery started by husband-and-wife team Daniel and Kimberley Cook is outfitted with an event venue for many different gatherings and a private wine club. Located in McCordsville, Indiana, it is furnished with a list of red and white wines and more than 14,000 grapevines rooted in the soil of Indiana that have since blossomed through the maturity of the vineyards.

What to try: Harvest Pear Rose, Racing Rose, Pumpkin Spice Blanc, Citrine Pet-Nat.

Fruit Hills Winery and Orchard Dreamed up by David and Michele Muir in 2010, Fruit Hills Winery and Orchard is based in Bristol, Indiana. Located on two acres of David’s family farm since 1852, the family-friendly farm winery is recognized for its five-star Traminette — Indiana’s signature grape and composite unfolds a splash of white wine mixed with doses of aroma akin to its predecessor, Gewurztraminer. More recently, Fruit Hills released a vigorous red Petite Pearl and a collection of fruity wines, including a delicate apple wine intertwined with cherry juice to entreat a savory flavor. So, submerge yourself in a glass of red or white, perhaps both, and appreciate the scenic fruit hills of Bristol and a whole lot of love.

What to try: Marquette, Tempranillo, Malbec, Petite Pearl Rose, Black Velvet, Traminette, Brianna.

Laurello Vineyards Nuzzled in the heart of the Grand Valley of Geneva, Ohio, Laurello Vineyards landed the Best Winery Award on the Cleveland Hot List Best of 2020. Laurello specializes in a vintage palate and

Brianna Vacca is a new contributor to Hope Magazine. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is a lifestyle + entertainment writer who loves music more than the next and will end the day right with a true crime documentary.

single-varietal wines with a shy dose of astringency and flavorful symmetry. They are made from grapes grown locally in Northern Ohio, appearing in their signature off-dry Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Christopher Meritage Blend and other hand-crafted wines aged in French oak barrels. In addition to their blends, Laurello produces top-notch ice wines, such as their finest habanero ice wine, Simply Mad, and their Platinum Medal Award–winning Sweet Genevieve.

What to try: Montepulciano, Josephine. Connie’s Blush, CASK 1020, Cosmo Bourbon Barrel Aged Dry Red, Simply Mad, Sweet Genevieve.

Valley Vineyards With more than 45 years of experience, 20 wines, craft beers and steak cookouts, Valley Vineyards has only one thing in mind: turning moments into memories. The all-in-one winery, brewery and restaurant is located in Morrow, Ohio, a short distance from Little Miami River. Valley Vineyards supports vineyards in the Ohio Valley region, Northern Ohio and a number of locations on the East and West Coasts. They produce the wine on location using favored grenache, catawba, blue eye, cabernet, franc and sauvignon grapes. Each glass is brimmed with joy and laughter.

What to try: Niagara, White Reflections, Honey Mead, Pink Catawba, Hillside Red.

Hartland Winery Located in the heart of Ashley, Indiana, Hartland Winery hosts wine tastings stocked with more than 18 wines fashioned for your taste buds. Composed of regionally grown grapes, including grapes grown right outside their door, Hartland offers a sweet-bitter line of wines designated for a variety of taste profiles that can be ordered online and shipped to your doorstep. Couple your tasting with homemade food from The Kitchen at Hartland Winery.

What to try: Gabby Tabby Blush, Lustrum, Fox Hollow Reserve.

Hundley Cellars Hundley Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Harpersfield Township, Geneva, Ohio, that overlooks acres of vineyards, forestry and pastoral fields right in the heart of Grand River Valley. Hundley offers warm welcomes with outdoor deck seating or wood-burning fireside seating a glass of Hundley’s popular Blonde Ambition, named after the two main ladies of the Hundley household, Nana and Sis, who cherish a delicate white on ice.

What to try: Blonde Ambition, Endless Summer,

Pink Camo, Blue Bucket, and The Baron. Z