Love the Reds at Hocking Hills Winery
It was a gorgeous fall day for a road trip to Logan, Ohio. It was an 80 degree Friday in October and it seemed like the perfect time to head to the Hocking Hills. After 18 holes of Putt Putt at Rempel’s Grove, lunch at The Olde Dutch Restaurant and shopping at the Logan Antique Mall, we decided to end our day with some tasting at the Hocking Hills Winery.
The parking lot was pretty full and I was a little worried that we would not be able to get a seat, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was worried for nothing. As well as indoor seating, Hocking Hills Winery has plenty of outdoor seating and we were promptly seated on the covered patio. We looked over the menu which included wine flights (as well as wine by the glass and bottle), a selection of beers plus charcuterie boards for those looking for a bite to eat. My friend opted for a Great Lakes IPA and I went for a wine flight, which included my choice of eight different wines to sample. Following are my tasting notes of the eight wines I tasted:
Vidal Blanc – This estate-grown full-bodied wine was very dry with tropical fruit tones.
Sauvignon Blanc – My favorite white that I sampled. I found this wine very pleasing and crisp with floral tones and citrus. For those that prefer dry wine, this is a great warm weather sipper on the patio.
Whispering Falls Rosé – I found this dry rosé to be exceptionally tart with an interesting aroma.
Pinot Noir – I enjoyed this Pinot Noir with flavors of strawberry, cherry and I detected a hint of black pepper on the finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Tart yet smooth with a delightful dark chocolate aftertaste.
Malbec – This one is a 2020 winner from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and I could certainly understand why. This was my favorite from those I tasted with a jammy mouth-feel, yet dry and crisp with a clove finish.
Petite Sirah – When you first smell this wine you might think it’s going to be sweet, but once you taste this luscious dry red you’ll fall in love with this smooth and velvety wine.
Sweet Chardonnay – I decided to finish with something sweet. I don’t often see Chardonnay done in a sweeter style, so I wanted to give this one a try. With hints of honey and lemon, this one was very light-bodied and would make a great summer patio wine.
After I finished my tasting flight I stayed to enjoy a glass of the Malbec and did some people watching. Everyone seemed to be having a great time drinking and enjoying wine with friends on the outdoor patio in a beautiful wooded setting. The wine slushies seemed to be a popular choice that day, which are offered in both peach and raspberry. I also noticed a fireplace on the patio, which would make the area nice and cozy on chilly days.
Before leaving I purchased five bottles from the eight wines I sampled to take home with me – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petite Sirah. I’m looking forward to popping them open in the coming months. If you would like to try the wine from Hocking Hills Winery yourself you can visit them at 30402 Freeman Road in Logan , Ohio or online at the Hocking Hills Winery Website.