Kentucky is known for its whiskey. Certainly people doing the Northern Kentucky Payroll wouldn’t mind doing a slug. Many people don’t know is that there are many wineries in Kentucky. Certainly people doing Northern Kentucky tax planning wouldn’t a glass of Maggie Adams Blush, or Colonel’s Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, or perhaps a nice Elk Creek Merlot, or Elk Creek Petite Syrah. Perhaps a good wine from La Ferme du Cerf? The bluegrass state was home to the America’s first winery business. Wineries and vineyardsarea. Prohibitionwas the undoing of the business, forcing many vintners to switch crops or walk away. The last ten years has seen a renaissance of wine making. Kentucky has many lovely vineyards and some award winning wines. These farms and vineyardsis a pleasant place to spend some time.
Acres of Land Winery is on Barnes Mill Road near Richmond Kentucky. formerly a tobacco farm, it is transformed into vineyards and a restaurant. It producesaselection of wines. Chamborcine and Vignoles Vinerifa are a few of the regional wines grown on the farm. The near by is the River Valley Winery in Carrollton. Some of their award winning wines include the Vidal Blanc, a German style crisp dry white wine, the Medovina, a honey mead wine with a light clean flavor, or the Cynthia, a dry red table wine that has won multiple awards. These are just a few of the vintages from River Valley Winery. They have a sampling room and all their wines are crafted from Kentucky grown grapes.
Stonebrook winery is not far from Cincinnati located in Camp Springs, Kentucky. They have an award winning Vidal Blanc wine and use the Vidal grape for their private reserve. They produce wine under a separatelabelcalled Kentucky Orchard. Stonebrook vintspeach, pear, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry and cabernet Sauvignon wine. The vineyardhold special events and a gourmet dinner once a month. Elk Creek winery is located near Owenton Kentucky, central located to Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. It is the biggest winery in Kentucky and is a popular destination winery. In addition to having a long list of award winning wines, the vineyard has a bed and breakfast, spa services, an art gallery, cooking classes, and live entertainment on weekends in the Winery and a concert series outside during the summer. Some of the award winning vintages are; the Reserve Syrah, the Cabernet, the Bone Dry Red, the Pinot Grigio, the Vidal Blanc and the Ghostly White. Elk Creek offers a varietyof accommodations and entertainment.
Chrisman Mill Vineyards is located in Nicholasville Kentucky. They have been producing and bottling wine since 1999. They only use grapes thatare grown in Kentucky. What makes for a more American vineyard then one that produces reds, and whites in bluegrass country. Some of their award winning wines include the 2006 Ensemble, the 2005 first vineyard reserve, 2007 Sweet Jessamine Rose and the classic Vidal Blanc, a consistent award winning wine.
Next time you are inKentucky, enjoy the rolling hills and the bourbon, but don’t miss out on the wonderful vineyards and the award winning wines.