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On Ohio's Lake Erie Wine Trail: Mon Ami Winery

July 10, 2012 at 5:24 PM | by | Comment (1)

Everybody knows the Wine Trails of Napa/Sonoma, Argentina, the Loire Valley and, more recently, NY's Hudson Valley, but this week it's all about Ohio. Yes, Ohio has wineries—lots of 'em actually—and we'll be sharing our favorites with you.

Today: Mon Ami Winery in Port Clinton, Ohio

First, some disclosure: we've been coming to Mon Ami Winery since our youth. In fact, this was the first place we (legally) drank on our 21st birthday, binging at Mon Ami's brunch and popping the pink champagne when Sunday alcohol sales began that day. All good memories that only continue as Mon Ami enters its 140th year of making and serving a range of wines in a stone building on Catawba Island, a short drive from downtown Port Clinton, Ohio.

Gallery: Ohio Wine Travel: Mon Ami Winery

Hitting up the winery for a fancy brunch is not the only option, either. They offer dinner in a formal dining room, or happy hour (4-7pm) on weekdays within the cafe, terrace and garden. For a quick taste, head straight to the wine store (there's no tour) and plunk down $1 per generous sample and tell Angel we sent 'ya.

Today, Mon Ami and Lonz wines are made by the winery we visited yesterday—Firelands. The range is large—11 whites, 4 blush, 10 reds, 5 champagnes and 4 dessert wines.

Tasting details: For $1 per taste, you can choose whatever wines you want and how many/few. There's no pressure and you do get to sip from a glass (not a plastic cup). In order, we went with: Walleye White, Niagara, Merlot (Californian grapes), Cellarmaster's Red and Sherry Pale Cream. There are also imported Italian wines available for $3/tasting and Mon Ami Ice Wine for $4/tasting.

Our wine pick: Cellarmaster's Red, for three reasons: it's only available here at the winery and not sold to distributors; it's not one we originally picked to taste, but was recommended to us after we admitted to not totally enjoying the dry Merlot; and it was really, really good. Also don't miss the Cream Sherry—a constant favorite of ours.


[Photos: Cynthia Drescher/Jaunted]

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Ohio wineries over regulated

For information or to take action on the duplicate and unnecessary over regulation of Ohio wineries by the Ohio Department of Agriculture please see; www.freethewineries.com or www.facebook.com/FreeTheWineries
Keithp001 on July 18, 2012 at 5:37 PM #Permalink

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