Ohio Wines in Athens
I spent the weekend with Ohio Wines in Appalachia at a farmstead, glamping in a caboose, while drinking honey wine. Can you believe a place like this exists?! Dutch Creek Winery has a laid-back vibe and they’re totally breaking the belief that Ohio wine is super sweet and mead is old fashioned. “Changing Minds About Mead” is actually their slogan. And they absolutely live up to those words!
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Paul and Cynthia have spent years and years perfecting their many honey wine flavors, made from their own farmstead apiary. In a state known for its wine and beer, which I happen to be a huge fan of, they quickly showed me that mead is on the same level. When I expected a sweet, syrupy sip, I got a delicious, dry wine instead. I really had no idea that mead could taste so good! My mind has been changed!
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While watching them bottle and label their newest winter flavor, I was able to ask Paul a million questions (thanks for keeping up with my inquisitive mind!) I wanted to know about the different taste of raw honey year to year (Even in the same location, one honey harvest may produce something more floral just because of weather and more local wildflowers at the time!) and why there aren’t mead vintages (honeys get mixed and it’s not regulated the same way as fruit wine). It’s a real small family run business over there and I felt right at home in the winery.
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There were small plates available, an outdoor patio, large rolling hills to explore and delicious cider made from their orchard. They even discovered an apple variety that is extinct! When they had the apple DNA tested (yep, that’s a thing!) and there was no name attached to the variety, so they performed some grafting and now have fresh new trees growing. I’m so curious what will come of that!
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I really hope that if you ever find yourself in the Athens/Hocking Hills region of Ohio, you check out Dutch Creek Winery and get a honey wine flight and the impressive cheese board. They will change your mind about mead! Check out the links below to plan your trip!
