Shade Winery is a local
Hocking Hills winemaker with many years’ experience in growing grapes and making good wine. Established in 2004, the business takes traditional methods and mixes them with modern techniques to make an authentic product that meets the highest standards.
As red wine fans, we take every opportunity to support local growers and businesses and enjoy a drop of Shade Winery Vidal Blanc as well as other varieties. Shade Winery grow their own grapes and also use local growers to provide the raw materials for their wine. It’s a local business that supports other local businesses and we’re all for that.
During the season, Shade Winery is open for tasting sessions between 1pm and 8pm Fridays and Saturdays. Here you can taste local wines and get a real sense of local produce and artisan wine making. It is an exceptional way to experience Ohio produce at its best and we would encourage anyone who likes their wine to try it.
To make the experience a little bit different, you can taste the wine with locally made goat’s cheese and crackers, local caught salmon and olives, or bring your own food. The owner, Neal Dix actively encourages visitors to bring food so you can get the best out of the tasting. To support the tasting, a new tasting room was built a couple of years ago, which includes an open fire, plenty of seating, a wraparound porch and access to the wine.
Shade Winery produces a range of wines, including their own Shade Winery Vidal Blanc. Others are made from locally grown grapes, including Parallel Vidal Blanc, Refresh Riesling, Multiflora Rose Chambourcin, Red Shoulder Corot Noir, Kestrel Chambourcin, Elderberry, Ridge Red Chambourcin, Dream Pink Catawba, Bobcat Blush Niagara, Cricket Legs Concord and Schnuckelputz.
Each has a distinctive flavor, character and taste that distinguishes itself from other wines of their kind.
Ohio only lends itself to certain grape varieties, namely, those who can take the cold. With occasional frosts and low temperatures during winter, only the hardiest grapes make it here. Many wine experts say that hardiness and exposure to frost adds a lovely character to the wine. Whatever your opinion of that, the wine does taste good!
Shade Winery intends to open more than two afternoons a week, but in the meantime, if you’re in and around southwest Ohio or Hocking Hills, the winery is well worth a visit. With so much to see and do around Hocking Hills, it may be difficult to fit a tasting into your schedule, but we would suggest, designating a driver and getting yourself out there as it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours on vacation!
