Wine tasting in central Ohio with friends...

Recently I visited Slate Run Vineyard with a few friends on a Saturday afternoon.  Slate Run is a small vineyard and winery that Keith and Leslie Pritchard opened in 1997.  They have over 58 varieties of grapes on four acres which allows Keith to do some very interesting things in his winery.  Slate Run is tucked off of Winchester Southern Road in Canal Winchester, OH.  After you turn into the driveway you will curve around to see vines that stretch to the back of the property.  Tucked in the center edge of the vineyard are the working sheds, small tasting room and a weinhaus.  The cozy tasting room has a large oval table that seats eight.  We sat down with Keith for a tasting on a crisp, sunny October afternoon.  A full tasting includes a taste of 14 wines and a glass to keep for $2.50.  

We had some favorites... Slate Blanc, '99 Premblage Reserve, Apple and Finale.  

Slate Blanc is a dry white wine made from chardonel and vidal blanc grapes. This was the first one we tasted and it demands that you pay attention with it's unusual mint and pine overtones. 

Keith had two Premblages for us to taste.  Their Premblage is a Bordeaux styled red that has very long skin contact time.  We tasted two years 2002 and 1999.  2002 was a cooler year and provided a vintage that is lighter with olive overtones.  While 1999, with hot and dry weather, provided a vintage with bell pepper and black cherry overtones.  

The apple wine was delicious particularly on a beautiful October afternoon.  This is their only fruit wine and it is made with a blend of three varieties of Ohio grown apples.  With a hint of cinnamon (which isn't added), it is a crisp, delightful apple wine.  

The final wine that we tasted aptly named "finale" was quite a wine to finish on.  This wine was made from late harvested vignoles.  And it was wonderful.  

Keith strives from complexity and finesse in his wines and that shows through.  

My personal favorite was the apple wine.  In fact tonight I think I'll have some the apple wine and a big bag of chocolate, oh yum!  

View my flickr photos from Slate Run