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February 8th, 2010
Hat tip to the Cincinnati Enquirer for bringing this one to my attention. Elk Creek Vineyards is getting into the boxed wine business in a very unique way.
Kentucky Blue Box Wines are guaranteed to be a big hit with devout University of Kentucky Wildcat fans. Each box features a flip-up pong basketball hoop on one side, and a flip-up football goal post on the other side. And yes, a ping pong and football are both included.
Timing for this novelty item couldn’t be better with college basketball’s March Madness beginning next month and the Kentucky Wildcats ranked third in the country, definitely in the hunt for a National Championship run. Don’t think these wines are all novelty, though, as box wines offer unique advantages versus traditional bottles:
- More Green – Every single box of wine keeps 4 glass wine bottles out of land fills and reduces our carbon footprint by 50%.
- Fresher – Box wines stay fresh after opening, even without refrigeration, for 60 days!
- Better value – Box wines are usually less expensive for the same quality given less expensive packaging is used.
- Convenience – It’s much easier carrying around a box wine, especially when you’re headed to a sports party.
To order your very own Kentucky Blue Box Wine or for a list of retailers visit Elk Creek Vineyards’ website.
Elk Creek Vineyards is located in Owenton, KY, just over an hour south of Downtown Cincinnati. 502.484.0005
February 3rd, 2010
I thought this video was a nice compliment to Monday’s article on great bring-your-own-wine restaurants in Cincinnati. Our favorite wine show In Wine Country and master sommelier Evan Goldstein brings us some DOs and DON’Ts of bringing your own wine to restaurants.
DOs and DON’Ts of Corkage
February 1st, 2010
I love a restaurant where I can bring my own wine if I choose. I’ll even go a bit out of my way to visit a restaurant with a reasonable corkage fee (a restaurant’s charge to open and serve your wine) or a straight-up bring your own policy.
Now don’t get me wrong, I also love to patronize a restaurant with a fabulous wine list and choose from the great stuff they already offer, but sometimes the mood strikes to bring my own. Maybe I want to pull a bottle from my getting-to-big-for-my-kitchen collection, or a special occasion with friends or family calls for a particular bottle I’ve been saving. Bottom line is…I love to have the option.
In the Cincinnati area it’s tough to find the restaurants where you can be sure bringing your own bottle won’t elicit disappointing stares from restaurant management. To help ease your fears I’ve started a list below that I hope you’ll help add to.
Slims – Northside
Slims is one of my favorite Cincinnati restaurant experiences, because it truly is an experience (and usually not a short one…it’s part of the laid-back vibe). Amazing food, warm atmosphere and a BYOB policy with no corkage fee.
Hamilton Avenue in Northside – 513.681.6500 – Website
Otto’s – MainStrasse
Located in Covington’s historic MainStrasse district, Otto’s knows how to do simple food really, really well. 
The Greek Flatbread appetizer should be illegal. Pair it with whatever wine you want to bring for only a $15 corkage fee, or select from their wine list.
Main Street in MainStrasse/Covington – 859.491.6678 – Website
Suzie Wong’s – East Walnut Hills
Located where Seny used to be in East Walnut Hills, Suzie Wong’s so far has been getting great reviews for their take on Asian cuisine (check out Polly Campbell’s review on Cincinnati.com). They’ve applied for a liquor license but for now you can bring-your-own wine for a $5 corkage fee.
Madison Avenue in East Walnut Hills – 513.751.3333 – Website
Dilly Deli – Mariemont
Dilly Deli is such a fun place to have lunch or dinner…music in the evenings, kind of a sports bar during the day on weekends, and always really good food. Dilly Deli is a restaurant and wine store, carrying close to 1000 bottles. Although not an official bring-your-own wine spot, you can purchase one of their many bottles and enjoy with dinner for just a modest service fee vs. the standard 20-40% mark up at many other restaurants.
Wooster Pike in the Mariemont Strand – 513.561.5233 – Website
Vitor’s Bistro – Cheviot
Their take on french toast is what Vitor’s is best known for, but their dinner menu is pretty darn good as well. Vitor’s is completely BYOB with just a $6 corkage fee.
Harrison Avenue in Cheviot – 866.455.1020 – Website
Asiana – Oakley
Known for good sushi and noodle dishes, Asiana is one of those places you can drive by a hundred times and never notice. It’s a few doors down from The Wine Merchant if that helps. You can grab a bottle there and enjoy it at Asiana with no corkage fee.
Edwards Avenue in Oakley – 513.351.0999
It’s also good to be aware of good “bring-your-own-wine” etiquette before putting yourself in an awkward situation. The Food & Wine blog highlights a few great tips:
- Call the restaurant ahead of time just to be sure, especially if you’re bringing a large group and multiple bottles.
- Inquire about the fee, because corkage can get expensive.
- Never bring a cheap wine, especially not one that’s cheaper than the least expensive wine on the list.
- Offer the sommelier a taste out of respect.
- Buy a bottle for every bottle you bring at places that have a list.
I’m sure there are more great Cincinnati-area restaurants with a bring-your-own or corkage fee policy, so please help build a comprehensive list by adding a comment below.
So drink up at our great local restaurants…and then call a cab!
January 27th, 2010
The Cincy Winter Beer Fest is this Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Downtown…and hopefully you already have your tickets in hand.
The 3rd annual event has turned out to be a very hot ticket with all the VIP tickets already sold. A few more General Session tickets, however, have been released at $40 each. Snatch them up quickly by visiting www.beerfesttickets.com. The General Session runs from 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM…or until the beer runs out.
The beer list is pretty impressive for this year’s event with 140 bottles and drafts offered to attendees. Some of the Cincinnati-area beers being poured include:
If you have a ticket…enjoy! Looks like it will be the best Cincy Winter Beer Fest yet.
January 25th, 2010
It seems as though “weekly” wine news has turned into “monthly” wine news! It’s been a few weeks since our last dance around the world of wine but this week we’re getting back on track. As always these are the stories and headlines that caught our attention in the world of wine.
Photo by Roblisameehan
Killer Wine App
Full transparency…this article isn’t about an actual new killer phone app, but it’s still a great read. Matt Kramer of Wine Spectator writes how wineries should be doing a better job telling the stories of their wines to potential customers, vs. relying on magazines, blogs and other sources to do so for them. He points out mobile as a huge opportunity. I agree..and add social media and fantastic web presence to that as well. Your thoughts?
Mother Nature Throwdown. The 2009 Vintage Report
Nancy Bentley of Kinkead Ridge Winery talks about the extremely tough 2009 vintage, driven by an unusually damp and cold summer.
Wine Predictions for 2010
Tim Elliot of Wine Cast makes a few interesting and bold predictions that tie nicely to the Killer Wine App article above: wineries going mobile and integrating social media are both included. His boldest prediction…a major wine pub folds!
New York Governor reopens supermarket wine sales debate
Next time you grab a bottle of wine from a local convenient or grocery store be thankful. Not happening in New York where wine can only be sold in licensed liquor stores. From Decanter.com…NY Governor David Paterson is trying to get that law changed to alleviate a $7.4 billion budget deficit. That’s a lot of wine.
What to do when they bring you the bottle
From Wine for Newbies, helpful article if you’ve not yet been put in charge of wine selection at a restaurant. Have to admit I never ask to feel the bottle prior to the waiter opening, but I should start.
Behind The Smoke: 5 Questions with Victor Gallegos of Sea Smoke Cellars
I have to try the 2004 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir. I’ve been hearing a ton of great things about this wine, so I was pleasantly surprised to come across this interview of Sea Smoke’s director of winemaking from The Wellesley Wine Press. You might recognize Sea Smoke from the movie Sideways.
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