Sarah's Vineyard, Cuyahoga Falls (Post #1)

Sarah's Vineyard
(9 out of 10)

1204 W. Steels Corners Road

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223

(330) 929-8057

Sarah's Vineyard 

What's better than "going green"?  Drinking "green" wine... and lots of it!  Sarah's Vineyard prides itself on being an environmentally conscious establishment, all while producing some of Ohio's best wine.  The winery has a rustic feel to it: it's set off the road, resembles a weathered barn, and is framed along the back with a spacious deck that looks out into the vineyard.  This is by far one of our favorite places to go.  Especially in the summer. (Which is why this post is labeled "Post #1".  We fully intend to review again in the summer!)   

We arrived at Sarah's at 7:45 pm , a bit late for a Thursday- the winery is only open until 9:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday and Saturday, it's open until 11:00 pm, and until 8:00 pm on Sunday.  **Take note!  The winery is closed on Monday and Tuesday **

Although we knew that we didn't have much time, we capitalized on the samples that are offered at the wine bar.  

This is where the "green" part comes in.  Sarah's vineyard has a tap that is located behind the bar.  They dispense your wine out of a tap, as other bars dispense draft beer.  It's a

Why we love it:

1. We think that the wine tastes cleaner, and the flavor is more pure than bottled wines
2. Wine out of a tap saves on packaging which helps to reduce waste
3.   Less packaging keeps costs down and prices lower
4. A carafe holds 33% more wine than a bottle, but are sold for the same price!
5. Wine is free of sulfite preservatives that are normally used for bottling wine
6. It adds a unique look and feel to the winery

Sarah's does sell bottled wine, but their website proudly boasts that "ninety percent (of their wine) is consumed on the premises".  If you decide to buy a bottle, enjoy it within a reasonable amount of time.

Ok, now for the best part:  The wines!  We sampled four different kinds of wine, and ordered a half of a carafe of yet another.  The samples cost $.50, but they give you a generous amount (for a sample).  The wines that we sampled were as folllows:

• Blue Heron Blush: "An estate blend of Vidal, Seyval, Cayuga, Traminette, and Rubiana grapes all grown at Sarah’s Vineyard. A delightful and refreshing semi-sweet wine unlike any other you have tasted."" 

• One word:  INCREDIBLE!  This wine is one of our very favorites.  The grapes are all grown on site, and it is evident by the taste that they take very good care of their grapes!  This semi-sweet blush starts off with a sweet burst and mellows out very quickly.  It's refreshing, fragrant, and light.  Perfection for those who enjoy a Riesling or White Zinfandel.

• Painted Lady: A semi-dry blend of Riesling made from grapes grown near Lake Erie and from California. 
•  This is unlike any Riesling that you have ever tasted!  This crisp treat does not lead with the traditional sweetness of other wines of it's kind.  This Riesling would be perfect with fish or chicken, and would be an ideal choice for unwinding on a warm summer evening.

• Cuyahoga Valley Reserve: A rich and mellow Red Zinfandel made from grapes grown in California’s Central Valley, and aged in Oak.
• If you're like us, you prefer a white or a blush wine.  We had to try at least one red though, and we're so glad that we chose this one.  The oak, woody flavor was perfect along with the dryness of the wine.  The best part of this wine was the fact that it did not finish extremely dry.  

•  Hampton Hills Chardonnay: A dry and mellow white with hints of apple - from grapes grown in California’s Central Valley.
• The crispness of this wine was unbelievable.  A great white wine that isn't dry at all.  Probably the best Chardonnay we've ever had.

• Sweet Elisa: A not-too-sweet blend of Ohio Concord and Niagara that is fragrant and refreshing. 
• This is a favorite of many who visit Sarah's.  This is a sweet, fruity wine that reminds us of a girl's night out.  This would be such a good paring with a fruit and cheese plate.  We can taste it now!  Yum!

The winery walls are filled with art, and much of it is for sale.  The decor is rustic, and the staff is attentive.  Although it's still too early in the season for the deck to be open, we had a fantastic time.