Ohio Day Trip- The Wineries of I-76

Ohio Day Trip
Enjoying the Wineries of I-76
April 21, 2012

Of the many vineyards and wineries scattered around Northeast Ohio, a few are located near the Interstate 76 corridor between Akron and Youngstown.   While working on a project in the area, I noticed signs along the highway for a few wineries that I had not yet been to.  I was eager to try new places so Meg and I spent a chilly spring afternoon visiting some of the wineries located off of I-76. 

We decided to drive to the winery that was furthest from home and work our way back.  Our first stop was Mastropietro Winery (14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center, Ohio 44401).   Their property is lovely, on acres of quiet rural land with a small lake to relax beside.  The tasting room has plenty of tables, a large fireplace and a selection of wine-themed items to browse.  I was disappointed to find they were currently sold out of Riesling, my favorite variety.  Although they do serve dinner after 6:pm on Friday and Saturday nights, we were too early and decided to move on after sampling several of their wines. 

Nearby Myrddin Winery (3020 Scenic Avenue, Berlin Center, Ohio 44401) was our next stop.  Located on the shore of Lake Milton, the wooded setting is quite picturesque.  In addition to the Tasting Room, there are many outdoor seating options including a large deck off of the Tasting Room which, when completed, will offer even more seating with views of the Lake and surrounding area.  The owner seems very laidback and friendly, asking us about our afternoon, giving us recommendations and directions to the next winery on our agenda.   After sampling a few selections, we chose a table with a beautiful lake view and shared some delicious Spinach & Artichoke Dip while enjoying a glass of wine. I found Myrddin to be quite charming.

There’s always one winery that stands out because of the beautiful setting, delicious wine or quirky service.  The next winery stood out for all those reasons.  Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard (3272 Industry Road, Rootstown, Ohio 44272) is located on a family farm beside some railroad tracks hence the train-theme-named wines.  The tasting room is in the farmhouse with additional outdoor seating.  When we walked in we were greeted by a friendly young man with a fun personality.  In between making wine and music recommendations, he entertained us with sing-alongs and funny stories.  We sat beside the fireplace, enjoying  hot apple pie with ice cream while sipping glasses of All Aboard, a sweet wine, and Locomotion, a drier white.  Barrel Run offers a kind of homey atmosphere that is very comfortable and relaxing.

Our last stop was Viking Vineyard & Winery (268 Old Forge Road, Kent, Ohio 44240), also set in an attractive area with pond views.  In addition to a large tasting room, they also offer outdoor seating as well as a banquet facility.  After sampling many of their selections, we decided to share a glass of wine while snacking on a little bread with dipping oil.  As always, each of the wineries had their own unique personality and appeal.  We enjoyed each of the wineries we visited that afternoon and look forward to visiting again.