New era in Kentucky wine is coming: 5 vineyards to visit, where to taste in Lexington
Bourbon may have gotten to the commonwealth first, but wine was quick to follow. First Vineyard Winery in Jessamine County dates back to 1799, giving Kentucky bragging rights when it comes to where America’s first commercial vineyard was planted.
Over the ensuing centuries, the state’s wine industry has lagged behind that of California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, New York and even neighboring Virginia.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t making strides, according to Tyler Madison, creative marketing manager at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
“Our 2022 Guide lists 72 wineries in the commonwealth,” says Madison, adding that that figure includes two cideries (both in Lexington) and two meaderies (Crestwood and Knob Lick.)
But does quantity necessarily equal quality?
“Kentucky wines still have a way to go,” admits Madison, saying that they are similar in quality to those found in Georgia and Tennessee, but are “nowhere close to Virginia or Texas.”
Still, he encourages Kentuckians to go out and taste some of the commonwealth’s best offerings and support local growers.
“I think they will be surprised by all the varietals available, from vidal blanc to chambourcin and how good they are,” he says.
For now, the greatest concentration of wineries can be found in the central and northern parts of the state, but expansion is moving westward, according to Madison.
“Purple Toad Winery in Paducah is by far the state’s largest winery,” he says, “and we hope to see more vineyards in that region producing gourmet sweet wines.”
The Department of Agriculture’s efforts are being aided by the University of Kentucky, which at its research vineyard at the corner of Nicholasville Road and Man ‘O War Boulevard is working to establish an identity for Kentucky wines.
Oenophiles should not expect Kentucky to start competing with California, Oregon or Texas any time soon, as Madison says the state’s focus is more on quality than quick growth.
“With one will come the other,” he says.
Wine lovers will probably have discovered their favorite vineyard, but if you are a wine-lover-in-training, here are five of the must-visit wineries, best in the Kentucky.
Prodigy Vineyards & Winery
Prodigy Vineyards & Winery in Frankfort has won an impressive four Commissioners’ Cups at the state wine competition since 2013. To compete, 75 percent of the grapes must be from Kentucky.
The winery, located in a rustic rural setting on the Peach Family Farm, has a food component as well. Guests can order charcuterie, cheese or beer cheese boards to accompany their tasting, and on Friday nights dinner and live music are on the menu.
4686 Versailles Road, Frankfort; 502-352-9400; prodigyvineyards.com
Harkness Edwards Vineyard
Harkness Edwards Vineyard in Winchester is one of the largest vineyards in the state with 10 acres given over to grapes that not many other vineyards are growing, such as Crimson cabernet and cabernet dore (both are a cross of cabernet and Norton).
Grab a glass and join them, especially for their sunset tastings. The winery also offers special events such as cookie decorating and wine classes and an Oktoberfest Night Market.
5199 Combs Ferry Road, Winchester; 859-644-5140; harknessedwardsvineyards.com.
Talon Winery & Vineyards
This Lexington winery is popular for its Equestrian Tasting Room and its expansive grounds where picnics are encouraged, and live music concerts are weekend staples.
Talon has a young winemaker, Will Mullet, who came up through the UK Distillation and Fermentation program, and is making wines that showcase Kentucky grapes such as Crimson cabernet, vidal blanc and chambourcin.
7086 Tates Creek Road, Lexington; 859-971-3214; talonwine.com
1922 House Vineyards & Winery
You’ve heard of garage bands, but have you heard of garage wineries? You will if you visit 1922 House Vineyards & Winery in Nicholasville, where the motto is “friendship and history is crafted into every bottle of artisanal wine.”
Two bays in the owner’s garage have been taken over for everything from production to tasting, making 1922 House unique among Kentucky wineries.
A tasting covers a spectrum of wines from a dry red to a barrel-aged wine that is the current best-seller to (coming soon) dessert and sparkling wines for those who prefer their vintages on the sweet side. All 16 of the wines are award winners.
FYI: 1922 House Vineyards & Winery is open Saturdays only from noon to 6 p.m.
3155 Keene Road, Nicholasville; 859-321-3533; 1922housewinery.com
Wight-Meyer Vineyards & Winery
Wight-Meyer Vineyards & Winery in Shepherdsville, just south of Louisville, is technically not in the Bluegrass, but who cares about technicalities when it comes to wine?
Bullitt County’s first commercial vineyard offers award-winning wines made from Kentucky grapes, and since the winemakers are into the science of wines and what makes one wine stand out over another, you can be assured of great quality.
340 Meyer Drive, Shepherdsville; 502-921-0267; wight-meyervineyards.com
Where to taste wine in Lexington
You don’t have to leave Lexington to enjoy a winery experience. Not with places such as Talon, Equus Run, Jean Farris, Grimes Mill and Wildside wineries. But say you just want to taste some great wine and are not into the whole vineyard experience.
It’s true that several local tasting rooms are currently closed for guests (Wine + Market and Luna’s Coffee, Wine and Butterfly Café will resume tastings in 2022.)
Still, there are a few places to quench your thirst for a buttery (or oaky) chardonnay or a full-bodied cab sauv.
▪ Liquor Barn offers free tastings at its two locations (Beaumont and Hamburg) every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. At the tastings, a wine expert will guide you through the specifics on each of the four wines poured.
921 Beaumont Centre Pkwy. #150; 859-223-1400 and 1837 Plaudit Pl.; Hamburg; 859-294-5700; liquorbarn.com.
▪ Total Wine has tastings at its two locations which strictly follow pandemic protocol. At each location, guests in the same party can gather around the wine table for a free sampling of four to six wines. The next group of tasters must remain a safe distance away until it is their turn. At the Lexington Green location, tastings are Thursday and Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
161 Lexington Green Circle; 859-225-9924; totalwine.com
At the Hamburg location, everything is the same except the Sunday tasting time is 1 to 5 p.m.
2321 Sir Barton Way Suite 165; 859-963-4185; totalwine.com
▪ Vine & Branch Wine Shop on Southland Drive is the new kid on the block having just celebrated its first anniversary. This charming wine room decorated with pottery and plants for sale along with the wine offers a curated wine tasting every Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Tastings include three different wines, and some tastings are themed, featuring wines from a particular country or vintner.
355 Southland Drive; 859-313-9742; vineandbranch.com
▪ Breeze Wine Bar in the Greyline Station labels itself as the place to go for “a curated selection of unique, natural, eccentric and small producer wines.”
See for yourself just how eccentric the wines are at a free tasting every Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Also, check their Instagram account (bbreezewinebar) for pop-up tastings with vintners.
101 W. Loudon Ave. Suite 164, Greyline Station: 859-407-1166; thebreezewinebar.com
▪ Cru Food & Wine Bar in the Summit at Fritz Farm takes a traditional approach to wine tasting. While they typically schedule a monthly dinner with a wine expert, you can enjoy their vintages on a daily basis by ordering one of their wine flights to go with your meal.
Cru offers six different pre-set flights featuring three whites and three reds. To give you an idea, if you order the “Everyone Loves Bubbles” flight, you will get two-ounce pours of Ruffino Prosecco, Gruet Brut Rose and J California Cuvee Brut. If you opt for red, go with the flight from a Land Down Under, where you will taste Catena Malbec (Argentina); Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz (Australia) and Faithful Hound Red Blend (South Africa).
101 Summit at Fritz Farm #120; 859-971-9463; cruwinebar.com
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 6:18 AM.