Going to be up in Cincinnati first week in June for my GrandNiece’s wedding on June 10.
What’s the wine scene like there? Any particularly good wine shops? Wine bars?? Any wineries in the area I should visit??
Tom
I like visiting the various jungle Jim’s, they have a pretty good assortment of wines some of which are well-priced and a wine bar (although I only had beer last time I went there).
Ohio has state minimum pricing on wine and thus in general higher prices than elsewhere. There are exceptions built into the law so one can find the occasional bargain. I grew up in Dayton and stop in at a friend’s store when in town but can’t help with Cincinnati.
I lived in Columbus and worked in the wine industry in the area for a few years. Cincinnati has probably the best wine scene in OH for sure. Check out HART & CRU and La Cave du Vin. It’s honestly a pretty good city for wine geeks, especially considering its location in the Midwest. Restaurants in Cinci also tend to have more thoughtful lists.
I think it’s partly because there are a few boutique wine distributors all located around Cinci, so there’s better representation for quality wine.
You must have then known Mitch Tallan there from Columbus. Haven’t heard from him in yrs. But he should be drinking well!!!
Tom
Jungle Jim’s is insane. You can spend an entire day there. It’s definitely a fun visit.
Their wellness/supplement department carries a number of the brands that I represent, but my associate rep visits them more than I do.
I have found some nice deals at Party Source across the river. Last time I was there think they had the whole PYCM lineup for sale at reasonable prices:
Yeah, that place is awesome and definitely worth visiting even if you aren’t buying wine there. The original Fairfield location I believe would be the one to visit. I bought a bunch of Millot GE there for US low pricing, so there are certainly good prices there too.
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Can you explain what that means? What a weird-sounding concept.
The linked document won’t let me copy so copied the google AI summary but the actual text is in paragraph 2 pricing.
In Ohio, the minimum markup for wine at the wholesale level is 33.33% and 50% at the retail level. This means that wholesalers must add at least 33.33% to the wholesale invoice cost to determine the minimum retail invoice cost, which retailers then use as the base for their 50% markup to determine the minimum retail selling price
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4301:1-1-03
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Wow. From the preamble of the law itself:
(C) Minimum price: This paragraph reflects the policy and intent of the commission to maintain effective control over the sale and distribution of wine, an alcoholic beverage, and to prevent abuses caused by the disorderly and unregulated sale of wine. Mandatory price markups: prevent aggressive sales practices that improperly stimulate purchase and consumption, thereby endangering the state’s efforts to promote responsible, and discourage intemperate, consumption of alcoholic beverages; eliminate discriminatory sales practices that threaten the survival of wholesale distributors and retail permit holders; preserve orderly competition; ensure fair prices over the long term; assure adequate consumer choice; and promote compliance with Ohio law and rule.
It’s been ten years since I frequented the city but we use to stop at a wine bar in the Hyde Park area by the name, Unwind. On a side street off the main road, very quaint.
Ohio has done this for as long as I remember. When I was little, my grandfather would bootleg liquor and cigarettes from Kentucky and sell them out of his house. Others I knew would make periodic runs to neighboring states to stock up. But most just accept it. My friend who has a wine shop in Dayton says it is great for the retailers as the state sets his profit margin and customers know this so don’t complain to him about pricing.
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I’m in Cincinnati at least once a month.
Hart & Cru for sure is worth checking out. I think Corkopolis went out of business a while back.
For restaurants, Pepp & Dolores has a pretty cool Italian list and food is good as well.
Tom,
I live in Cincy and we have a great wine scene!
Hart and Cru is the best. Kevin has a great selection of wines. Great atmosphere. If you look at their site online you can see their wine menu, can also buy anything off the shelf and drink in there.
If you have time to eat out make a reservation at Wildweed. Great food and a very fun wine list.
PM me if you have any questions or want to talk
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I also live in Cincinnati and second the recommendations for Hart & Cru and Pepp & Dolores. I suggest reservations at both on weekends. The housemade ricotta at Pepp & Dolores is fantastic.
Have fun!
Years ago (1990s), David Schildknecht worked at a store in Kentucky that I understood was near Cincinnati called the Party Source. When he was there, the store had some neat stuff. [Never went there but was on their mailing list and bought some wine from David.] Is the store still there and is it still good.
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David Schildknecht just opened a new wine bar in Cincy call Vinology a year ago. He also started the Cincinnati wine academy and does courses through there. I have not been yet but looks like a great place
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Wow. Interesting. I got to know David when he was in wine retail in DC before he went to the Cincinnati area. Great person to talk wine with. If he has a wine bar, I am sure it will have fascinating wines.
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Wow, that is awesome.
I can’t understand why Cincinnati is so much further ahead than Cleveland, but it is. Same limitations from the state but somehow way more interesting places.
I think a single store like Partysource can ignite interest and we have nothing like that here.
I would love to be able to see what Schildknecht’s wine bar is like…must be a treasure.
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