Wine down in Cincinnati

One of the first things we did when our children left the nest was join a wine club. Why? Because we’ve come a long way from our college days and cases of Busch Light. Thankfully, our palates and wallets have come a long way allowing us to enjoy the finer things in life now. We enjoy trying new wines, beers, bubbly or trying new cocktails at various establishments across Cincinnati. Here are a few of our favorites:

Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club (any location)

For a monthly fee, you can be part of this popular wine club, too. Depending on which level you select, you can go home with 1-3 bottles of wine a month plus a free wine tasting. And, let’s admit it, the wine tastings are where it’s at folks.

Life hacks you won’t want to miss:

1. Ask for extra oyster crackers the next time you’re at Skyline Chili and bring them to your wine tasting. After (8) 2-oz pours, you will need food (and something to cleanse your palate, too).

2. Get there early. That’s okay if you don’t, just be prepared to stand in line and stare down anyone who is on a glass of red (signaling they are closer to the end of the tasting).

3. Bring cash to tip the amazing bartenders. The restaurant frowns against using Venmo for tips, but most of them do accept it. They are incredibly knowledgeable and will keep the glasses flowing. Over time you’ll find your favorite bar tender and they may give you a little extra in your glass, an extra glass of a wine you’ve never sipped before or will conveniently forget where you are in the flow and give you an extra tasting.

4. Never say no to the “barrel reserve” or anything labeled “Camille.”

We look forward to these every month and use them as an opportunity to catch up after a busy week. Bringing friends is always fun, too. Even if you don’t come with friends and use it as a date night, you will undoubtedly meet the people who flank you. It’s a super friendly environment.

The bottles of wine are always a treat to take home. If you don’t like what they are serving up one month, you can exchange the bottle for another of your choice. Just note, there may be an upcharge for some bottles.

Wine Not Wine Bar (Symmes Township)

Living in the suburbs, this bar is a welcome oasis. This classy establishment is well appointed and feels like your best friend’s cozy living room. The owners, Mark and Jonathan, have done an incredible job with the space in this suburban strip mall.

What do we love about this place besides the ambiance?

1. You can get flights of wine or share a bottle. The bartenders will get to know you over time and remember you favorites. Hello, Cam!

2. You can attend a multitude of events from Girl Scout cookie wine pairings and trivia to ‘nights in white.’

3. The pretzels - oh the pretzels

4. Did we mention the bartenders?

5. They have delicious charcuterie platters and flatbreads

6. You can order food and bring it in or DoorDash your favorite. Some folks order sushi from Kyoto or Mediterranean fare from Lentils. Both are excellent choices!

Tell Cam we sent you!

A Bottle or Two (Symmes Township)

This great wine shop off of Montgomery Road has weekly tastings on Thursday nights, 4 - 8 p.m. They place tables and chairs around their collections of wine and people pour in. See what we did there? They also have professional sommeliers who pour the wines and tell you a little about where each one comes from and the flavors you can expect to experience. Their system is a well-oiled machine. Purchase the premium tasting and it comes with a plate of cheese, crackers and French bread to enjoy, too, plus an additional premium pour.

Rosé Boutique and Wine Bar (Downtown Loveland)

Gettin' our drink on with some fellow empty nesters at Rosé Bar's pizza and wine pairing.

You can find this unique shop and wine bar to the left of Teak Thai restaurant.

This wine bar is different for many reasons:

 1. It’s a wine bar and a boutique

2. It boasts a vending machine tap where you can taste really expensive wines

3. They do amazing wine flights - you can pick from a few different styles

4. They create the most delectable charcuterie platters we’ve seen

5. They offer special events like pizza and wine pairings and more

Get your drink on, then browse the cool items offered in the boutique.

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These are just a few of our favorite liquid landmarks, not an exhaustive list. There are other fantastic wine shops, wine bars and establishments across the city and we fully intend to report back as we explore them. #EmptyNesterVibes

Check out our next blog “Beer up in Cincinnati,” coming soon.