Whether you’re a part of the 21 plus crowd or looking for food and scenery, Athens wineries might be the next stop for Ohio University students and locals.
Athens’ wineries include Pleasant Hill Vineyards, Shade Winery and Dutch Creek Winery. Each of these establishments has its own story in addition to the food and drink.
Dutch Creek Winery, located on State Route 690, is nestled in the woods and specializes in honey wines, according to its website. Bottles range from $16.99 to $24.99.
The winery also offers pizza, pretzels with cheese and other menu items. Hours of operation are Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Vineyards, located on 5015 Pleasant Hill Rd., includes a variety of white dry wines, red dry wines, semi-sweet red wines, semi-sweet white wines, seasonal wine spritzers and sweet white wines. All wine bottles range between $18 and $28.
The Corder family, which includes Ross Corder, Sandy Corder, Nick Corder and Anne Corder, purchased the property in 2012.
“We bought the property and renovated the old house. It had a lot of horse pastures. There were some stables that were all renovated, (and) we opened as a winery in 2015,” Anne Corder said.
According to the website, Nick Corder originally worked in construction but wanted to join the family business. Both Nick Corder and Anne Corder wanted to enhance the culinary experience and artistic design of the winery.
“I think we’re one of the rare Athens businesses that picks up extra business in the summer for whatever reason,” Anne Corder said. “I don’t know if it’s tourism or local people getting out, but this month, really, things will start to pick up, and we’ll notice an increased business in the summer.”
Anne Corder said Pleasant Hill offers hundreds of seats outdoors for guests in the summertime. The menu includes appetizers like garden fresh house salads, hummus and pita bread, chicken artichoke dip and artisanal herb bread platters.
Brooke Elliott, a junior studying retail and fashion merchandise, and Alyssa Zuesi, a senior studying communications, both recently visited Pleasant Hill.
“I loved the outdoor experience at Pleasant Hill Winery,” Zuesi said. “I went on Mom’s Weekend, and we got plenty of appetizers and split a bottle of wine … I really liked their chicken artichoke dip.”
Elliott said the winery had “a pretty scenery,” and “it was a good picture spot and an overall good vibe.”
Wolftree Winery, just off of Swett Hollow Rd. in Millfield, offers 18 wines for guests to taste. Wine flavors include, but are not limited to, strawberry rhubarb, traditional aged oak mead and blueberry honey.
Foods like corn chips and chocolates are listed on the menu. However, customers are welcome to bring their own food for indoor or outdoor dining, according to the website. Prices are not listed on the website, but hours of operation are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday April 3 to Dec. 28.
Shade Winery on 401 Gilkey Ridge Rd. opened in 2010. One of the co-founders, Neal Dix, started to make elderberry wine from scratch in 2004 and planted grape vines on the property in 2007, according to a previous report by The Post.
Shade has a wide selection of white, red and sweet wines. A glass can range between $9 and $12, and a bottle costs between $28 to $33, according to its website.
Shade charcuterie boards cost $33, with calamari rings and tentacles costing $22. Other menu items include, but are not limited to, baked brie, caesar salad, classic burger, salmon and chicken pot pie.
Shade Winery is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
