Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice sipper, the North Market’s Food & Wine Festival give you a great opportunity not only to taste great wines from around Ohio, but to get to know the people who grow and create them. It’s grown to be a very popular event, so I’m going to give you some tips on how to get the most from the experience:

• First of all, the basics: It’s July - it’s going to be hot. Wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. Take breaks from the sun to explore the North Market, and cool off with a scoop of Jeni’s ice cream from the booth inside. Don’t forget the food part of the festival, either! Curds and Whey offers a huge selection of wine’s perfect match: cheese.
• To get the most out of the festival, visit the Ohio Grape Industries Council ’s great website to learn the history of wine-making in Ohio (it goes back almost 200 years!) and to get tasting notes for the wine varietals that grow best in Ohio.
• Because Ohio has a cooler climate than more popular wine regions like California and Italy, you might not see the types of wine you’re used to finding at the store. Never fear! If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, you can try its cousin - Cabernet Franc. Gewurztraminer is a light, aromatic white wine with just a touch of sweetness. Chambourcin is a full-flavored red wine that is surprisingly light on the palate.  More common varieties that do great in the state in include Riesling (Ferrante regularly takes home national awards for its Golden Bunches Riesling,) and Pinot Noir (St. Joseph Vineyard’s Pinot is outstanding.)
• Do a little research before you go to seek out the wineries that make wines you like. For instance, if you like sweeter wines or wine made from fruit other than grapes, try Maize Valley Winery. If you like drier wines, seek out Meranda-Nixon Winery. And if you’ve never tried honey wine, don’t miss Columbus’ own Brothers Drake Meadery !
• If you really like a sample, buy a bottle right away and ask if there are any retailers in your area that carry the product. That way, you won’t have to wait in a tasting line again, and you won’t risk the vintner being sold out by the time you return. Bring a reusable wine tote to cut down on unneeded bags, and to keep your bottles safe from breaking.
• Of course, drink responsibly, and enjoy yourself!

Raven’s Glenn Winery
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I consider myself a bit of a wine connoisseur, so I was excited to hear about Raven’s Glenn Winery in West Lafayette, Ohio. I recently made a visit to the establishment, owned by Robert and Renee Gulliam.

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just learning, Robert and Renee make you feel right at home. Raven’s Glenn is family-owned and operated, so you will often see one of the Gulliams walking around and interacting with guests. Their goal is to combine award-winning wines with great food and an atmosphere that you will want to share with your friends. I believe they hit the nail on the head.

When you first enter Raven’s Glenn, you see a great gift shop filled with all sorts of gift and gadgets for wine lovers (I couldn’t help but buy a few things). In the middle of the gift shop is the tasting bar, where everyone has the option to taste dry, semi-sweet or sweet wines. My ideal wine is dry, but I did get to sample the Sangria, which was wonderful and would make a great drink during the summer.

During the tasting, Robert and Renee were there to answer questions while they told us about how they make their wines . My personal favorite was White October, which is also their most popular and decorated with medals from all over the nation.

Once I finished my tasting, I headed into the attached restaurant . The tables are adorned with red and white checkered tablecloths and Italian music plays in the background; the restaurant has an old country feel that made me feel right at home. With everything from lasagna to burgers, there is something for everyone. I chose the tuna salad with fruit, which was presented in a pineapple boat and was excellent.

Overall my experience at Raven’s Glenn was a fabulous one and I can’t wait to get a group together to go back. With a group of 15 or more , you can have a private tour of the winery from Robert himself, along with a tasting and free wine glass for only $5.50 per person. I don’t recall any other winery that I have been to where the owner/winemaker has so much pride in his work that he takes the time to do all the tours himself.

Raven’s Glenn Winery is truly an experience.