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Maybe you’d like to step outside of your white zinfandel comfort zone, or perhaps you already know the ins and outs of vino. For this year’s Wine Guide, we talked with several experienced Toledo-area business owners about their take on the old art, from ordering to tasting to wine country and back again.
Photos by MichaelNemeth.com
Majestic Oak Winery
13554 Mohler Rd., Grand Rapids, OH
419-875-6474
majesticoakwinery.com
What do you enjoy about wine?
It brings people together. The diversity of people we meet continues to surprise and inspire us.
In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers?
Wine and vines. Our winery offers a comfortable atmosphere where you can roam the vineyard, relax with a glass of wine and escape from the stress of everyday life.
How have your wine tastes evolved over time?
We continue to experience new wines, blends and pairings. We don’t think it will ever end, and that is the great thing about wine.
What’s your current favorite bottle, and why?
Currently it is our Cayuga White. It has a fresh, light citrus flavor that is fun. Our customers agree, and it has quickly become a favorite.
What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
Life is short. Order what you like, not what someone thinks you should drink. There are so many different types—try them all.
Firepit Grille
7723 Airport Hwy., Holland
419-724-4441
firepitgrille.com
What do you enjoy about wine?
Wine is relaxing and enjoyable. It’s great by itself or paired with foods. Either way its to be enjoyed.
In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers?
Nothing like a grilled steak with a glass of 14 Hands Merlot, or baked brie with a buttery Chardonnay.
How have your wine tastes evolved over time?
As you mature and your palate expands, I think your sophistication grows and your tastebuds evolve with flavors, aromas and spices.
What’s your current favorite bottle, and why?
Cakebread Chardonnay–love its buttery, pear notes. Black Stallion Cabernet is full-bodied, has some caramel & blackberry notes, and pairs great with steak.
What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
Order by what you like…not all expensive wine is the best!
Steal: Dreaming Tree Red Blend Crush, a smooth blend of merlot and zinfandel, $7/glass
Deal: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Light and refreshing with a citrus finish, $9/glass
Unreal: Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% Napa Cabernet from the Silverado Trail. $12/glass
Mancy’s Steakhouse
953 Phillips Ave.
419-476-4154
mancys.com
What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine? Steal: Antigal, UNO, Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina , $15 retail. Rich, lush Cabernet that outperforms at this price.
Wine is the perfect complement to a great dinner.
Mancy’s Steakhouse offers almost 200 types of wine stored at cellar temperatures, and they’re modestly priced. That is our best pairing.
They have become more broad over time! I really enjoy many kinds of wine.
Molly Docker Carnival of Love Shiraz. Currently, it’s offered by the glass at Mancy’s Steakhouse for $25. It’s an extraordinary wine at a awesome value, and it’s kept in our new wine cuvenee system which keeps the wine fresh.
Ask for a taste before you buy the glass!
Deal: Chateau Blaignan, Cru Bourgeois, Medoc, France, 2009 – great wine with our steak! $26 retail
Unreal:Sine Qua Non, The Naked Truth Grenache, Central Coast Calif., 2005. Their Grenache is amazing. $500-$750 if you can find it!
Flicks Package Liquor Inc.
3320 Sterns Rd., Lambertville, MI
734-854-2000
flicks4fun.com
What do you enjoy about wine?
I enjoy wine because every bottle is a surprise. No two vintners or vintages are going to be the same, so every year the market changes in new and different ways. The other enjoyable aspect of wine comes from its versatility; pairing a Cabernet with a steak or a Chardonnay with some crab will bring out subtleties and nuances to light that would otherwise go unnoticed.
In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers?
The best dry wine pairing I can imagine in our store is the 90+ Malbec with our dark chocolate-covered Michigan cherries. The bitter flavors of the dark chocolate and tart cherries on the palate with a generous sip of 90+ Malbec balance each other out perfectly. For a sweet wine drinker, I would highly recommend the Centorri Moscato d’Pavia with a nice gingerbread cookie.
How have your wine tastes evolved over time?
My taste for wine has evolved from a simple thought process of assuming all wine varietals of a particular style all taste the same, when in fact, they vary greatly from vintage, and based on the terroir of the region in which the grapes are grown.
What’s your current favorite bottle, and why?
Justin Cabernet, for the simple fact that for the shelf price versus the quality of wine you are getting makes it a relative steal.
What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
When ordering wine in a restaurant or bar, I suggest sticking to the wine that you know best and trust the most. Wine menu prices are a fair amount more than what you would pay at the store, so it is not worth the risk to spend an inflated price on a glass of wine that is not right for you. Save your adventurous attitude for the store—if nothing else, you won’t pay an over-the-top price for a bottle that you are not sure about.
La Scola Italian Grille
5375 Airport Hwy.
419-381-2100
lascolaitaliangrill.com
What do you enjoy about wine?
I have a great passion for food and wine. For me the two were made to go together, and I love pairing them for wine dinners and tastings.
In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers?
Our list is 85 percent Italian wines. So I would say all of our Italian reds and whites with our whole menu.
Have you traveld to wine country?
I have been fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Italy, spending time with the actual wine-makers that I have on my list at La Scola. What I took away from the experience is the passion that they have for the wine they make and the life they live. They are very laid back and take life slowly; it was refreshing.
What’s your current favorite bottle, and why?
Shafer Relentless (a Syrah/Petit Syrah blend), because I think it is the perfect bottle, hands-down.
What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
I order what I think is going to compliment my meal.
Dégagé Jazz Cafe
301 River Rd., Maumee What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
419-794-8205
degagejazzcafe.com
It’s relaxing and tasty. And there is always something to learn about wine every day!
Hensley Napa Cabernet. It has a slight smoke finish to pair with our Ribeye or our Filet & Smoke, which is finished on a cedar-wood plank.
I’ve started out liking big, bold red wines, but now I can appreciate nice white wines and exotic red grapes.
Leviathan 2011 California Red Wine; a Cabernet – Syrah – Cab Franc – Merlot blend. It is very complex and bold. You can taste the layer of grapes. It’s fruit-forward with a French oak finish.
Ask for a taste. You don’t have to go for the most expensive bottle. There are fantastic mid-range wines out there. Ask your waiter or bartender for advice.
Paula Brown Shop
912 Monroe St. What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? Have you traveled to wine country? Steal: La Linda Malbec, $11.99
419-241-8100
paulabrownshop.com
(Peter): Primarily the health benefits, but good wine tastes great, too. Wine is so interesting. Some wineries are still traditional, then there are others, like Bonny Doon (in Davenport, CA), who are making wine outside of the box. You also have established wineries doing the unexpected.
A monogrammed Simon Pearce champagne chiller with any great bottle of wine—maybe Dom Perignon Champagne.
I’ve been fortunate to have access to many wines, since we’re in the trade. I’ve become a real fan of rich, bold zinfandels. On the other hand, I am equally drawn to sparkling wines, specifically champagne. Both champagne and zinfandels are under-appreciated. Champagne is one of the most food -friendly wines. Zins are so good with red meats, like steaks or hamburgers.
Anything from the Ridge Winery (Sonoma County, CA). Specifically, my favorite is their Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon. Every year, Ridge produces great wines, and the Monte Bello is their best. For special occasions, we will open a bottle for family and friends.
We have visited Napa and Sonoma several times. Every trip has been better than the last. Being in the trade, we have had the chance to learn about wines first-hand, from the producers themselves, and this is so valuable. These interactions help us to educate our customers.
Deal: Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay, $28.99 (consistently ranked as one of the top wines in the world)
Unreal:Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, $165.00
Rockwell’s Steak House
27 Broadway St. What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? Have you ever traveled to wine country? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
419-243-1302
mbaybrew.com
Wine is relaxing and pairs well with many foods.
Girard Petit Sirah with Colorado Porterhouse Lamp Chops.
Oh yes—Napa offers the best of America, wine, glassware, china, seafood, beef and veggies.
Opus One because I enjoy the smoothness and flavor.
Regardless of what you have heard, order what you like and know and are comfortable with.
Ye Olde Durty Bird
2 S. St. Clair St. Have you ever traveled to wine country? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
419-243-2473
yeoldedurtybird.com
Yes, I have been to Sonoma California. Being there in the vineyards, really gave me a whole new respect and understanding for all wines. Being there, I also got to experience every aspect of making and enjoying wine!
At the moment, I would say our Lamb Burger grilled medium, topped with marinated Greek vegetables, tzatziki sauce and feta cheese, paired with Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.
In my experience I have found that most people start out with the lighter-tasting wines, and as their palate ages they move on to a full body or drier wines.
Ménage á Trois Merlot from California. As the seasons change, I enjoy a nice medium red during the winter months.
I always look at where the wine comes from. Always sample the bottle before buying, and never hesitate to try a new vintage!
Rosie’s Italian Grille
606 N. McCord Rd. In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? Have you traveled to wine country?
419-392-2812
rosiesitaliangrille.com
Hands down, our grilled baby lamb chops paired with Mettler Cab is my favorite! But, our Old World crust pizzas and classic Italian pastas go great with the Piccini “Memora” red blend from Italy and the Villa Pozzi Nero d’Avola from Sicily. They are a close second for me.
I guess I’ve come a long way. My pallet has evolved to really enjoy the rich bodied reds and the jammy old-vine Zins which are abundant on my wine list.
If it were my or my wife’s birthday I would choose Joseph Phelps Insignia, 2006 from Napa Valley. (But I wouldn’t tell Betsy what it costs.) This wine is deeply colored, flavors of black cherry, has great legs and finishes with well-balanced tannins.
I have had the great pleasure of traveling to Italy and Sicily several times and was lucky enough to get to visit Gabbiano, Antinori, and Castello Banfi. The rich history and true art of their craft in winemaking left me in awe and aching to return to these beautiful places.
Domo Sushi
6725 W. Central Ave. What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? Have you traveled to wine country? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine? Steal: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, $30
419-214-0999
Facebook.com/DomoDomoSushi
I love wine because it acts as a unifier. It brings together great flavors, great friends, and great minds.
I enjoy our Seared Tuna appetizer with La Crema Chardonnay. The woodiness of the wine walks a nice line between the freshness of the fish and the creaminess of the sauces.
When I was younger, I used to think that reds were only for pasta, and whites were only for housecleaning! Now I wouldn’t think twice about pairing a nice Pinot Noir with a Hot Love roll, or a Pinot Grigio with a nice plate of sashimi.
I have, and I still can’t get over the view from the hills over the vineyards. It is definitely a learning experience, and it taught me never to make assumptions about wine. Each one is truly unique.
I don’t know where I heard it, but I was once told never to buy a bottle of wine under $20 that had an animal on the label. I’ve stuck to it, and it hasn’t steered me wrong yet!
Deal: Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, $48
Unreal: Darioush Cabernet, $140
Poco Piatti
3155 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? Have you traveled to wine country? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
419-931-0281
pocopiatti.com
I love how subjective it is. That's why it pairs so well with food. A good wine is a wine you enjoy.
Black Stallion Napa Cabernet and Grilled Baby Lamb Chops
I’ve been to Napa and Sonoma as well as the wine region in Lebanon. The biggest takeaway I would have from those regions is that it is no surprise that what comes from them tastes so good. They are some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Chateau Kefraya Comte D’M. Being Lebanese, I am partial to Lebanese wines, and this is the best.
You should order wine like you order food. If you tend to try new food items, then push your envelope on the wine, too. If you tend to order more conservative or recognizable items, then go for wines you know as well. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Veritas Cork & Craft
505 Jefferson Ave. What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine? Have you traveled to wine country? Steal: 2010 Chateau Davril Bordeaux, a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend
(419) 214-9463
veritastoledo.com
I love the social aspects of wine—hanging out with a group of friends, etc.
It’s not about me; we offer literally something for everyone.
Well, I can appreciate many different styles of winemaking, as well as many different varietals.
Throw away the books that tell you what you should drink with the type of meal that you are serving. Simply drink what you like, when you like. Life is short.
Yes. There are so many artists that grow, cultivate and develop the millions of different wines. Everyone thinks that winemaking is such a glamorous career path; it’s actually hard work, long hours, and hopefully Mother Nature smiles down upon them all the while.
Deal: 2010 Alto Moncayo Veraton, 100% Garnacha, fantastic with roasted lamb!
Unreal:2010 Diamond Creek Bed Rock Terrace Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, an amazing bottle that can be cellared until 2015.
Manhattan’s Restaurant
1516 Adams St. What do you enjoy about wine? In your opinion, what’s the best pairing your establishment offers? How have your wine tastes evolved over time? What’s your current favorite bottle, and why? What’s a good rule of thumb for ordering wine?
419.243.6675
manhattanstoledo.com
I enjoy all of the different types, flavors, and smells that wine has.
I personally enjoy the Garnet Pinot Noir with our New York Strip. It pairs perfectly with the black garlic bordelaise that is drizzled over the braised wild mushrooms that come with the steak. The smell alone makes your mouth water!
I hate to say it, but I’ve definitely gotten a little snobby when it comes to wine. I’ve gotten spoiled working at a restaurant that has such great wine and has monthly tastings.
My current favorite wine is the Cyrus 2010 from Alexander Valley. Its a rich, complex wine with dark fruit notes, spice, oak, vanilla and cocoa. It pairs well with food and is very drinkable by itself.
Be open minded, and know that the best wine is the wine you like.
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