Reds and Whites in the Bluegrass
Here’s an interesting tidbit about the state best known for bourbon and thoroughbreds. Kentucky can claim the nation’s first commercial vineyard and was once a top wine producer.
Today that tradition returns and
Equus Run Vineyards in tiny
Midway, Kentucky, is one of the state’s finest.
Fifteen minutes outside Lexington, Equus Run is nestled within 38 acres of rolling hills in the heart of the bluegrass region. Tastings and tours are available Monday through Saturday, and the grounds, including a landscaped promenade complete with a croquet lawn and bocce courts, are breathtaking.
Through the fall season, Equus Run also presents two popular concert series, “Concerts at the Vineyard” and “Tunes in the Vines.” Mary Chapin Carpenter is scheduled to appear on October 2.
Winemaker and owner Cynthia Bohn, who grew up on a tobacco farm, now works in a renovated tobacco barn creating vintages using time-honored methods.
The standout at Equus? Most folks point to the White Riesling, a semi-sweet variety created in the German tradition. Try it with fruit, greens or fish.
One of the vineyard’s most unique offerings is a Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc de Noir, a rosé-style blend that Bohn says “started out as a mistake.” A stainless-steel-aged cab with just a touch of Chardonnay and Riesling, it’s meant to be chilled and enjoyed with just about any dish.
Other popular wines are the crisp and sweet Vidal Blanc and the spicy Merlot — and for just $2, you can taste them all in the charming stone tasting room or on a deck overlooking the vines.
And if you’re looking for something cozier, pack a picnic, buy a bottle and spread a blanket in the bluegrass.
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