Wine can be daunting. Thee are rules, or at least there seem to be. Certain wines go with certain foods. Some are served chilled; others are not. There are wine "tastings" where people stand around and stare at their glasses, swirl the liquid around and smell it. Certainly nobody would do this with beer -- at least , not if they wanted to keep drinking.
With thousands of grape varieties and thousands more types of wine, finding your way to the right bottle can be complicated. It's enough to make wine novices toss the cork and opt for simple hooch from a box, or even a screw cap.
But if you're looking to leave the vineyards of Boone's Farm behind you, Greater Cincinnati is a great place to start. With wine shops in nearly every neighborhood and a vineyard right here in Hamilton County, you can find your way to the bottom of the right bottle and uncork your inner wine enthusiast.
stories by Gina Daugherty
photos by Leigh Patton
Ripening grapes hang from the vine in the archway leading into Vinoklet in Colerain Township.