Earlier this year, Short North Winery Camelot Cellars won a Gold medal for its Vidal Ice Wine from The Ohio State Wine Competition. The award marked the 44th honor for the wine shop which is just over two years old.
Owner Janine Aquino began the business in February of 2011 and now bottles nearly 70 kinds under the Camelot Cellars brand.
“I’m a fourth generation wine professional,” says Aquino. “My family had a wine importing company in Manhattan for 3 generations.”
Columbus Underground is celebrating Wine Week with features on local wineries, wine shops, wine bars and more! This series is brought to you by Ohio Wines!
For her wines, Aquino continues to source juice from domestic and international sources, working with a winemaker who has been with the company since 2008 to develop flavors and blends.
The award winning Vidal Ice Wine is made from juice from Vidal Grapes grown in Geneva, Ohio that Aquino has been making since the beginning of this year. It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks for the flavors to develop and have it be ready for sale.
An ice wine is made from grapes that have been frozen on the vine. It’s a dessert wine that is unusually concentrated and very sweet. This variety shows lots of late harvest qualities with golden raisin, honey, caramel, and apple flavors and aromas. Ohio’s changing seasons and cold winters create the ideal climate for ice wines, although others can be made here.
“At Camelot Cellars, we like to educate people and have them try wines they wouldn’t normally try on their own,” says Aquino. “We are continually trying to showcase wines other than the sweet wines Ohio is known for.”
In addition to their shop in the Short North, Camelot Cellars is working to increase their production and distributing to Kroger stores and other markets. They will also be the first winery to be selling wines at the Jazz & Ribs Fest July 19th through the 21st in Downtown Columbus along the Arena District riverfront in McFerson Commons and North Bank Park.
“Whenever we win a gold medal, we are thrilled,” says Aquino. “Winning for our Vidal Ice Wine is an honor, especially considering all the amazing wines entered this year.”
Visit Camelot Cellars in the Short North at 958 N High St Columbus, OH 43201. For more information, visit CamelotCellars.com.
Photos by Walker Evans.
From July 8th to July 14th, Columbus Underground is Celebrating Wine Week, brought to you by Ohio Wines! Ohio has a long and proud agricultural history, and the wine industry is a significant part of it. Since the 1830s, vineyards have thrived from the Ohio River Valley to the Lake Erie islands. Ohio is now home to more than 160 wineries. Ohio winemakers and Ohio consumers have discovered the unique influence Ohio’s soils and climate have on the creation of fine wines.
We invite you to use “Ohio Wines Love at First Sip” at www.tasteohiowines.com to learn more about Ohio’s fruit of the vine. Whether it’s a local institution or a charming boutique winery, we think you’ll agree that Ohio wines are “Love at First Sip.”
