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When I think of the Colerain area in Cincinnati, I think of congested strip malls and chain restaurants. It’s a popular shopping area with craft stores, shoe stores and clothing stores. But, if you drive in the opposite direction, you will discover a charming winery called Vinoklet Winery.
The Ohio River Valley Wine Trail
Vinoklet Winery is part of the Ohio Valley Wine Trail and one of more than 300 wineries in Ohio. The Ohio Valley Wine Trail is comprised of 14 wineries across the southwestern part of Ohio. You can learn more about the trail here.
Location and Hours
Vinoklet winery is in Colerain Township in Hamilton County, Ohio. It’s close to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville, KY, and is only a mile and a half from the Colerain exit off of I-275.
Entrance to Vinoklet Winery 
Patio Tasting Area at Vinoklet Winery 
Vinoklet Winery Fountains 
Covered Tasting Deck – Vinoklet Winery 
Waterside Entertaning Area next to the Vineyard at Vinoklet Winery
The vineyard is open for tastings, Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 12:00pm and 1:00pm on Sundays. They are closed on Mondays.
Dinner hours are from 5:00pm to 8:00pm Wednesday through Saturday.
The Winery and Vineyard
Vinoklet encompasses 30 acres of green, hilly countryside in Hamilton County Ohio on the site of a former dairy farm. The vineyard was established in 1985 Kreso Mikulic, a native Croatian, who wanted to bring wine making to the region.
Winemaking was a part of life for Mikulic growing up in Croatia. Like most families, his made their own wine and Mikulic learned the craft from a young age.
He immigrated to the US and began a successful career in aerospace engineering. His love for winemaking remained, though and in 1985, he began Vinoklet Winery.
The vineyard now has more than 12,000 vines and grows grapes to craft Vinoklet’s 12 different varietals. Vinkolet bottles more than 20,000 bottles of wine per year and sells it in nearly 100 stores.
The Tasting Room and Outdoor Areas
The Winery and tasting room are perched on a hill with the vineyard sprawling out around it. The path to the winery is a tunnel created by a tangle of grapevines and lined with flowers. Once you emerge from the tunnel, you’ll find more gardens surrounding the outdoor patio. There is a gazebo with tables for enjoying the views of the vineyard and pond.
A stairway, flanked on either side by flowers, leads down to a pond surrounded by weeping willow trees. There is a large patio with seating, that is sometimes used for weddings. The sunsets are especially striking on the property.
Inside the winery, is the tasting room, restaurant and banquet rooms. The decor is reminiscent of a swiss chateau. There is a terrace room, with large windows that overlooks the vineyard.
Vinoklet Winery Tasting Bar 
Mural at Vinokley Winery 
Making Wine at Vinokley Winery
The Wine List
Vinoklet produces 12 varietals of wine, most from estate grown grapes. Wine tastings are $1.00 each or a flight for $12.00
Their driest red is a cabernet sauvignon called “Brother Joe.” This wine is rich and jammy, with hints of chocolate, oak and pepper.
Traminette, a dry white is made with traminette grapes, the state grape of nearby Indiana and a close relative of the Gewürztraminer grape from Germany. While Traminette can be dry or off-dry, Vinoklet’s wine is dry, with floral, apple and citrus flavors.
La Dolce Vita is Vinoklet’s best selling wine. One taste and you will understand why. It’s a dessert wine made with Concord and Chambourcin grapes. The concord flavor is not overly sweet though, and there is a soft pepper finish.
Sweet Jackie is the winery’s award-winning blackberry wine and the 2nd best seller. This fruit wine tastes like summer and your grandma’s blackberry cobbler.
Vinoklet Winery Traminette 
Vinoklet Winery Award Winning Wines
For the complete wine list, click here. Vinoklet Wines have won awards at the Ohio Wine Competition, The Mid-American Wine Competition, the Finger Lakes Wine Competition and more.
The Restaurant
Vinoklet is more than a winery. They also have a full service restaurant that’s open for dinner, Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Vinoklet Entrance and Restaurant Sign 
Restaurant Sign at Vinoklet Winery
On Wednesdays, they feature all you can eat spaghetti and meatballs with salad, bread and tea or coffee for $12.15.
Thursdays are rib nights- a half rack of baby back ribs with two sides and a glass of wine for only $20.56
Fridays and Saturdays are “grill nights,” where guests grill their own entree. The meal includes side dishes and a bottle of wine for two, as well as 5 free wine tastings. Entree choices are steak, shrimp and chicken. Reservations are recommended as these nights are very popular.
Visit their website at: vinokletwines.com
Events
Art and Wine Festival
For the past 20 years or so, Vinoklet has hosted an Art and Wine Festival at the winery. The event usually takes place in August or September and features local art vendors, live music, food and of course, wine. Nearly 10,000 people attend the 3 day festival.
Vinoklet Inspiration Wine – A Sweet Sensual Experience 
Vinoklet Passion Premium Sweet Blueberry Wine
Shakespeare at the Vineyard
In the summer, Vinoklet teams up with The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to host performances at the winery. In 2019, they performed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” on the stage (patio) in front of the pond. Admission is free and beer, wine and food is available for purchase.
Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, Corporate Outings
Vinoklet is a beautiful location for weddings, with romantic outdoor ceremony spaces and indoor seating for up to 155 people. They are also a popular spot for corporate outings.
With a full service restaurant and bar, Vinoklet is a winery for wine lovers and non-wine lovers alike. The next time you are shopping in Colerain, take a break from the crowds and head to Vinoklet for a glass of wine and beautiful views.
Outdoor space looking over the Vineyards at Vinoklet Winery 
Gazebo at Vinoklet Winery 
Vinoklet Winery
The next time you are shopping in the Colerain area, take the time to discover Vinoklet Winery. With great food, great wine and great views, it’s a must visit.
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Are you looking for other wineries in the Cincinnati area? Then check out our article on Meier’s Wine Cellars.
That is a very nice article about the winery, thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m looking forward to my next visit.