Ohio wine country in the Fiat

[kristoj]

Before you west coast guys busts my chops, Ohio wine country is not an oxymoron. There actually IS a wine growing region in Ohio. I was extremely skeptical as well, which is why it took me three years to agree to make this trip with my wife. But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The wine region we visited is on the eastern shores of Lake Erie where Ohio and Pennsylvania meet. It is most noted for the ice wines and the sweeter Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. And I do not like sweet wine...at all. But we managed to find several wineries that were also producing dry reds -- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and others. I have to say several of them were not only drinkable, but actually quite good.

But enough about the wine. How about the drive??? We covered about 300 miles over two days without ever jumping on a freeway, or four-lane road for that matter. The weather was beautiful here this weekend, the vineyards were picturesque, and the wine was really good. Friday night one of the vineyards had a blues band that was incredible. The car ran perfectly and the sunny, high 70s weather with the top down the whole time was just sublime. We also drove across three covered bridges, including the longest one in the state. And the turbo really came in handy to get by the farm equipment and Amish buggies on those 300 miles of two-lane roads! (Okay, you don't really need a turbo to pass Amish buggies, but it was fun spooling it up nonetheless).

Just thought I would share an awesome experience. What a way to oclose out the summer!

[azygoustoyou]

That sounds like a good time. The wine too!

[mbouse]

they letcha drive into the vineyard with the spider?

heard about the adventure first hand, and gotta say that any weekend with the Mrs w/out kids is a grand time to enjoy.

[kristoj]

Well Mike, we didn't exactly ask them if it was okay to drive onto the vineyard to take pictures. But we didn't get tossed out either. I live by the principle that my father used to call the "Jesuit Principle": It's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission And when all else fails, plead ignorance.

[htchevyii]

It was the promise of trips like that, that helped me convince my wife to buy the first (her) Spider. We go on several a year. She let me buy the second so that she could have hers all to herself.

[ga.spyder]

Looks and sounds like a great trip.This area of Georgia has a lot of wineries that are producing some excellent product.One of them is 5 miles up the road from me(thankfully,I am not a big wine coniss....er...drinker
Craig

[kilrwail]

John - Sounds like a great outing and a real treat for the spider. What will you do for the cab?

[cutchaguy]

This is one of the things I am wanting to do with my wife, get in the car and do a winery tour with the top down on a nice sunny Sunday...backroads all the way. I am glad you and the SO got to get out and do this.

[kristoj]

John - Sounds like a great outing and a real treat for the spider. What will you do for the cab?

Good point, Peter. Had I taken the Porsche, then I could have had some cab in the cab! Seriously, the Fiat just seemed more "vintage" and therefore appropriate for an easy, relaxed drive through wine country.

The 911 is more at home on high-speed freeway jaunts or wicking it up on Sunday morning drives through the hills of Southern Ohio (wife not included).

[kilrwail]

I agree John. When I want to test myself in the twisties, I take the 911. In breaking in the new engine, I have put over 2500 km on it during the past 10 day, on some of the best two-lanes in eastern Ontario. I practically wore through my old set of rear tires, so I put a new pair on today for track duty later in the week. Some day we'll do that together.

[rlux4]

That looks fantastic, John.
Just out of curiosity, how much did you have to pay the professional model to do the shoot?
Ron

[kristoj]

Always the ladies man, Ron...always the ladies man I'm sur she will appreciate the comment, though.

[NJFIAT1981]

You just know somebody had to say it "Who's the babe?" Sounds like a great weekend. I myself would have to tour the hopps growing regions. Does Sam Adams give a tour? Great looking Spider.

[kristoj]

Just for the record, babe in the foreground is my wonderful wife of 16 years. The babe wearing the Azzuro blue paint is my Italian mistress of three years

[NJFIAT1981]

Looks just like mine. The car that is. Same color. Needs a repaint. The wife of 26 years has agreed to be photographed next to the car on our next date night. She is also a keeper. It is indeed easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission. But when cornered! Deny everything, demaned proof, admit nothing