Elk Creek Tasting Room

My friend and I saw a groupon for $ 45.00 ($ 96.00 value) which was a wine tasting package for 2 at the Crestview Town Center Location.
We went to Elk Creek Vineyards last year and really enjoyed their wines. We found out that they have a store in Crestview Hills Town Center and was going to go (even if we didn’t have the groupon). We got lucky and saw what they had to offer on groupon and purchased it.
When we got there the lady that assisted us was very friendly. We showed her the groupon and asked us our preferred wines. I liked dry reds and my friend likes sweet whites.
Since we had the two tastings– I got the reds and my friend got the whites which are five one ounce samples per person. Our wines was not poured in a glass, they were poured in a ramekin to go cup, which I found odd. My five tastings were the Sweet Owen Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Concord, Sweet Chambourcin, and Red Table Wine. My least favorite was the Concord, but really loved the Cabernet Sauvignon. My friend really enjoyed the Niagara and Kentucky Blue Riesling. Surprisingly, as part of wine package deal, I chose a bottle of the Kentucky Blue Vidal Blanc. I tried a sip of my friend’s sample and really loved it.
We each got a commemorative wine glass (etched with the Elk Creek Vineyards logo), and wooden wine box (you only get one, I gave this one to my friend).
We got there early on a Friday early evening so it was not so busy, so staff was able to focus on us and our questions.
Regular price (without the groupon) for wine flight tastings start at $ 11.00+ which includes five 1 oz. pours. You do not get the glass with the tastings (glasses are available for an additional charge).
They have tables in the back to enjoy the wines. It didn’t have that winery –vineyard cozy feel, because it’s more of a storefront with gifts and wines displayed, but overall it was a great experience.

My wife and I stumbled upon this tasting room while we were trying to kill time before dinner. THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME. The customer service was perfect; he was helpful, but not overbearing. Had local news on the television with plenty of seating. They offer happy hour with discounted tastings, glasses and bottles. Conveniently located in the Crestview shopping center. I highly recommend the Elk Creek Tasting Room for any occasion. My wife and I will definitely be returning!

I admit it. I am a little bit of a wine snob, and I emphasize the little part. The average bottle of wine that I would usually buy is about $ 10. I would never turn my nose up at a free glass of 2 buck chuck. But, I have spent time in wine country and have a decent level of wine knowledge.
The basics of their tastings are you have 2 options. For $ 5, you can get a choice of 5 tastes of their sweet wines. For $ 8, you can choose 5 tastes of their reserve wines (drier, bolder, more full-​bodied).
All of that said, I was terribly underwhelmed with the Elk Creek Tasting Room and their wines in general.
First, the positives. The tasting room itself is very cute and comfortable. They have a lot of neat wine related products that you can buy. They also have half a dozen tables that you can sit at while sipping your wine. You can buy some small 3oz cheese samples and different types of crackers if you would like to eat while tasting.
Now, the negatives…
I expect that the person who is working in a wine tasting room have a basic knowledge of wines. Actually, I think they should have more than a basic knowledge, but I understand that this is Cincinnati and my standards can only be so high. Clearly, the woman who was working at the store had almost no wine knowledge. So little knowledge that she mispronounced the names of common wines she was serving! (Pinot Grigio and gewurztraminer). She also couldn’t answer basic questions about the wine (how it was produced, aromas, tastes). If I was running a wine business, I would make sure that my employees knew the product.
We came in with a group of 10 people. This clearly overwhelmed the system! We arrived at 6:30pm and most of us didn’t get our first taste of wine for almost half and hour. They regularly ran out of open bottles of wine. You would think they would have bottles behind the counter to grab easily when this happened. Instead, woman had to go out into the store and find the bottles on the shelf. This also meant that the wines that should have been served chilled were at room temperature. Also, they clearly need one of those newfangled fancy fast wine openers, because their employees are not very good at using an old-​fashioned corkscrew.
They were out of half a dozen of their wines, which often happens in wine stores. But we were not told about the ones that were out of stock until we asked for them in our tasting. They need to have a sign or tell people in advance what is out.
Now the wines— The majority of their wines are sugar water. Now, I am not against a good bottle of Boone’s Farm, but I am against paying $ 15 a bottle for it. We did enjoy their Vidal blanc and reserve chardonnay.
So, would I go there again? Yes… In a small group with a desire to sit and enjoy mediocre alcohol as a stop before a nearby dinner reservation. But, I would make sure that I gave myself plenty of time for the tasting.