Wino.

Okay. I loved this week's episode of Ugly Betty so much that I had to watch it twice. I <3 Betty and Gio. Lots of tingly moments. I like Betty with Gio because she has fun with him; with Henry it's just too stressful. Plus, he's so uptight.

Mom says I need a "Gio." Ha. I am rather like Betty, though.

Today, the parents and I visited several wineries. First, we went to Debonne Vineyards, where a model airplane show was going on. We didn't sample there, but we bought a bottle of 2005 vintage Pinot Gris. Debonne has a line of bottles that feature artwork celebrating various neighborhoods in Cleveland, like University Circle, Warehouse District and Tremont. We bought the one with the East 4th Street label, but only because that one was on sale!

Debonne holds a hot air balloon festival June 6-7, so we'll be going to that.

Our next stop was Virant Family Winery in Harpersfield Township. This winery is now my favorite winery. We sampled six wines here and had an appetizer.

Their wine, White Silk? Amazing. It smells like you've stepped out into a vineyard, and it tastes just like you're eating green grapes off of the vine. I had a bottle of that wine already at home, so I bought Blazzin' Blackberry (which you can only buy at the winery or online) and a bottle of Chiffon.

At every other winery, there's usually at least one wine where that first sip makes you pull a face at the acid, where the first sip is rough. Especially red wines. But not at Virant. Every wine was pleasing to taste. I even liked - heck, loved, their Red Silk, and I don't normally like red wines.

But I also liked the relaxing, unpretentious atmosphere. It's a family-owned winery; well, that's not any different than the other wineries, but it's a lot smaller than the others in the area. I think the wine is better for it, because there's so much care that goes into each bottle. Their wine is made in more of the old-fashioned way.

The people also were nice. We chatted about the wines and Geneva, and it was a pleasant visit.

Completely unlike the horrible visit at the next winery, Harpersfield Winery.

I will never go back to this winery. Oh, don't get me wrong - the winery is beautiful inside. Huge fireplace to sit around, etc., etc. But the woman who greeted us was rude and pushy. She basically forced samples of wine on us. I felt uncomfortable. The wine wasn't that bad - it was made from a grape that not many other wineries use. My mom hated the wine, though. Just bad customer service.

Anyway, buy Ohio wines! Especially from Virant.

Since the bluegrass festival will not be held this year, I am definitely going to Vintage Ohio, which is August 1-2.

Zzz.

I started to write an entry about the winery tour I went on today (and all of the wonderful food, smothered in wine sauces...) but I am too tired. I will write this tidbit: never eat grapes that aren't ripe! I knew unripe grapes caused stomach aches, as it has happened to me before, but I couldn't help myself. I paid for it, though. Possibly it wasn't the grapes, though, as I have had stomach cramps for 24/7 for about two days now.

Well, I'm going to read some of ...And His Lovely Wife by Connie Schultz now.