Brianza Gardens and Winery

We stayed in the cottage over New Year’s weekend and it was such a delight!
The cottage sleeps 4 but we comfortably fit 6 due to the very large couch. It is also pet friendly! It is newly renovated and very clean. Tony, the owner, was very accommodating. Out of toilet paper? He’ll bring you a roll! He even gave us a private tour and tasting of the winery. Very, very cool.
Great location about ten minutes off the highway. I think we’ve made this spot a new New Year’s tradition!

For a 30 minute drive outside of Cincinnati, there is no better mini-​weekend trip than to Brianza Gardens & Winery. We arrived at Brianza around 2:00 (I wish we would have stayed later, I’ll get into that in a moment) and were th only ones there, but others arrived throughout our stay. We drove up on a beautiful property with a long driveway to the back where the tasting room was located. On the way back we noticed the cabin house (that’s available for rent on AirBNB), the wedding overlook with gazebo, and grape vines lining the driveway. If you didn’t know any better you’d think you were in Napa Valley, not Northern Kentucky.
When we walked into the tasting room, which still smells of freshly built wood, we were greeted by Crystal, and then by Tony, who was the owner. The environment was warm and relaxing. Not sure if they have wi-​fi, but this would be a prime location if you needed to get some serious work done (drinking wine in the process is just a bonus).
We each did a tasting, which costs only $ 5, and consists of a handful of wines. The first thing we noticed was that contrary to popular belief, the Ohio River Valley CAN produce something other than just sweet wines. These wines were really, really good. Yes, they have a sweet selection but the dry wines were what I was excited about. Crystal did a great job of explaining each wine you were tasting, and mixing in great company and conversation. You don’t have to be a wine-​maven to enjoy the wines here, which I loved.
While enjoying our wines we were able to purchase some local fare that they sell in shop. They had cheeses from Ed-​Mar Dairy, and chips and spiced pretzels from Yankee Doodle Deli. Both of which you can find at various locations around the Tri-​State. What I was most excited about, but didn’t get the chance to try, were Brianza’s house-​made Italian sausages, marinara sauces, jams, and soon to come olive oils! I was mad we couldn’t stay longer because at 3 Tony was going to be grilling up some of these italian sausages on the patio, with a band playing along. Check out their website and Facebook for a list of events. We’ll be back for one of these for sure!
They seem to be doing everything right at Brianza. They are still less than a year old but the way they are operating it seems like they’ve been around forever. Everything from the wine, the service, to the environment was spot on. We even got a friendly handshake from Tony on the way out, and a thank you for stopping by. I’m glad we discovered this slightly little out of the way location because it really is one of those places you can go and enjoy a whole day at and not break the bank in the process. Thanks Tony and Crystal, and we’ll definitely see you again soon.

Found this place on Unilocal as we were traveling along the Kentucky Wine Trail (highly recommend BTW:

Honestly wasn’t expecting much beyond a humble backroad winery, but when we arrived we were in total awe of Brianza and all of it’s beauty.
As we followed the tree lined countryside we turned into a perfectly manicured driveway and followed it to the tasting room, passing the rental cottage along the way. We immediately noticed this was no ordinary winery. The branding of Brianza was very apparent and well thought out. And the only way I know to describe this place would be «quiet luxury.»
The owners have obviously developed this concept to be more than just wine –
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Brides: Check out this insanely beautiful garden and gazebo that you could get married in!
Looking to host an event?
Wanna stay on the grounds of this beautiful winery? They even have lodging options!
TASTING ROOM:
Open Saturdays 11:00 — 8:00 p. m
Wine Tasting $ 5.00 per person.
Wine by the Bottle $ 22.00
We very much enjoyed the tasting room and like I mentioned before this place is more upscale than the other stops on the trail, but manages to go about it in a very humble way. Crystal, the young woman behind the counter greeted us with a smile from ear to ear with a very enthusiastic hello. And honestly she kind of made our experience. We loved her big personality and the way she connected with us. She took us through the tasting in a laid back way and gave us guidance, but also let us develop opinions on our own.
And then we met Tony…
…and our hearts melted.
Tony (the owner) was firing up the grill to cook his house made sausages for a special event that day (check out their upcoming events here:
) he brought in all the local vendors which he sells in his store to offer patrons a special tasting experience. His commitment to supporting the local economy is very evident as he sells Ed Mar Dairy Cheese straight from a Kentucky farm down the road, a local olive oil produced in Kentucky, and even pretzels and beer cheese (which we graciously devoured).
He shook our hands, looked us in the eyes and welcomed us as if we were family. And to be honest, I haven’t felt that «at home» in a long time. I cannot WAIT to return, especially to see gardens and the leaves change in the fall.
Unilocalers — take next Saturday off, and meet me at Brianza!

After my friend and I went to Verona Vineyards, we wanted to check out Brianza Gardens and Winery. I heard nothing but great things about this place (they are fairly new). I really loved the scenic countryside drive! Went through winding roads. You cannot miss the Red building with the beautiful white house at the top of the hill. The Tasting wine room is all the way to the back of the road which you will drive by the Vineyards and the beautiful rolling hills of Kentucky. I’ve seen pictures of what an Italian winery would look like and this place is as close to it (best way to describe the gorgeous landscape).
As you enter the room (not so big, but cozy setting), you will love the barrels and the décor! The young lady helping us was so friendly and laid back! She was so helpful and knowledgeable on their wines. It is $ 5.00 a tasting and all bottles (for purchase) are the same price $ 22.00.
Here is what we tried:
–VIGNOLES
A white French Hybrid that produces an excellent semi-​dry. If you like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, you will love this wine. Apricot, grapefruit and citrus notes. This is a terrific and refreshing summer wine. Brianza has 1200 Vignoles vines planted. My friend really loved the wine and I am not a white wine drinker, but really liked the citrus taste!
–CHARDONNAY
A white French Vinifera also known as «White Burgundy» in France (wines produced in France and not exported title their wine by region and not the grape). Brianza Chardonnay is a blend of 87% Chardonnay grown in the State of Washington and 13% Vignoles grown at Brianza. This is a dry wine although has 1% residual brix (sugar). I do not like Chardonnay, but this wine had a great taste!
–SWEET BOTTOM WHITE
A white blend of 50% Vidal Blanc, 35% Vignoles, and 15% Reisling with 5% residual brix. As the name states, this is a sweet wine. Almost dessert style. An easy drinking house wine that is perfect for many food groups or a glass by itself. These grapes are sourced from our good friends at Lovers Leap Vineyard located in Lawrenceburg, Ky. This was sweet, but not overwhelming. My least favorite only because I do not drink sweet whites.
–CYNTHIANA
This is a red grape that is native to the United States and is the State grape of Missouri. This vine is extremely vigorous and almost wild in nature. This Cynthiana is sourced from Lovers Leap Vineyard and harvested only after 25% of the grapes have turned raisin. This delayed harvest raises the PH of the grapes to a level that the «wild» or «foxy» natural attributes are softened. Additionally, we blend 5% Merlot and 5% Traminette with the Cynthiana creating a wine that is soft but is extremely fruit forward and exhibits a variety of spices on the nose. Maybe I had to have an acquired taste for this wine. But it was good. In my opinion, I would like this wine if I had more of it and I think in time it would grow on me.
–NOIRET
A Cornell University produced French Hybrid that as of today, has limited production. That will not last. Noiret produces an excellent red wine with great structure and a big finish. Noiret is grown at Brianza from 352 vines with a first harvest in 2014. It is produced in a jammy style that will complement the best beef and pork dishes. This was my second favorite red wine! Loved the smooth taste!
–CABERNET SAUVIGNON
One of the most popular wines in North America. Brianza Cabernet Sauvignon is typical of the California style with bold fruit and high tannins. The perfect wine for a steak dinner. These grapes are sourced from Lovers Leap Vineyards where the climate is just slightly warmer in the winter which Cabernet needs to ripen. My favorite hands down! I had to get a bottle to take home!
SWEET BOTTOM RED
Sweet Bottom Red is not for the faint of heart… a combination of Merlot and blackberry. This was actually a great wine!
Besides weddings, Brianza Gardens is also hosts other events such as family reunions, corporate events, birthday and anniversary parties and other special occasions. They also have a wine club you can join. I might have to look into that in the near future!
They even have a cottage you can stay for the night! The rates are online to view.
My favorite was taking pictures of the gardens and vineyards! They were nice enough to let us take the golf cart and venture around the area. The arched bridge leading to the gardens is complimented by natural limestone rock found here at the vineyard. Benches are placed throughout the gardens for guests. The view is absolutely breathtaking!
What an awesome experience and I can’t wait to return! I highly recommend visiting Brianza! They have great quality wines and the love the service!

Beautiful place to taste some wine and enjoy a Saturday afternoon. It’s off the beaten path but worth the trip. Parking is behind the wine tasting room. Sample 5 wines for $ 5.