By Peggy Kreimer
Post staff reporter

The wine is flowing farther every day in Northern Kentucky, as restaurants and retail stores stock more and more home-grown and home-vinted wines on their shelves and in their wine cellars.

The Party Source in Bellevue is the latest to discover the home-grown flavors, said Larry Leap, owner of Lost Heritage Vineyards in Campbell County.

"They made their first order yesterday," Leap said this morning. "I'll be making my first delivery of 20 cases next Tuesday." The order includes Kentucky vidal blanc, a light wine; chambourcin, a red table wine, and a red concord wine vinted from grapes grown in the Campbell Vineyards on vines planted 25 years ago.

"On certain varieties, the grapes get better on older vines," Leap said. The Party Source bought five cases of the concord. "They were really impressed with it," Leap said.

Leap is president of the Northern Kentucky Vintners & Grape Growers Association, which has 27 growers in Northern Kentucky, 70 student members and about 15 allied members who support the wine business, such as label makers.

The association is booming as more and more farmers realize that grapes are a profitable alternative crop, said Leap. The association has 10,000 vines on order for members.

"Once those vines are put in the ground in mid April, grapes will be the number one fruit crop in Northern Kentucky," he said.

"When people ask what is Northern Kentucky known for, you can say grapes."

Lost Heritage is the only winery in Campbell County, but there are several in Northern Kentucky, including River Valley Winery in Carrollton, said Dennis Walter, who grows grapes in his Stonebrook Vineyards in Camp Springs and plans to open the Stonebrook Tasting Room at his vineyard this summer. He is vice president of the Northern Kentucky Vintners and Grape Growers Association.

He plans to offer wines from several Northern Kentucky wineries and eventually make his own wine to add to the tasting room menu.

"It's the thoroughbred of alternative crops. It can be a little work, but the rewards are worth it," he said.

Leap said his Kentucky wines are available in six stores and 10 restaurants throughout the area, including County Market in Alexandria, Blue Grass Liquor in Highland Heights, Party Town in Florence, Party Source in Bellevue, Fort Thomas Wine and Spirits and Newport Liquor Dispensary.

Restaurants include Pompilio's, Detroit Joe's, Captain's Cove, York Street Café, Green Derby in Newport, Coco's in Covington and Cold Spring Road House.

The Northern Kentucky Vintners & Grape Growers Association will hold a free information meeting for farmers and others interested in growing grapes at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Gallatin County Extension Office, 395 U.S. 42 in Warsaw.

Publication Date: 02-11-2005