Markko Vineyard

Markko is simply an outstanding winery. It could be a bit hard to find and may look somewhat run down, but do not judge the book by its cover. It had the best wines we tasted in the Northeastern Ohio area. And, the owners were very friendly and genuine. One of the best wineries I have been to, and I think it surpasses any winery in the area we have been to so far.
The tastings were plentiful and delicious. A red wine drinker myself, I enjoyed the white ones quite a bit, and ended up getting two bottles of their select reserve chardonnay. Their pinot noir is also worth a try, and was second on my list.
You gotta go there, do a tasting, and get some bottles of wine to really experience it. Do not forget to pet the good old doggies before you drive away…

The pinnacle of Ohio wineries! Only serious wine drinkers need apply though. If you’re one of the many faux wino’s walking around Vintage Ohio with your glass on a necklace raving about all the yummy sweet wines, please don’t bother coming here. If, however, you enjoy serious wines, complex and flavorful Pinot Noirs, and big meaty Cab Sauvs (yes, from OHIO!), then this is your mecca.
I’ve visited most of the Northeast Ohio wineries over the past 6 years. Many as part of the wine courses I took in college (yes I earned college credits for drinking wine, so suck it :-p). And others on my own wine tasting trips. My taste in wine quickly graduated to the big, strongly flavored heavy hitters like Cabernet Sauvignon. I want a wine with so much body that it needs to be chewed, tannins that tingle the tongue and strong flavors that are still lingering 5 minutes after a sip. So it didn’t take long to outgrow most of the Ohio wines and wineries. Then I went to Markko. Their wines are generally in the $ 20 – 40 range, which is expensive for Ohio, but well worth it. The older lady who does the tastings is very nice and knowledgeable and willing to talk freely about the wines if you can walk the walk and talk the talk. If you roll in like a giddy, half drunk tourist she may seem short in conversation and hospitality. All part of the charm of this hidden gem.
The first time I was here was prob. 3 years ago with my aunt. We each bought a bottle of different vintage Cab Sauvs. On our most recent visit I wasn’t that impressed with the current vintages that they were selling. She was actually able to look us up in their computer and find what vintages we had bought 3 YEARS AGO! and then dig up bottles from those years for us, even though they weren’t on their list of wines for sale anymore. Very cool!
Bottom line, if you like serious wines, make the pilgrimage and ignore the slightly trashy exterior. Treasures lie within.