Camelot Cellars Review
Address: 958 N. High Street Columbus,Ohio 43201.
Phone Number: 614-441-8860
Tasting Hours: Tues-Thurs 3:00-10:00, Fri 2:00-11:00, Sat 12:00-11:00
Region: Ohio
Reviewer: Shona Carr
Review Date: 3/2/2012
Reviewer: Shona Carr
Rating: 2
The Review
It was late in the afternoon on a Friday, and I considered myself lucky to find a parking spot on the street only a couple hundred feet away from the entrance to Camelot Cellars, one of Ohios new urban wineries. I exited my car and inserted my quarters into the parking meter and looked around. I was in the heart of the art district of downtown Columbus and was excited to see what waited for me inside Camelot Cellars doors.
The Place: Located in a historic downtown brick building with high ceilings and exposed brick interior walls, the building is impressive and has been transformed into a completely modern facility with clean sharp lines. The walls are clad with modern art created by local Ohio artists, there is a full wall of Camelots wine displayed individually from the floor to ceiling, and silver aluminum bar chairs surround the square modern tasting bar.
The Experience: I was able to pick any seat that I wanted at the winerys tasting bar, as the place was completely empty. As I took my seat and looked over the tasting options, I was surprised that the two options available were so expensive. The first option, called the Flights Menu, includes six flights of three wines each for $14 (the two dessert wine flights are priced at $22). The wines are impressively displayed with a printed card identifying each wine.
The second option, referred to as the Tastings Menu, includes four flights of six wines each at either $20 or $30 depending on the flight chosen. The second option also includes a presentation of each wine by the server. If you opt for the cheaper option, which I did, do not expect to be provided with any additional information than what is provided on the printed cards. During the tasting, I asked about the history of the building and the winery, but the only answer I received was I am not sure. After providing my tasting display, the person behind the counter instantly returned to the desk located in the center of the winery and continued to work on the computer.
The Wines: The blackboard that greets visitors as they enter the building states that Camelot Cellars has over 80 wines to try. Unfortunately, visitors cannot pick specific wines to taste but are required to choose one of the pre-arranged flights. For better or worse, dont expect to find many wines produced from local Ohio grapes. Instead, Camelot Cellars’ wines are produced from juices or kits originating from several of the world’s best grape-producing regions. The wide range of wines include a Sonoma Valley Chardonnay, an Italian Barolo, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a Napa Valley Merlot among others. Wines are priced between $12 and $24.
The Extras: Camelot Cellars offers individuals the opportunity to create their own handcrafted wines, starting at $199. The winery also has private event space and an online calendar that lists its upcoming events.