Reid's Livery Winery
Alvaton, KY
*Disclaimer: This content is not paid or sponsored in any way. It is written as an informational guide for readers to explore and experience the winery mentioned in the post.
Wine may not be the thing that comes to mind If you heard the word ‘livery’ (Pronounced /liver-e/). A livery is a place that takes care of people’s horses, a stable, usually for a fee. So why would you travel to one in order to try wine? Well, because Reid’s has them both! Along with other animals; ducks, turkeys and chickens, dogs and more, Reid’s Livery Winery has something to pique your interest before you even step into the tasting room.
At the end of a curvy farm road, Reid’s farm sits on an expanse of land out in front of you. Once you drive up to the tasting room, you see that it sits, mostly quiet, awaiting your entrance. The chickens might be clucking or a dog may bark a tone of arrival, but overall, it is a serene farm scene.
Reid’s is a ‘call before you come’ establishment because this is a family’s home after all. Once you arrive, you have the option of calling to let them know you have made it or, you may ring the old-timey dinner bell. Once you are inside, prepare your taste buds to experience a plethora of dry, sweet and fruit wines.
The Wine:
Pzazberry is a wine that is sweet and tart. Beginning with a sweet red boldness and ending with a tartness, this wine is full of pizazz. For me this was a holiday wine with its cranberry forwardness.
Healthy Harvest is the wine to drink to your health. This one has the benefits of elderberries grown right on the farm. I get the earthiness of the vines they were grown on with the strong flavors of a fruit wine that is semi-dry.
Blue Moon of Kentucky is Reid’s version of a Rosé with a juicy mouth of blueberry that ends with a sauntering tartness. This wine is good for your health as well because blueberries are high in antioxidants.
The Experience:
What can I say about this experience? Outside you are able to see many animals, who are just doing what animals do. Running, grazing, just being. There are many horses to see, some of which like to stay close to the fence, hoping to be petted.
Once inside, you can see a bottle of Reid’s wine for every one they have entered into a wine competition and won. Pictures of family, newspaper clippings and other historical references line the walls of the quaint tasting room. On my visit, it was heated by a wood burning stove. How delightful it was to smell the remnants of the charred wood in the air.
I experienced my tasting with Mrs. Reid. A kind lady who was happy to share the history of the farm and winery, as well as a tasting of each and every wine. There were almost twenty different wines available at the time. We talked through each one of them and I was able to make notes on a laminated menu, which I took a photo of.
As I say often, it was a ‘slow-down moment’ when visiting here. I was actually meeting up with a friend about who was about twenty minutes away in Bowling Green, KY. While they were finishing up, I was able to take some time to hang out at Reid’s and try some delicious wines.
Tastings:
Tastings are free and you may even be able to sample some that are in the vat if available. I suggest a small tip if you choose not to purchase a glass or bottle. (I purchased a bottle of wine as well as a dozen duck eggs to take!)
My Takeaway:
Thinking of animals when visiting a winery might not be the first thing that comes to your mind. But farming is farming. Whether it is animals or crops, the care that goes into it is boundless. Making wine is farming at its core. Reid’s Livery Winery is testament to how farming is the care and nurture of animals and plants. In return, they have livestock and wine that are thriving. Take a moment to visit Alvaton, KY to discover great wine made by some folk who like taking care of plants and animals.
For more information, go to: https://reidsliverywinery.com/
