With the warm months finally upon us, what better way to reconnect with nature than in our own national park—from a luxury train car, sipping premium wines?
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) hosts monthly, themed wine tastings, departing from the railroad’s Brecksville or Akron Northside stations. Passengers glide past the park’s meadows, streams and forests for two hours, sampling selected wines and munching chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres.
When TheWineBuzz took the Grape Escape this spring, the theme was Spanish wines. Staff tasted a lemony Albariño, a peachy Verdejo from Rueda, and three elegant reds, including a rich, lingering Rioja.
CVSR will present a special selection of regional vino to celebrate Ohio Wine Month in June, followed by Wines from Down Under (July), Sweet Summer Wines (August), Napa Valley Wines (September), a Halloween “escape” (October) and the 16th Annual Holiday Wine Train (November). Coach tickets are $57; for more luxury digs and finer wines, ride the Deluxe car for $77. All passengers can take home their tasting glass.
Prefer beer to wine? CVSR also offers “Ales on Rails” monthly excursions, serving five beers. Tickets for the monthly beer tours are $47 and $67. (Three levels of both the wine and beer trips are available January through April.) For schedules, tickets and other details, call (800) 468-4070 or visit www.cvsr.com.
