Centerville

Marketing Specialist Erin Kelly explains the Tasting Bar

The reputation Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant has built with it’s previous 38 locations has helped build the excitement for the debut of the Centerville Cornerstone location off of Wilmington Pike.

Opening to the public this Monday, August 26th at 11am, guests will enter the Napa-style  tasting bar.  A long open bar, backed by a wall of their 40+ wines, guest are encouraged to taste their way through the menu, with educated staff guiding them to find wines they enjoy.

They offer 3 tastings each featuring 8 wines:

• a variety tasting featuring reds and whites $8
• a sweet tasting $8
• Lux tasting  – features their top tier wines $13

The tasting guides shares facts to help you learn about the wines, assist with pronunciation when needed and share pairing tips.  Erin Kenny, who serves as the marketing specialist for the chain explains that Cooper’s Hawk wants to make wine accessible to all and debunk the “snooty” reputation wine sometimes gets.

You’ll also see a variety of wine glasses, cork holders and novelty wine gifts and accessories merchandised on islands in the tasting area as well as  a case full of truffles in what they call their artisan market.

Continue on into the building and you’ll see the full serve bar, where you can sit at the bar, at a table or even a booth.  Enjoy a cocktail from their extensive list, many of which include wines in the mix

As you head into the dining room, you’ll see a wall featuring the Winemaker’s Barrel Reserve, made each year and crafted from expertly-selected barrel lots to create a rich, yet elegant Bordeaux-style wine that we age in the finest oak barrels, adding sophistication and flavor dimensions. the 2019 Reserve is already sold out by the bottle, but you can get a taste at the restaurant.

Then you enter the dining room, which seats around 300, and in nice weather there are another 50 seats on the patio that overlook a pond with a fountain.  There are also 2 private dining rooms that seat about 24 each, that can be combined for private parties of up to 60 and are equipped with AV essentials needed for presentations.  Rooms are available for reservation with a minimum spend requirement, as opposed to a room fee.  If your order doesn’t make that requirement, you can always add a case of wine or two to take home to hit the mark.

The menu at Cooper’s Hawk pairs each item with a wine, by bin number to make it easy.  Wines by the glass are very reasonably priced ranging from about $7-13.

Appetizers include Asian Ahi Tuna, Drunken Shrimp,  Hummus, Asian Pork Belly Tostadas, Potstickers, Calamari, as well as a dish referred to as Chef Matt’s Perfect Pairing Plate (pictured below) which features a Trio of Cheeses: Stracciatella, Buttermilk Bleu, Sartori Parmesan, Honeycomb, Black Fig Jam, Grilled Polenta Crostinis and some candied bacon.  There is also an optional wine pairing  that compliments this plate.

Every single item on the menu is made in their scratch kitchen, which often runs with 20 cooks on the line and the attention to detail.  Actually that’s untrue, they do bring in their gluten bread, to assure that it is made in a gluten free kitchen.  They also offer a pretty extensive gluten free menu that includes steak, seafood, chicken and burgers.

Happy Hour at Cooper’s Hawk runs from 3-6pm featuring $6 wines by the glass, and wine specialty drinks and a list of appetizers from $7-10.

They also offer a kids menu, a carryout menu and a catering menu.

The Wine Club at Cooper’s Hawk is an all-inclusive membership where you will not only receive our winemaker’s newly released wine each month, but also enjoy many great benefits including invitations to members-only events, exclusive discounts, points on purchases, birthday rewards, and aWine Club Newsletter with information on new wines, special events, and great recipes. Memberships start at $20 month and you have the option to pick up your wine or have it sent. Choose the membership type that’s right for you, variety (meaning you’ll get red and white varietals) Red, White or Sweet.  Gift memberships also available for 3, 6  or 12 months.

Thursday afternoon I was lucky enough to enjoy a media tasting, which started off with Chef Matt’s Perfect Pairing Plate and then a tasting menu that started with crispy brussels sprouts with cashews, mint and sweet thai chili, and as one who’s usually not a fan of this vegetable, thought it was one of the best dishes of the day.  We also tried the Asian pork belly tacos, shrimp and scallop risotto, pan-roasted barramundi, gnocchi carbonara(the gnocchi is one of the few ingredients not made in house), a ginger soy glazed NY Strip and for dessert the Cooper’s Hawk Chocolate Cake and Lemon Ice Wine Cheesecake.

We also had a chance to chat with Master Sommelier Emily Wine. She serves as the liaison between the company and its individual restaurants, engaging with guests and the brand’s 350,000+ Wine Club members to create unique experiences centered around wine and spirits. She spearheads initiatives designed to enrich the guest journey through education, immersive events, collaborative partnerships and curated lifestyle adventures. She also creates her own personal wine label for Cooper’s Hawk.

Emily is an internationally qualified sommelier, and one of only 149 individuals in the Americas to earn the designation of Master Sommelier. She is also one of 15 professionals who have been awarded the prestigious Remi Krug Cup for passing all three sections – theory, service and blind tasting – of the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination on her first attempt (most candidates sit for the exam two to three times, and some take it as many as six times).

Overall I walked away from this tasting impressed.  By the food, the wine and especially the service.  Which for a brand new restaurant is rare, but in talking with the management, they all credit the vision of founder Tim McEnery complete lack of pretense and  a culture that reflects his values – one that embodies respect, personal development and humility, and is designed to accelerate quality and innovation as the company grows at a pace that is both aggressive and manageable.

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

5220 Cornerstone North Blvd
Centerville, Ohio 45440

(937) 900-9463

Mon- Thurs 11am – 9:30pm

Fr & Sat 11am – 10:30pm

Sun 11am -9pm