There’s lots of excitement in the vineyards and on the patio at Prime Vine Winery on Manchester Road in New Franklin. Charcuterie boards are a mere sideshow now that chef John Bahas and his temporary food truck have been nestled among the vines.
“We’re cooking in the vineyard baby,” said the enthusiastic retired chef from the Waterloo Restaurant.
Bahas, who recently sold The Waterloo Restaurant, is at the 20-acre winery property every week from Thursday to Saturday using artisan ingredients to make delicious dishes that pair perfectly with the wines. We’re talking 48-day wet aged steaks. Gnocchi. An ultimate smash vineyard burger cooked with a burgundy wine reduction. Caprese kebabs and a garlic shrimp pasta platter. Occasionally, the chef’s special is Bahas’ famous lamb lollipops with his awesome chimichurri sauce.
Owners Jim and Julie Pulk have been making Venture Wines at The Caves of Soda Canyon in Napa Valley, California, since 2012. They also bottle a white and red blend under their Vine 93 label to serve at Prime Vine Winery. Of course they also have bottles of rosé, riesling, moscato and sangria, so there is something for every wine lover.
Last year was the Pulks’ first release of PiVot, a sophisticated red blend that sells for $30 per bottle and $12 a glass. It’s a Napa Valley blend they made after COVID and the wine country fires threw a wrench in their winemaking repertoire.
“We decided to do a blend. We pivoted and took the best of all those years and turned it into a phenomenal blend,” Pulk said, explaining how they ended up naming the wine PiVot. It’s made from barrels of 2014 merlot, 2015 cabernet, and 2016 cabernet Franc.
Much more is in store for the property that also includes a newly renovated six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bathroom 1919 mansion. Pulk couldn’t contain his excitement when he talked about “a potential restaurant on the property.” They are still in the planning stages of adding a 75 seat “Russo’s-like” open kitchen eatery,
Come and check out the food and preview the items for a potential restaurant on the property.
Check out primevinewinery.com/events for more cool things to do this summer.
You can reach Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: John Bahas’ food truck is savory addition to Prime Vine Winery
Reporting by Phil Masturzo, Special to the Akron Beacon Journal | USA Today Network / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Phil Masturzo, Special to the Akron Beacon Journal | USA Today Network | USA TODAY Network
