This is my favorite of all of the local vineyards. It's just seconds from the Fayette County line and just about a 30 minute drive from downtown Lexington. In the summer months they do several concert series in their amphitheater which is located at the first gated entrance, once you pass the amphitheater then you will see the event barn, there you will find the larger tasting area that is open during many of the events. Near the second gated entrance is the smaller tasting room. Several reviews address that it can get really crowded, but the last time that I was there they were in the process of expanding. So they're working on that quarrel. I have been a wine club member for several years. Being in the club entitles me and my guests free tasting. I generally love their wines though I tend to favor their reds, their specific batches rotate. They have a derby special labeled wine every year too. They have had some not so friendly employees from time to time but they never last too long there. So I won't mark them off for that. read more

They are so knowledgeable here! They wanted to know what kind of flavors I liked and then they tried to help me pick wines to taste on that same path. They were really helpful in helping to choose a wine to buy to take to a dinner party and the grounds are absolutely beautiful! read more

This is such a lovely (and family friendly) winery, I can't believe it took me so long to check it out. I thought their wines were better than those of other wineries in the area, the staff was welcoming and knowledgeable, and they encouraged us to explore and enjoy their grounds (including a mini golf green that my kids LOVED). Coming to enjoy live music here one evening over the summer is high on my "to do" list, AND they're about to open their own (on-site) distillery. Bourbon and wine in a beautiful setting that employs great people? Yes, please. read more

Had a great visit here the weekend after Thanksgiving! We stopped in for a wine tasting and ended up getting a membership! They have a pretty decent selection for a small KY winery and the reds are better than most midwestern reds. I also appreciated that the fruity wines were naturally sweet without much - if any - added sugar. We look forward to our future visits! read more

On a recent trip to KY i stopped by this Vineyard with friends to do some sampling. Coming from Northern Virginia we have many wineries and i always look forward to comparing. Their testing is a good value it was $5.00 to sample 6 wine varieties. Their sampling room is a bit cramped though and i found myself elbow to elbow with lots of people. On to the wines themselves: I did end up buying a bottle of their wine that my wife liked, however i found most of their wines to be underwhelming. They were not bad, i just never found them to be good. They tended to taste middle of the road, not too sweet, not too dry. Just wet and wine flavored. read more

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the Lexingtn area and bourbon is not your thing, then maybe try visiting some of the vineyards. I recently spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Equus Run vineyards which happened to be celebrating their 11th year anniversary which ended up a being a bonus for us. However, if you didn't catch the special entertainment that was hired for this event, you can catch one of many concerts that take place in their ampitheater throughout the rest of the summer. Going back to tasting, however, Equus Run provides a fun atmosphere for trying their different wines. The tastings are done in a renovated barn that has been outfitted solely for this purpose, making the experience all that much more unique. There are acres and acres to walk through and they allow you to bring your own foods if you'd like to picnic on the grounds while enjoying some of their wines. If you do venture out into the land however, they only drawback I'd say is that finding a nice shady spot is a bit difficult. They do offer plenty of tables under their awnings however so finding a nice place to relax is not an issue. read more

We were visiting friends in Kentucky and decided to stop here as one of our day excursions. It may have been a little of a drive outside of Louisville, but it was worth the 30-40 minutes. We all selected to do the 6 wine tasting. And for $5 and decent tasting pours, it was well worth it. The wines were delicious and the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. I wasn't prepared to be blown away by a Kentucky wine but once I tasted the Derby Chardonnay, I was in heaven. I highly recommend it. After our tasting, the four of us ordered a bottle of wine (Derby Chardonnay for the win!) and snacks and sat on the patio overlooking the pretty acreage and vines. It was so quiet and relaxing I didn't want to leave. My only gripe is that the place was a tad small. There were two other groups of couples in addition to us and even then there wasn't too much space left at the bar. I didn't really mind because the staff was so attentive but if it would've been any busier it probably would've been an issue. read more

This was a fun outing! A friend of mine has worked with the owners of Equus and recommended this place to me. We went and did the 6 tasting, which was lots of fun and easy on the wallet. It was cool to try each other's and hear about how each of the wines was made as well as the vineyard. I liked that when we tried a dessert wine, one of the staff actually had us try the wine, then eat a chocolate chip, then try the wine again to taste a difference. It makes sense, but it's not something I would have thought of doing on my own. And in the case of this particular wine, "Passionate Kiss" (I know, I know), it made a huge difference, enough to convert me to buying a bottle. I did feel a little like there was nowhere for us to be and that staff was hovering over us. We came to do a tasting but also to catch up, and since the woman stayed in front of us the whole time, our tasting ended up getting sped up and was feeling kind of monitored (not to mention I was feeling the wine WAY faster than I had planned). There's outdoor seating, but the day we went was too cold for that. I think it would be great if this place had some bar stools up next to the inside bar--it felt kind of weird to be shifting foot to foot and tasting wine. I'd love to see them get some additional signage for the vineyard too-we ended up walking around their reception tent area wondering why we couldn't find the bar (and we weren't the only ones), which made us feel a little stupid. read more

The only reason I gave this place a 4 star rating is because my fiancee and I visited when it was pouring outside so we weren't able to sit outside and enjoy their wines. This is not to say the tasting room was not beautiful because it really was just that we could see how nice their patio area was and weren't able to enjoy it. Now on to the wines which we very good but I will say if you are expecting the basic or classic wine selection you may be disappointed. The winemaker here really experiments with mixing different grape varieties together which I have not encountered before but really enjoyed. If you are in the area definitely stop in and I can say that we will be back if we are in the area. read more

Best $2 I ever spent. For such a pittance, you get 6 tastings (of your choice) and a commemorative glass! What a steal! We even got to try the Cabernet Chocolate wine sauce. The grounds are beautiful even on a cloudy day. Sadly, I was all stuffed up and couldn't taste much. However, my friends bought a ton of wine, so I'm pretty sure they loved their tastings. Their favorite was the Bluegrass Blush and even my sinus infection didn't stop me from tasting the awesome cabernet chocolate sauce (so tasty and unique!). My friends bought so much that there was no room in our boxes. Rather than get another box, I decided just to buy the chocolate sauce. You will really be kicking yourself if you don't buy some wine to take home. Trust me. read more

This is probably the best winery in the area. We are part of the wine club which means you have to buy three wines a quarter. You are able to have wine tastings and bring two guests each time you visit. Over the summers they have concerts and event s that make it enjoyable. We could not be any happier here. read more

Equus Run Vineyards - Great glasses for a wonderful wine tasting. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

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We came to Equus Run for a wine tasting. Neither of us were crazy about the wines we had, but the grounds were really nice. The sweet wines were "syrupy" and not very light. I prefer a more crisp wine personally. My mom also didn't like the dry reds that she tasted. It was not the worst stop, but not the best. read more

Favorite winery in KY so far! $3 tasting gets you 6 samples out of about 14. We ended up spending way more time there than we meant to (including extra, free samples). Most of the reds are actually grown in Lodi, California, but everything is crushed and fermented and bottled there. The woman pouring was amazing. She was able to answer all of my questions, and it was a place that I had a hard time leaving. I almost joined their wine club on the spot (since they allow exchanges), which I've never done, and I'm sure to go back (probably soon). read more

I absolutely LOVE this place!! The people are always friendly, and happy to see you. Even though sometimes things get crazy the staff still manages to do an awesome job!! They always have something going on, and their summer events are always great!! read more

Enjoyable! They have a great area for entertaining and the music events during the summer are a lot of fun. If you are just visiting Kentucky and have never had KY wine, be aware it is...different. KY "dry" is not really dry - most KY wine tends to run very sweet. That being said, Equus is still good, especially if you prefer sweet. They have a fun blend, the Blanc de Noir, that is great for the summer picnic. read more

First are the beautiful grounds here. There are some really nice places to sit and enjoy a glass of wine. Right behind the tasting room are some tables and a gazebo that beg for a quiet afternoon with some Cabernet. Everyone's tastes are different, but I'll say I normally like dry reds. I enjoyed the Tempranillo and the Zinfandel. I also liked the Derby Blush as a good, chilled, sit on the porch drinking wine. The cat, Tuxedo, was every bit as friendly as the folks at the tasting bar. read more

Absolutely terrible experience. Called and asked for a wine tasting, told us if we got there at 4:45 we would be able to have a tasting. We got there at 4:20 and when we asked they said it was too late, even though we were told 4:45, the Karen at the desk didn't make the experience any better with her absolutely terrible attitude, being rude to me and my family. Will never be going back. read more

This quaint vineyard makes a nice afternoon stop if you are out for a drive and want to stop to buy some local wine. They do offer tasting of their selections for a set fee. Their tastings area also offers some other local gourmet type items. I have seen that the vineyard also occasionally hosts outdoor concerts. The whole place borders the south branch of Elkhorn creek, so you could take your bottle of wine, some cheese and bread, and head down to the water's edge for an impromptu picnic. Not too far from the vineyard is a pretty good place to launch a canoe or kayak when the water levels are right. You can kayak for 3-4 hours down to the take-out at the campground near the forks of the elkhorn downstream. read more

Came out for the music event with our lawn chairs. Enjoyed the weather and sitting outside listening to the music. I can not emphasize enough that the service inside was absolutely horrendous. Obviously poor planning with staffing. Those behind the bar did not know how to work the POS machines, or even open a bottle of wine properly. No order on waiting on people and several of us waited over 30 minutes just to order. One guy offered one of the workers a 20 dollar bill just to be acknowledged. He was ignored. We all had a good laugh at the ludicrousness of the service. It really made the entire event experience terrible. Please if you are gonna ever host an event your staffing choices better change or you will keep getting terrible reviews. In fairness the wine I finally got with a broken cork in it was pretty good. Bluegrass Blush was the wine. read more

What a wonderful day! Music, wine, beautiful grounds and great staff!! Sunday's are a great day to visit with live music! Take your snacks, lawn chairs and quilts! read more

I visited Equus Run Vineyard this past Sunday. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This is a quaint little vineyard. It is very well kept and I especially loved the iron gates at the entry that had an added decorative touch that looked like grapes. I did a tasting and enjoyed each wine I tasted. I'm not a huge fan of oak, but there were several non oak options and even the oak ones were smooth and nice. The wines are reasonably priced ranging from around $14.00 per bottle up to around $26.00 per bottle (if my memory serves me correctly). They have a deck out back where you can sit and enjoy wine. Although I did not walk the grounds, I could see there were some trails and areas of interest including a little putt-putt area. I'd say this is well worth a stop and continued future visits. I only saw one single bathroom and my only suggestion would be that more bathrooms are needed. It wasn't crowded, but there was a nice flow of people in and out that day. read more

Love this place. The wines and staff are equally awesome!! Sonja and all the staff are part of the reason I will definitely return. Love the grounds. They are beautiful and you can tell a lot of love goes into the wines and entire venue. I appreciate such passion! read more

I came out to Equus Run on 5/28/2016 with a few friends. We had been planning our wine tasting for a few weeks now and I was super excited about Equus Run because of all the wonderful things I have heard. I loved the property and thought the wines were very good however the tasting room was not very inviting or friendly and neither was the staff. The lady who did our tasting was new, and obviously had little to no training before being thrown into her job. I tried several times to ask questions and learn more about the vineyard but was on;y answered with one word answers and I felt as though I was a hassle to the workers. I will be back for a 2nd go and I hope my experience is better. Fingers crossed.... I'll let ya'll know! read more

THEY ONLY GROW WHITE GRAPES!?!?!?? we are broken hearted. This is a beautiful (extremely manicured) vineyard, their wines left much to be desired. We did buy two bottles of their dessert wine...which tastes like chocolate milk. It's kinda amazing. Worth the trip just for that. The guy doing the tasting was extremely nice and informative on the wines and the area. Since we only liked one of their wines we are giving them a three star rating. Too sweet for our liking. We prefer dry full bodied reds full of tannins. Apparently Kentucky might not be our place for wines. read more

Found this vineyard as a place to stop on way home after dropping my kiddo at college. Tried calling early in day but no answer so we stopped in, the website states only that reservations recommended. Not a very friendly greeting when we arrived and not able to do a tasting. The hospitality was less than personable. The wine was fine. The grounds were very pretty and there happened to be a band playing. We did purchase a bottle and drank a glass in the garden which was lovely. There are plenty of other wineries in the area to visit which are more welcoming. read more

Had an extra glass of wine and a nice walk through the Vineyard. I recommend you give this place a try.

Equus Run feels like home at this point - come here at least twice a month! Have been to 12 wineries across KY, commissioners cup, KY wine festivals etc. Nothing beats Equus service or beautiful patio and outdoor area which is part of why we keep frequenting. Sonja in particular goes above and beyond for customers. read more

It's always a pleasure to come to Equus Run and do their (surprisingly cheap) tasting. And I can never seem to leave without a bottle of something. Went this time with a couple of friends and we stayed and chatted with our server for a good while. The service was great, she knew her stuff and the overall atmosphere is consistently welcoming and enjoyable. There seems to be something here for everyone who enjoys wine, and good stories about the company and owners. If you're not sure what you like, this is the place for you. If you know what you like in a wine, this is a great place too because the people who work here (even if they disagree on what's best to drink) can help you with your selection. I'll definitely be back. read more

I've been a member of the Equus Run club in the past. I always enjoy stopping by for tasting. They have a great area along the Elkhorn with live music events. My family has picnicked out here before as well. Great atmosphere for a weekend afternoon! read more

Equus Run Vineyards - The list - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

Had a great time here! Gene (I think was her name) behind the tasting bar was very friendly and informative. She took the time to help us find the wines that would suit our interests and also encouraged us to try some new ones. She talked about the Kentucky wine industry very fluently and gave us all kinds of facts and history on Equus Run Vineyards too. She suggested events we could come to and told us about their wine club in an inviting yet non pushy manner. The owner came in and chatted with us for about 10 minutes even though she was very busy. The wines were all well balanced and enjoyable, although I really wanted to try their Pinotage (It was only available to club members). Definitely worth a visit! read more

What an excellent experience for our first venture into wine tasting! The server was extremely helpful providing tips and explanations for each sample and let us know about upcoming events we would enjoy. There were delicious options for every palate! read more

We enjoyed the winery during "Dinner in the Vines". A great evening at a great winery. Do the wine tasting, well worth the $5!

Good wine, ambience is okay. Probably much better on a sunny day (not the fault of the business) but could have used college football on a TV inside. Service was okay but a bit slow. I would definitely go back, but would like a bit more friendly service! read more

I have been a wine club member at Equus for about 8 years. We have always enjoyed the wines. However, the last few times out the service has been horrible. Today was the last straw. We waited for 20 minutes and none of the staff even acknowledge we were there. They had a wedding event on the property. The tasting room was packed with wedding guests due to the fact that the reception was not serving for two hours after the wedding. All the guests migrated to the tasting room which was only staffed with 3 people. Extremely poor planning and staffing. I'm sure the wedding was not planned the day before. This is a classic example of when a hobby becomes a business and the owner still runs it like a hobby. We will be canceling our membership after we pick up our next release if we can ever get served. read more

After traveling an additional 20min from our current location we were soooo disappointed. We were not greeted at all upon arrival and waited 15 min before we were even recognized. Although they attended to other who arrived AFTER us. We waited patiently. Upon finally get their attention for a wine tasting experience the lack of attention was truly disappointing and the server continued to just deal with others who arrived. After one sample tasting , we realized we would b there forever so we placed $2.00 on the counter and left. Never to go again or recommend. Hopefully if you decide to go your experience will be better. read more

This tasting room felt like it belonged at a California winery! It was pretty small and although crowded, it felt very personal. This was the first winery in KY that I found a few dry wines I enjoyed! I was a little sad to hear the ones I liked the most came from California grapes, I realized it's still made here but it would be nice if the grapes could be grown here, too. We got to try many wines, even some extras that they just happened to have open. Great experience and good wine, we will be coming back! read more

The wine was pretty good but the tasting experience was abysmal. The young woman knew nothing about wine generally or Equus wine specifically. She said it was her first day and that she had never tasted the wines. No one stayed with us to talk us through the tastings and no one seemed very interested in us. read more

Went the winery for the music on a Sunday afternoon. The Jeff Barnes Trio was awesome but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wines. We emptied a few bottles and truely enjoyed the afternoon. The venue for music was great. Too bad we had a little rain but everyone stayed dry under the porch. A good day. We will go back. read more

Had a lovely tasting for the McConnell Springs fund raiser and found a super fun place to build community. Picturesque old tobacco farm that has been converted to a vineyard and winery. Just a fun place to hang out and enjoy the beautiful weather! They host concerts in the warmer months - I'm hoping there are some - and they have tastings thought the year with food and fun! read more

We were on a motorcycle trip to the Bourbon Trail in late September and decided to visit a few wineries along the way. What a great find this winery was! Leslee and Jean were very knowledgeable about their wine, and went out of their way to offer suggestions for what foods to serve their wine with. We were pleasantly surprised with how good the wine was! It was nice to have cheese, crackers, chocolate, ect. to pair with the wine. They were both so friendly and shared their knowledge of the area. Though we were staying in Lexington, we wanted to hear about local favorites for dinner, and they suggested we go to Midway as there are several nice restaurants to choose from. They also gave us a history of the town. After a great dinner, it was a pleasure to run into the ladies again while walking in downtown Midway and thank them! We will be back on our next Kentucky trip!! read more