This is the first negative review I've ever posted but after having a similar experience in the opposite direction at a different restaurant this week, I remembered this place and thought it was worth sharing. My son graduated from Ohio University and we made a reservation for a party of 12. Despite that reservation, there was a considerable wait (about an hour) but that's not why I'm writing this review. We traveled from Pittsburgh to celebrate my son, so I brought a specially made cake from a local bakery that he loves. I asked the manager if we could serve that cake after the meal and not only did he decline, he was very rude. Even after I reminded him that we were on the verge of spending close to $1000 in his restaurant he would make no exception. I didn't make a fuss but after our meal when the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, we had a good laugh and said uhhhh no thank you. I hope the potential handful of desserts you thought we might be forced to buy was worth this one star review. read more

We came here on a whim, and with six people on a Saturday I think we lucked out grabbing a seat without a reservation because it got packed very quickly. We were advised that they do take online reservations, so I'd most recommend that before making the drive out. We got seated on their patio and the views were absolutely gorgeous. I know the weather has nothing to do with the restaurant but if you get a chance to come here on a beautiful day and sit outside, it's truly an amazing experience. The service was nice, the man who was serving wine walked us through their offerings and helped up pick bottles we'd like. Our food server was also friendly and on top of making sure everything was going well. I do always appreciate when places leave me a pitcher or carafe of iced tea, because I really do go through my drinks like I was just lost in a desert for a week. The menu does change, when we were there the duck entree did look very tempting but ultimately I went with a chicken Caesar salad and French onion soup. Both were delicious and paired nicely with the complementary bread and garlic oil. I was very satisfied after my meal and I actually quite enjoyed my glass of wine. I'm not crazy about wine but the bobcat blush was sweet and delicious. I really hope I get to visit here again! read more

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Amazing service, great wine, and fantastic food!! Love this this spot. Would highly recommend this winery and restaurant. Please ask for Meredith as a server. She was very attentive and explained the menu thoroughly. Don't forget to get the apple pie empanadas. So good! read more

Shade Winery - Apple pie empanadas! So good. - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

This restaurant/winery has great ambiance with great views. It's quiet, very romantic. We were a big grout of 9, had great time. Wine quality was great. I ordered sweet wines (frog hair, bobcat Niagara), we ordered some appetizers for sharing charcuteries, truffle Parmesan, for food I ordered grilled salmon. Everything was great read more

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First time visiting for dinner. We were excited Scott Bradley formerly of Zoe in Athens was their chef. We were seated on the patio. It was a scenic. They were very busy but our outside seating was not noisy. We shared the Crab deviled eggs and the Barbecued shrimp as appetizers. They were both quite good. I had the special, a seared tuna over cold buckwheat noodle with a spicy yuzu sauce. It was a nice combination of flavors. My wife had the Caesar Salad with Salmon and the salmon was very good. For desert we shared the peach cobbler for dessert which was excellent. I wish they had decaffeinated coffee. We met the winery owner Neal, who very gracious. We enjoyed the wines we had (riesling, sauvignon blanc and Vidal blanc). We are already planning to bring family when they come to town. We certainly plan to return soon. read more

Stopped here randomly on a road trip. People working were very friends and helpful. We enjoyed a wine tasting and they do grow a couple of the grapes onsite. They also have food but we already had dinner plans (they do take reservations). Nice inside and outside seating areas. We left with two bottles of wine...Syrah and Concord! read more

Me and a chick I grew up with had a blast. Tipsy and then went to her place and felt good no heart burn none of that uncomfortable feelings. All around good night and I scored.. lol read more

The owners are excellent people The place nice i love it. Excellent food or wine so good. read more

I have been living in Athens for the past 4 years and this is my first time coming here. The menu had salad, appetizers, burgers and entrees. There were options for people who were vegetarian and vegan. The wine was very good. They have white, red and sweet. We tried a flight of the frog hair. It was very good and tropical. They have flights of 6 wines for $15.00 While the food, atmosphere and wine was great, my entire party left with 7+ bug bites. If you are to come here I would recommend using bug spray before you arrive. I ordered the sweet potato quinoa burger. This was very filling. If I was to come back again I would get this. We also had the large house salad. Both came in large portions. read more

Shade Winery - Sweet potato quinoa burger (vegan) - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

This place is a real gem in the middle of no where! It is a beautiful place and you can sit inside, on the deck, or the patio. You have two different waiters. One is for drinks and the other is for food. The service was absolutely fantastic. The servers were so attentive, helpful, and sweet. We got a flight of wine. 3 sweet and three not so sweet. My personal favorite was the Riesling - off dry and the Ridge Red Chambourcin. My boyfriend liked the Merlot and Ridge Red Chambourcin the best. Next, they give complimentary bread. It is so delicious with the olive oil mix that is provided. I had the roast beef sandwich which came with a side of salt and pepper kettle chips. I really liked the vegetable medley on the sandwich. My boyfriend had the chicken. He said it was his favorite entry there. (He has tried the burger and steak - both which he said were good). This place has an awesome anesthetic, service, wine, and food. It is slightly pricey but not bad and pretty typical for a winery. The bottles range from $14-25. read more

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Our first time here in November 2024 and we loved it. Emma our waitress was a gem! Owner spent a lot of time talking to us! Great food and wine! read more

The bread and oil was top tier, the best I've ever had, perfectly warmed and seasoned. However, my parmesan truffle fries were not incredibly well done-- I assume the fries themselves were previously frozen, instead of fresh. I ordered a dessert in celebration of my girl friend's birthday; the waitress told me there would have to be two slices to fit the candles I wanted and I agreed. What I did not know was that I would be charged 24 dollars for this experience. It is frustrating when establishments are not upfront about costs-- if I had known I would be paying for 30 dollars worth of nothing-special cheesecake, I would not have proceeded. An uncomfortable and unwelcome experience. Expensive. Three stars for the bread and not much else. read more

My husband and I stopped at Shade on a Sunday afternoon. The setting is lovely and the online reservation system is easy. The owner was present and very friendly and informative. We asked about one of the wines and he got us a taste. The wine we chose was excellent. The food was ok. We chose two shareables - the shrimp and corn chowder and the white mushroom flat bread. Both cost about $20 each. Needless to say, the soup isn't shareable. It's also overpriced. I think if it had come with a chunk of bread, it would make a great dinner. While I thought it was expensive, it was absolutely delicious. The flatbread was OK. I asked that all of the mushrooms be placed on half the pizza. There were 6 mushrooms on one side. More white than mushroom. Service was perfect. All in all, we will come back. Hopefully the menu will have some different items that we can sample. read more

We were there 11/4/23 for my friends 60th Birthday. There were 20 of us. The owner Neal was a bit rude throughout the entire experience. We ordered wine, drinks and lunch. When we were finished eating and visiting he came over and asked us to leave. We were the only group in the closed in outside area. There was one table inside taken. There were 4-5 empty tables outside on the patio and no one was waiting to be seated. When you make a reservation for a birthday party the establishment should anticipate that it will take a while to serve 20 people and that they may want to visit. Had it been busy and people waiting we would have left on our own. read more

Stumbled upon this beautiful winery by accident and so glad we did! Not only is the ambiance and wine amazing, the food is to die for! Best meals we have had in a long time! And the icing on the cake is Neal, the owner...such a nice guy! We've been twice now and will go back next time we're in Athena for sure! read more

3/2022   Wow, what a pleasant surprise! The food, service & facility were fantastic. They are a 15-min drive south of campus, but easy to get to & they have parking. read more

Uncomfortable, expensive, and demeaning- our experience. Please read more before planning your evening at this establishment. ((I am writing my review as a once pleased, returning customer.)) My experience with Shade was quite pleasant the first time; I went in the summer and sat outside. I now know this was due to kind staff employed here-- if outside you will only deal with them, and make note they are great. I recently planned a 9 person birthday celebration, but when I called to make reservations the immediate interaction was strange as I was questioned on why I was coming with 9 people. (I let this go). The indoor section is small and our table was ready. When we arrived it wasn't busy and we ordered food and flights-- all was well. About an half hour in, it started getting busier and we were really enjoying our time -- a group that rarely has time to get together so it was pretty special. As time passed we noticed the owner/owners wife staring at us and listening to us. Eventually, the male owner came over, scolded us and asked if we'd like to "move outside (35 degree weather) because he couldn't even hear the bar order." Then, he stormed away. If we were being too loud, it would not have been a problem to ask nicely -- we understand the place is small, but I do not believe we were being outrageous. In an hour and 45 minutes we were offered 1 drink, as adult women we were publicly scolded, then we waited awkwardly whispering for over 25 minutes on the bill. We still spent quite a bit as a group and the whole experience was pretty terrible other than the initial greeting. Ultimately, they wanted our tables for some reason even though we were there to spend money and be merry. I was embarrassed to have brought my friends here. I chose this place and take full blame for that. I did address the owner with these same concerns and left with his insincere apology. It was just really unfortunate as I love wine and local businesses. We spent the remainder of our evening at Pleasant Hill 8 minute away, and it was truly pleasant. Please be advised that if you chose Shade for your evening, you may be met with a sour taste in your mouth-- pretty place, ugly service. read more

The wine is delicious, and the staff encouraged tasting of different wines. I purchased the Vidal Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, both in house, and thoroughly enjoyed them both. The food was fresh and delicious. We had the charcuterie board, burger, and steak - all of which were very good. The owner and staff were very kind and professional. Our server, Ally, was prompt and personable. We will certainly be back. Overall, a great experience. read more

Beautiful romantic place. My husband and I visited back around Christmas. It was too cold to sit outside. The inside was so cozy. The food and service was great. We are looking forward to visiting when the weather gets warmer to sit out on their patio. The views are breathtaking! read more

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Love the food & the setting. Very relaxing & wine flights are fun! We always enjoy our time at the winery!

Beautiful winery with lots of seating. Wine is 23 dollars and up but very good wines. They have a wide assortment from very dry to sweets and fruits. Food is a new addition and we just got appetizers but seen several meals delivered to the other tables and the food looked great. read more

Kept pinching myself: "Is this really Ohio?" Yes, it is, and it is an experience not to be missed. Gorgeous setting that, nearing sunset, took on an almost divine glow (I'm not religious, but their wine certainly inspires something of that order!). The owners are lovely people who are rightfully proud of their winery. We enjoyed a tasting of sweet wines for two of us, and the other two enjoyed glasses of dry white and dry rose. There are a few small bites on the menu, cheese plates, etc, but we had a dark chocolate bar. Started inside, which is clean and cozy and bright, and moved onto the spectacular porch overlooking the pond and vineyard. Left with a few bottles to enjoy at home, but the next time we're visiting relatives in Athens, we're coming back here. This craft beer devotee *highly* recommends Shade Winery. read more

Shade Winery - picnic tables below along with two grills - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

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Went to Shade in February. Great dining experience. Josie was our waitress. Great menu descriptions. Great interactions. My wife made dinner reservations for my birthday in late March. We got there on time. Were seated in a timely manner. Appetizers were good. Josie was not there. May have been her day off. Not sure of the name of or waitress. Not sure if she said. Appetizers were very good. Waitress gave a very good description of the special but ..... they were out of it. It was 6:00!! Food was ok. French onion soup not so much. We were having a great time. We were not ask if we wanted dessert but not a biggie. Friends were not done with their drinks... the credit cards were not returned with the receipts, when the owner sat down with a smile and asked us to hurry up and leave so the could have our table. " if you want to continue to talk please take it outside ". We had just spent over $600 We were stunned to say the least. What was a go to fun place to eat just became a never to return place. Probably no skin off his teeth but you can bet your bottom dollar that I will bad mouth him to every one I meet. read more

Out in the middle of nowhere, but some of the best food and wines I've ever had. Worth the trip. I want to return when I'm in Parkersburg again! read more

This place is amazing! The wine is every bit the quality of Napa...even Tuscany! And the food is top notch! Beautiful setting. You will not be disappointed! read more

We planned with some friends to visit the winery during the weekend. The place is ok, not to much to see and do other than have wine. And despite several options we could only find one that was good enough. Service was really confusing, menu is useless, as the options were only limited to three items. It was impressive how hard was for the staff to split a simple check. I think having one check for drinks and another for food only made it even harder. Place didn't have Wi-Fi connection for the guests, something unimaginable these days, mainly when phone coverage is really poor. In the end we were trying to get a taxi / Uber back to Athens and we were practically expelled from the tables we were sitting at. Really an unfriendly and rude experience for the customers. I do not recommend this place at all. read more

I visited Athens recently & wow was this place amazing! The scenery is beautiful, they have indoor & our door seating with a great view. I did the wine tasting & had 2 more glasses of the one I liked most. I had the chicken salad sandwich with potato salad and it was delicious. When I come back to Athens, Ohio, I will for sure visit again! read more

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Who knows why I took so long to make it out here - when I did recently the naturally beautiful setting of the southern Ohio hills as viewed from the comfortable perch of the winery - along with the impressive wine and food only made me wish I had come sooner. The cafe which opened recently produces high quality, clean and ethical food lends itself to ordering a bottle of wine and kicking back a while. My flaky chicken empanada tasted great. Nothing I have tried now on 2 visits has disappointed. Thank you to the owners who have obviously put much effort and love into this welcoming oasis! read more

Absolutely loved this winery! The spot is incredible, kind of off the beaten path. Lots of land and a beautiful vineyard. Small pond with koi made gazing over the lake drinking wine a fun and enjoyable experience. I am more of a sweet wine person and they had a HUGE selection for me. My boyfriend prefers reds like merlot, and there was a great selection for him as well. There were even a few that we agreed on, try the 2014 or 2016, one was more bubbly and we loved them both. (We hardly ever agree a wine tastes good)! I will be back to this place, it was awesome! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We sat in the main yard for quite awhile watching the fish and enjoying our wine. read more

Shade Winery - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

A wonderful place with excellent service, food, atmosphere and of course-wine. We celebrated my son's birthday at the winery & couldn't have asked for a better place. We will definitely will be back. Looking forward to enjoying the outdoor seating this summer. read more

Very nice place a few miles south Athens,Oh Just off US 33. The white estate wines are notable. The owners are on site, an standard editable items are available. Plus on a few Saturday's, dinner and live music is on site as well. The proprietors name is Neil, he's a great guy. Great destination, go there. read more

Shade Winery - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

As a craft beer nerd, it's rare that I bust out of my usual Athens brewery rounds. I've long meant to go check out Shade, and I finally got there on a recent beautiful Sunday. The kind proprietors made us feel right at home in their cozy tasting room, almost like we were sampling wines in their kitchen. The wine list is divided into dry and sweet, which helped steer me to styles I was more likely to enjoy. We availed ourselves of one of their cheese plates, a nice complement to the wines we tasted. I'd be shorting this place if I didn't mention the sublime setting, too. It's surrounded by vineyards and forest, so it feels like you're far away from civilization. Shade is a great place to relax and enjoy some tasty Athens County wine. read more

Shade Winery - View from the deck. - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

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Shade Winery has held a special place in my heart for about two years now. I first started coming here during a Mom's Weekend while at Ohio University, and ever since then when family comes in town, this is where we go. Visiting Shade is almost like a special present. The winery itself is far off the main road, so you're secluded in a beautiful, rolling valley surrounded by grape vines and nature. The owners themselves are just so wonderful and honestly make a huge part of the experience. They're so down to earth and ready to help and give suggestions, you can truly tell they're so passionate about their business. The wine selection is vast, from sweet whites to dark reds, no one's taste buds will leave unsatisfied. They allow an open food policy as well, giving the guest the opportunity to bring whatever their heart desires to pair with great tasting wine and a fabulous view. read more

Shade Winery - Wineries Near Me - Shade, Ohio

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First visit but not the last! The atmosphere was fantastic, scenery was beautiful, service was great, wine was delicious and food was spectacular! read more

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The shade winery location and view is great. There was an actual weeding happening when we got there and everything looked spectacular. As far as the wine, me and wife selected two flights and tried out 6 different wines, to be honest the wines needed more body and the flavors were almost identical between the red selections. I would say is a good place to leave the busy Athens town..... read more

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A group of my 22 year old friends and I took a day trip out to this winery. We had all heard about it from the university and had high expectations. When we arrived everything was great - the owner said hello and our waitress was very prompt. Our issues got worse the longer we stayed. First, our waitress forgot to put in our second round of food orders. When we asked when our food was going to be ready (after waiting an hour), he owner was extremely condescending and said "well if you guys would have done one order, we wouldn't have had that issue." After an hour and a half, our food arrived and was very delicious. Our next issue came from our drink waitress who told us, "if you guys don't have time to be here, don't come." At this point, we had been there for 3 hours. Lastly, our waitress left our checks with our cards in an open area that could have easily been taken. Overall, I was disappointed with my experience here and would not be willing to come back. read more

Just back from our first trip to Shade Winery! Such a beautiful gem! The owners are super-polite and accommodating, the vineyard is breathtakingly beautiful, and the wine is awesome! I am so impressed!! Give this place a try, you won't regret it! read more

Have been many times. It never disappoints. Amazing food and staff. Best place in southeast Ohio

An exceptional place to hang out with friends on a nice Athens Co. evening. The owners put love and hard work into everything offered here. They are always onsite and super friendly. The place improves every year and I'm looking forward to the new kitchen and restaurant which will open next season! The wines are fine, choose a dry white or red, but it's the fun atmosphere and music on the weekends that keeps people returning. This would also be an amazing place for a special event. read more

We just spent a Sunday afternoon at Shade Winery and what a treat it was. Great food, wine and atmosphere. We will definitely return. The staff was great and the owner was awesome. Five stars for sure!! read more