CINCINNATI – A new urban winery opens at 4 p.m. Friday in Over-the-Rhine.
The owners of Revel OTR, located at 111 E. 12th St., promise visitors a casual atmosphere and a wide range of locally made wines, including vintages they are making on site.
Revel OTR owners (l-r): John and Amy Coleman, and Anthony and Jodi Maieron. (Provided courtesy of Revel OTR)
"We really are really trying not to take ourselves too seriously," said Amy Coleman, who founded Revel with her husband John Coleman along with Anthony and Jodi Maieron.
Revel will also serve a small selection of local craft beers, cocktails, liquor and grappa, a grape-based brandy popular in Italy.
The couples announced plans for Revel last year. Anthony Maieron said he inherited a lifelong passion for winemaking from his parents, who continued to make wine after migrating to the United States from Italy.
Alex Sena, Revel OTR’s general manager and vintner, spent years managing Chateau Pomijie vineyard and winery in Guilford, Indiana, before joining the Revel OTR team. Sena will be in charge of making Revel’s wines in Revel's basement.
The urban winery's entertainment area consists of two main floors. Revel's bar is located on the first floor, along with chairs and custom-made windows that open onto a small sidewalk patio on 12th Street. Couches and chairs populate the second floor, which is also decorated with painting and sketches created by students at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
"Once we painted the walls on the second floor we saw a large opportunity and contacted the academy," Anthony Maieron said.
Amy Coleman added bands will occasionally play in a corner of the second floor space as well.
The owners said they plan to open a rooftop patio and bar at Revel that will overlook 12th Street by late summer.
"We took a very simplistic, approachable way when designing Revel; let's make it like you are at home," said John Coleman. "We want to be able to share our love of wine in Over-the-Rhine. This was a hobby for us ten years ago that grew into a passion."
After its grand opening Revel regular hours will be 4 p.m.-midnight Wednesday-Friday, noon-midnight Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. Revel will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
