High & Low Winery is all about dichotomy, says winemaker and owner Matt Snyder. So it makes sense that the sprawling country winery would open its second location in a cozy urban setting.
“Medina-Montrose is more country, with 30 acres where we have a waterfall and a huge patio where we do yoga and all that sort of stuff,” says Snyder. “We wanted to keep the same food and wine concept but in a very different space.”
Located on Mayfield Road in Little Italy’s main stretch, the 3,000-square-foot, 1,000-gallon wine production space with multiple tasting rooms is now open, though it celebrates its grand opening with an event this Friday. The winery and bistro is located in the La Collina mixed-use building across from Mama Santa’s.
The main space’s ambiance is divided between a “high” and “low” side. Whereas the “high” side might feature white marble tables, a photo of the characters from The Godfather in tuxedos and a chess board, the “low” side features rustic farmhouse tables, a photo of the characters from The Sopranos in tracksuits and a Monopoly Board. A hidden bookshelf door also grants visitors access to a secret speakeasy called the barrel room, which sits amongst the wine cellars and can be used for events in the 40-person range. The entire space can seat about 100 diners with an additional 20 or so on the patio when the weather allows.
“Literally as you come in, the object of the decor is for the high side to mirror the low side,” says Snyder. “The biggest difference is the ambiance. The menu is the same and the price points are the same.”
Fans of the winery’s Medina offerings will be pleased to find a familiar list of 20 different wine options, including the company’s locally grown and made selections such as the Lake Erie Impossible Things Riesling and the Niagara-grape No Model Lady. But Snyder is also offering two new Italian-inspired wines specific to the new location. Angel in the Marble is a Pinot Grigio, while Best Holiday is a Sangiovese. Wine flights are served on custom Italian license plate trays, and beer and cocktails are also available.
“Part of the point of a wine tasting is to kind of take a journey, so we wanted to offer a variety,” he says.
The food menu centers around Modern Mediterranean small plates — flatbreads, paninis and charcuterie — and is designed to cater to those looking for an appetizer or a dessert, such as Italian wedding cake or a chocolate mousse bomb, before or after dinner. That said, Snyder is proud of his pasta offerings with a new homemade red sauce that’s made from San Marzano tomatoes and infused with the winery’s Best Holiday Sangiovese.
“We think our food menu complements the area’s existing offerings very well,” he says.
The Little Italy location adds more production power to the company’s existing “few thousands-gallon” facility in Medina-Montrose, from which the company is already distributing. More distribution power might be on the way, Snyder says, but for now, Little Italy was the ideal next step for the Northeast Ohio winery.
“We spent a couple years in development, trying to figure out where to locate, and Little Italy has such a vibrancy and sense of community,” says Snyder. “There’s just nothing like it in Northeast Ohio. It’s the closest you can come to Brooklyn or something like that, yet it still has that kind of everybody-knows-everybody feel to it.”
