Canton’s Drive-Thru Wine Shop: A Show-Stopper with Wine Club and Tastings – Phil Your Glass

Fine wines can sometimes be discovered in the most unexpected locations. Do you recall Chris Forest and his unique convenience store and gas station named Alcohol By Volume located in Cleveland’s Edgewater neighborhood? Shortly after my article in February highlighting Forest’s extraordinary establishment, whispers began about a similar venue in Canton.

Don’t be misled by the large mural featuring three adorable Labradors painted on the exterior wall. Meyers Lake Beverage & Drive Thru in Canton is another fantastic spot to find a quality bottle of wine. It’s not uncommon to feel a bit dubious as you drive by the 12th Street NW drive-thru, where they offer to refill your empty propane tank or sell you hefty 40-pound bags of water softener salt.

Of course, you could stop by to grab your usual lottery tickets, cigarettes, and six-packs of beer. However, to truly appreciate what owner TJ Sliman, who took over the place about a year ago, has established, you’ll need to step out of your vehicle.

To begin with, Meyers Lake Beverage & Drive-Thru features an impressive selection of nearly 300 wines in their charming wine shop. “I have many customers who aren’t well-versed in wine. I’m just trying to help them learn,” said Sliman, who also offers a collection of wines rated 90 points and above for less than $25 each. It’s quite unique to find a drive-thru beverage shop that hosts monthly wine tastings and boasts a wine club that includes detailed tasting and pairing notes. Membership tiers for two bottles are available at $30, $60, and $100 levels.

Have I mentioned that there’s a private wine tasting space crafted from reclaimed wood sourced from a home in Canton built in the 1860s?

I discovered this venue back in September during an event that paired Mexican food from a food truck with Italian wines. The culinary offerings from Pedro’s Taqueria, a popular food truck stationed in the parking lot, complemented the wines from Piedmont Italy, specifically those produced by Giovanni Correggia. “We’ve also got a large selection of craft beers,” Sliman noted, as his establishment was recognized as the best beer store in Stark County for 2023.

Feel free to drop by and explore the wine room from 6 to 8 p.m. on November 7, and I will serve you four exquisite wines for just $5. A small charcuterie will be available, but I highly recommend grabbing a bite from Pedro’s Taqueria, which will also be present.

Anthony Scolaro, the owner of One Eleven Bistro, along with his wife, Nicola, has transformed a previous event area into this charming wine room.

“Our wine dinners often sell out,” shared Scoloro, a contestant from the Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” in 2019.

“We aim to discover wines that offer exceptional quality for their price,” Scoloro mentioned last week during a quiet opening.

The festivities will begin with a wine tasting at 6:30 p.m. on November 6, featuring five wines from various parts of the globe, complemented by some light bites. Tickets are priced at $40 per person and can be bought on their website 111bistro.com/wine-shop.

The wine room shares the same operating hours as the restaurant, open from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 4 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen is closed by 9 p.m. daily. One Eleven Bistro is located at 2736 Medina Road, just east of Medina.

The eighth annual Feast of the 7 Delicious wine event is approaching, taking place in six weeks. Preparations are nearly complete for the gathering set for December 5 at the DoubleTree in Fairlawn, previously known as the Hilton. Raffle tickets priced at $100 and a fee for VIP room access will be used to support the Halle Schmidt Foundation, which offers scholarships to students at Copley High School who are aiming for careers in the medical field. Further details about ticket pricing and availability will be shared soon.

You can contact Phil Masturzo via email at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass.

This article first appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: Shop at Canton drive-thru offers wine club, tastings: Phil Your Glass

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!