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W I N E G E TAWA Y S
Come Sip, Sit, Relax at Gallia County’s first Winery/Brewery. Take in the picturesque views of the countryside, stroll through the vineyard. Sample handcrafted wines and beers, try our homemade root beer soda. With so many great varieties to choose from you are sure to find something to love!
lake erie shores & islands IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, GERMAN IMMIGRANTS bringing their ABOVE: With its
2376 State Route 850 Bidwell, Ohio 45614 www.merryfamilywinery.com (Find us on facebook!) 08
YOUR OFFICIAL GUIDE TO OHIO WINES
winemaking skills to the New World found the limestone-rich soil and mild climate of the Lake Erie islands and nearby shoreline ideal for the production of grapes. Nowadays, the winemaking business is enjoying a renewed resurgence in this popular destination. For decades, fun-seekers have been drawn to the quaint town of Sandusky because of Cedar Point’s array of world-class roller coasters offering sky-high adrenaline-spiking thrills. Wine lovers will want to stop at Sandusky’s Firelands Winery. In its cozy knotty pine tasting room, Firelands offers samples from its own wines as well as other labels they produce, such as Mantey and Lonz. Enjoy a meal at Firelands’ on-site restaurant or play a game of bocce outdoors. Near Sandusky, The Winerie has taken residence inside a former barn. The new owners have kept the barn’s rustic character while adding a covered outdoor patio and a tasting room complete with rough-hewn timbers and a wagon-wheel chandelier. Try any of the two-dozen estate-grown wines. Frequent ferry crossings make the offshore islands as popular an attraction as the mainland. Travel to The Gideon Owen Wine Company on nearby Catawba Island. Owner Quintin Smith offers upscale casual fare, and with an eye to reviving Catawba Island’s once-thriving wine industry, Smith has planted six acres of vineyards.
THE WINERIE, FIRELANDS WINERY: KEVIN KOPANSKI
See Website for hours of operation or call (740) 245-9463
gorgeous setting, The Winerie makes for a fun night out. OPPOSITE PAGE,TOP: Thrill lovers won't want to miss speeding down Cedar Point's Millennium Force. MIDDLE: Hop on the Jet Express to ride to the islands. BOTTOM: Take a cooking class at Firelands Winery.
