lake erie shores & islands

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!

See Website for hours of operation or call (740) 245-9463

2376 State Route 850 Bidwell, Ohio 45614 www.merryfamilywinery.com

ABOVE: With its 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.

lake erie shores & islands

IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, GERMAN IMMIGRANTS bringing their 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 estate-grown wines produced there will be stored in the winery’s magnificent European-style barrel-vaulted wine cellars.

Neighboring Kelleys Island is dominated by nature. At the island’s state park, you’ll find the famed Glacial Grooves National Natural Landmark with 400-foot-long grooves gouged into the limestone bedrock by the vast glacier that once covered the region. Rest a while at Kelleys Island Wine Company, where winemaker Kirt Zettler produces dry and semi-dry wines as well as sweeter wines made from grape varieties like

Niagara and Concord. Zettler’s daughter Abbey and her husband, Rodney Rosado, opened the nearby Monarch Winery in 2020 producing a variety of fruit wines, including Apple Pie Wine and Grown on the Vine Strawberry Wine. On the island’s southeast corner, Crooked Tree Vineyard is known for bold reds like Raccoon Red, named for the pesky raccoons fond of the winery’s grapes, and Eagle’s Eyrie, a Chambourcin named for the bald eagles who make daily flyovers. From the fruits of our vines to your table.

From our scenic Amish Country vineyard to your table – enjoy a glass of our award-winning wines at Breitenbach. From dry wines to sweet fruit wines (even dandelion), experience the relaxing atmosphere of our Wine Cellars and Café. Enjoy wine tasting, take a tour or dine on our café specialty, wood-fired pizzas.

BREITENBACH WINE CELLARS

5934 Old Route 39 NW, Dover, Ohio 44622 330-343-3603 | breitenbachwine.com

WINERY & TASTING HOURS Monday-Saturday, 9am to 6pm - 40 Varieties to choose from!

CAFE Monday-Saturday, 11am-3pm Serving fresh salads & wood-fired pizzas.

BREITENBACH BARBECUE & LIVE MUSIC Saturdays, May through October

Experience

International Award-winning wines and beautiful countryside. Choose from a selection of over 25 hand-crafted wines with something for everyone! • Live Music • Special Events • Great Food • Beer + Bourbon • Wine Festival August 5 & 6