3 minute read
vines & wines
➻ips WINE GETAWAYS
INN | GRILLE WINERY | SPA
www.thelakehouseinn.com 440-466-8668 | inquiries@thelakehouseinn.com 5653 Lake Road East, Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH
vines & wines
OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT
TO RIGHT: Enjoy lunch with a bottle or two of wine at Grand River Cellars. Seafood pairs well with the Pinot Grigio at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante. Take a stroll on Headlands Beach between visits to the area's wineries. RIGHT: Enjoy scenic views when you stay at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake.
EXPLORE MORE THAN 30 WINERIES IN THE GRAND RIVER
VALLEY, where there are more wineries than any other region in the state. The unique microclimate created by the area’s topography and the protective influence of Lake Erie allows winemakers to grow some of the best grapes in the country, including European vinifera varieties that are difficult to grow elsewhere in Ohio.
There’s also much to do in this region in addition to winery hopping. Headlands Beach State Park in Lake County has a mile-long sandy beach, and neighboring Ashtabula County is Ohio’s covered bridge capital — there are 19 of them, including the longest and shortest in the country. The frozen-in-time town of Genevaon-the-Lake has been a family destination for decades with its famous “Strip” featuring arcades and vintage eateries like Eddie’s Grill, where tunes from yesteryear perpetually play on the jukebox.
Stay at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake and take the shuttle to area wineries. Come back to take in views of Lake Erie and ride the zip line at Lake Erie Canopy Tours.
Among the places to try is M Cellars, a boutique winery specializing in fine, cool-climate wines. Sample unique varieties, like Rkatsiteli, a 3,000-year-old grape from the Republic of Georgia that produces a distinctive white wine.
Grand River Cellars produces Riesling, Chardonnay and Merlot, as well as specialty wines like a maple ice wine. Their lofty tasting room has a fireplace and hand-painted murals and is a good place to catch dinner — offerings include bourbon salmon.
Dine on pasta, paninis and pizza with a vista of 65 acres of manicured vineyards at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante. Its Vidal Blanc Ice Wine took medals at the prestigious San Francisco Wine Competition.
Stonegait Winery looks like a big red barn, and that’s exactly what it once was. The beautifully restored structure sits on what was once a working horse farm, and the winery honors its heritage with horses on their wines’ labels. Try its Tempranillo.
Customer favorites at nearby Laurello Vineyards include the Cosmo, a “Super Tuscan” red blend — there’s also a version of it aged in bourbon barrels.
With its log cabin appearance and high-ceilinged tasting room dominated with a four-sided stone fireplace, Laurentia Vineyard and Winery has the look of a rustic lodge. Take home the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stoltz Block® — it was featured in Wine Enthusiast magazine.
A WINE FOR EVERY PALATE
Sip, Salute & Savor our Estate Grown Grand River Valley Wines
