Find Ohio Wines

Life Grown Here

By Nicholas Dekker

Meranda-Nixon Winery, credit Kelly Wilt.

The wines crafted in Ohio really do have deep roots. Drawn from the lush landscape of the Buckeye State, as well as the rich history of our winemakers, the wines produced here are far more than just an enjoyable beverage — they’re the moments you get to share while savoring them: rekindling old friendships, celebrating life’s moments, creating new family memories while reliving old ones. Ohio’s wineries are as varied as the state’s terrain, tucked into the rolling hills, amongst grassy farmland, along the lakeside and even nestled in historic neighborhoods of our big cities. Visit Ohio wineries to celebrate life grown here.

Firelands Winery, credit Kevin Kopanski.

Wine and Dine

What goes better with a glass of wine than an exquisite bite to eat? Many Ohio wineries serve snacks and meals that pair perfectly with their wines. Plum Run Winery in downtown Grove City offers a creative spread that includes Ohio City Cajun pasta, bison burgers and bruschetta flatbreads. Don’t forget a glass of crispy chardonnay or sweet Scioto Red.

Henke Winery sits in a cozy old home just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Sip a robust seyval or spicy red zinfandel while you feast on cheese and charcuterie boards, stuffed mushrooms and blackened salmon. Grand River Cellars in Madison features a full-service restaurant and a rustic, cozy wine cave for special events. Its menus span Ohio cheese plates to Slovenian sausage sandwiches, chardonnay-steamed salmon and Mediterranean pastas. They’re best paired with wines originating from the Grand River Valley, like their concord port and cabernet franc rosé.

In recent years, Shade Winery has expanded its patio to offer stunning views of the vineyards and rolling hills of Southeast Ohio. It’s a wonderful backdrop to sipping a crisp vidal blanc or sweet chambourcin with a charcuterie board or grilled chicken. Firelands Winery in Sandusky built out the Osteria Gusto, an exhibition kitchen that brings guests close to the action. Nothing brings friends together like a glass of Firelands rosé and the fun of watching the culinary team at work.

Deep Roots

Ohio wineries have a deep history. Multiple generations of master vintners craft wines from their vineyards, and offer plentiful stories about Ohio winemaking over the years. Open since 1977, Wyandotte Winery is Central Ohio’s oldest winery. Friends have gathered for years to celebrate good times over many-a glass of winemaker Robin Coolidge’s wares, from his Grandstand Catawba to his Tower City Cabernet Sauvignon.

Meier’s Wine Cellars in Silverton is the state’s oldest winery, producing a wide variety of table wines, fruit wines, dessert wines and sparkling wines since 1890. The experienced winemaking team at Meier’s draws on decades of history to craft award-winning entries like the pink catawba, blackberry and Reièm Spumante. After you sip traminette or sweet concord at Heineman’s Winery in Put-in-Bay, tour the caves underneath the tasting room. They’re home to the world’s largest geode — big enough that you can stand up in it! Selling tickets to the geode helped Heineman’s navigate the tricky days of Prohibition.

Terra Cotta Vineyards sits on a scenic hillside in New Concord, affording guests stunning views of the rolling landscape while they swap stories, share memories and taste a glass or two of Terra Rosa or chambourcin. Ferrante Winery & Ristorante in Geneva is a family affair. First opened in 1937, the winery and restaurant is now run by the Ferrante family’s third generation. Together, the family members tend the vineyards, create their wines, develop restaurant menus and welcome friends old and new. Since 1980, Breitenbach Wine Cellars in Dover has produced over 40 varieties of wine from its grounds tucked into the rolling hills of Amish country. Guests love tasting wine at the shop and sharing pizzas on the patio.

Vermilion Valley Vineyards, credit Kevin Kopanski.

Vine Views

Everywhere in Ohio is wine country! Ohio wineries offer you the best views around the state, from hills to lakeshores to city skylines. Vermilion Valley Vineyards takes its name from the watershed in which it sits. The winery employs sustainable practices, both in its building design and agriculture techniques. The result is a slate of complex estate wines, best enjoyed with a view of the grapevines, trees and pond. The family-run Sarah’s Vineyard in Cuyahoga Falls offers patio seating and a giant covered pavilion with a beautiful stone fireplace. Through warm summer days and crisp fall evenings, it’s a beautiful backdrop for savoring sangria or Blue Heron Blush.

Rockside Winery & Vineyards calls itself “a little slice of wine country in Central Ohio,” and you can’t argue with the sentiment. The Lancaster winery welcomes guests for live music, great wine and even better company to its picturesque grounds. Cincinnati’s Vinoklet Winery spreads across 30 acres of rolling hills and ponds lined with more than 12,000 vines. Its award-winning wines and scenic digs are a popular setting for weddings, concerts, fairs and wine festivals.

Stoney Ridge Winery sits next to a large pond, so whether you’re relaxing on the patio or in the tasting room, your view includes calm waters and the rows of grapevines beyond. In addition to reds, whites, rosés and fruit wines, Stoney Ridge crafts hard ciders, and serves local beer and cocktails. The views at Pleasant Hill Vineyards in Athens are more than just pleasant, they’re breathtaking! The boutique winery sits on land that was once a horse farm. Grab a spot on the porch or around the firepit, order up baked brie or crispy flatbreads, and toast good friendships with a glass of Athena Chardonnay.

Winery at Wolf Creek, credit Karin McKenna.

Wags & Wine

While man’s best friend can’t sip the wine, your faithful companions are still welcome at these Ohio wineries! Every Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. is Yappy Hour on the patio at Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton. Bring your furry friend while you sip a signature White Lies made from ripe Delaware grapes. Debonné Vineyards in Madison is the state’s largest estate winery, which leaves plenty of room for your leashed pups to roam. Every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. is Woof Wednesday, featuring live music and wine at the grassy hillside tables. A portion of wine, beer and food sales those nights is donated to local shelters.

The patio and lawn at Enon’s Brandeberry Winery are popular spots during the warm months for live music and local food trucks every Friday and Saturday. Sip dry rieslings, fruit wines and wine slushies and bring your pup along! Dogs are welcome at Matus Winery, which sits on the 80-year-old Matus Farm in Wakeman. Guests love the picturesque grounds, the live music, the great companionship (human and canine!) and signature wines like the riesling, Purple Haze and blackberry fruit wine.

Autumn Rush Vineyard in Johnstown welcomes dogs to the lawn area around the pond, so you can bring your pup along while you enjoy a bite to eat from rotating food trucks, hard ciders and estate wines like the Dry Creek Cab Franc or Rosaline rosé. White Shutter Winery & Brewery in Nevada invites you to relax on the lawn with a glass of Blues Man blueberry wine and a wine slushie while you take in the surroundings, order dinner from a local food truck or even play some sand volleyball.

Chill out on the patio at Dalton Union Winery & Brewery in Marysville and sip on wine, mead, cider or beer made onsite. Come back for fun dog events, like a dog costume party. Take in the scenic view with your pup on the patio at Na zdravie Vineyard & Winery in Kingston. Sip on Max (a malbec) or Feebe (a chardonnay), just two of the many wines named for the owners’ dogs at Lil Paws Winery in Lake Milton.

White Shutter Winery & Brewery, credit Beth Thiel.

Sip & Stay

The only thing better than visiting a winery is getting to stay at one overnight! Many Ohio wineries offer luxurious overnight accommodations. Dragonfly Winery operates a tea room and a full bed and breakfast in addition to its wine bar. The B&B sits above the tea room, in the oldest building in historic downtown Canal Fulton. Begin your day with a hearty breakfast and end it with flatbread pizzas and a glass of 1814 Cabernet Sauvignon in the tasting room.

Relax at the Guesthouse at Heritage Vineyard in Warsaw, a secluded country cottage with views of the winery, vineyard and garden. Sit back with a glass of Vineyard Peach and let your cares melt away! You’ll forget you’re in Ohio once you enter the grounds of Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. Gervasi’s property feels like the Tuscan countryside, with vineyards, restaurants in renovated barns and a row of villas overlooking the pond. Sit by the firepit with a glass of Lascito, then grab dinner at The Crush House, followed by cocktails at The Still House.

The Lakehouse Inn features the best views of Lake Erie from Geneva-on-the-Lake. The all-inclusive experience includes deluxe accommodations, a spa, a farm-to-table restaurant and a roster of expertly crafted wines best enjoyed on the patio. Book a room at Taigan Hills Winery’s B&B in Danville, and use it as your base to explore the trails, restaurants and historic sites of nearby Amish country. After a busy day of adventures, relax at the tasting room with Taigan Hills’ slate of reds, whites and rosés. The Redfern Inn at Rocky Point Winery resides in the upper floors of the historic Marblehead Schoolhouse building. Guests can enjoy complementary bicycles for exploring the surrounding area, although the private lounge, firepits and a glass of riesling or pink catawba will tempt you to stay on site!

Heritage Vineyard, credit Casey Rearick.