/ / / / / / / /

On Ohio's Lake Erie Wine Trail: Put-in-Bay Winery

July 13, 2012 at 2:06 PM | by | Comment (1)

Everybody knows the Wine Trails of Napa/Sonoma, Argentina, the Loire Valley and, more recently, NY's Hudson Valley, but this week it's all about Ohio. Yes, Ohio has wineries—lots of 'em actually—and we'll be sharing our favorites with you.

Today: Put-in-Bay Winery in the town of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island, Ohio

Perhaps the newest winery of all in the area, Put-in-Bay winery only opened in 2009 but at least took over a vintage Victorian mansion on prime waterfront property to make its mark. WIthout a history like Heineman's has, PIB decided to focus their energy on becoming a pretty place for drinking wine—get the tourists that way.

The first floor of the Italianate complex is given over to a few rooms of tables for indoor tastings, plus a retail store and tasting bar. Head out back to a gazebo and massive park, or out front to the porch and front yard that looks over toward Put-in-Bay harbor, the tiny Gibraltar Island and the towering Perry's Victory Monument. We ordered up our wines, took 'em to the porch and played a game of checkers while enjoying the lake breeze. Cheap, easy and absolutely idyllic.

Gallery: Ohio Wine Travel: Put-in-Bay Winery

Tasting details: You have options here: do one of the three daily tasting flight specials, or just pay per taste of whichever wines strike your fancy. Prices vary for the latter, but $2.50 each is average and this is the option we chose. On the day we visited, the three tasting flights were: Put-in-Bay Winery wines (flight of 4 for $9); Pelee Island wines (flight of 4 for $10); and west coast wines (flight of 4 for $12).

Our wine pick: While their own label "Celebration" sparkling wine was quite tasty, it's made with Californian grapes and we didn't come all the way out to this Lake Erie winemaking island to taste something made half a country away. Nope.

Luckily we tried a few others and settled on the Gamay Noir from Pelee Island Winery as our favorite. Pelee is another Lake Erie island that makes wine, and though you can see it on the horizon from Put-in-Bay, Pelee is over the property line dividing the US and Canada. Its claim to fame: Canada's southernmost winery.

[Photos: Cynthia Drescher/Jaunted]

Comment (1)

Post a Comment

Return to » On Ohio's Lake Erie Wine Trail: Put-in-Bay Winery


Keith

For information or to take action on the duplicate and unnecessary over regulation of Ohio wineries by the Ohio Department of Agriculture please see: www.freethewineries.com or www.facebook.com/FreeTheWineries.com
Keithp001 on July 13, 2012 at 5:07 PM #Permalink

Return to » On Ohio's Lake Erie Wine Trail: Put-in-Bay Winery

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .
Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices