The Island Wine Festival was held October 5th & 6th, 2013 on the grounds of the Put-In-Bay Winery in Put-In-Bay, Ohio.  Put-In-Bay is on South Bass Island in Lake Erie and is only a short ferry ride from Port Clinton.  The festival was set up under several large tents where vendors and local wineries displayed more than 400 wines that were available for tasting and purchase.  I was disappointed that more Ohio wineries were not represented because I wanted to taste a variety of their wines and see how the industry was progressing .  I did taste a dry Traminette offered by Chateau Tebeau Winery from Helena Ohio, one of the few Ohio wineries in attendance.  Chateau Tebeau grows a variety of grapes and owner Bob Tebeau told me this years harvest was excellent, with the Brix as high as 26.  Chateau Tebeau didn’t suffer the frost that hit many of the vineyards in Western Pennsylvania this spring.  It was the end of the season at Put-In-Bay but we all had a good time enjoying the party atmosphere that this destination is famous for, the only thing

Put-In-Bay Winery

The Miller Ferry arrives at Put-In-Bay from Port Clinton

missing were the in season crowds.  When visiting Put-In-Bay I suggest stopping by the Put-In-Bay Winery and Heineman Winery to get a little taste of island wine.  You can walk between the wineries or make the trip in a rented golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation of tourist on the island, but always remember you can be charged with D.U.I. even when driving a golf cart!  

Related articles

• Put-in-Bay Island Wine Festival Awash With Fun and Outstanding Wines (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
• A Day at Put-in-Bay (polkadotsandleopardspots.com)
• Life more than party at Put-in-Bay (toledoblade.com)