Tag Lake Erie

A Winelovers Guide to Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries Part 2

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A big thank you to all my followers and readers for making my latest article “A Winelovers Guide to Lake Erie Wine Country” a resounding success. It garnered the most daily views of any post on the day it was published. I am following it up with a second installment that highlights five more exceptional wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country. 

As one of the newest wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country, Cellar54 is continuing to evolve and define its identity. Their table wines are made from grapes grown on the shores of Lake Erie and range from sweet to semi-sweet. 9368 W. Law Rd North East.  http://cellar54wines.com 814-572-9280

Lakeview Wine Cellars is a small boutique winery producing a limited number of premium wines made from locally sourced grapes. Check out their wine bottle-shaped pond while you sip wine on their covered patio.  http://lakeviewwinecellars.com 8440 Singer Rd North East  814-725-4440

For over fifty-four years Presque Wine Cellars has been producing award-winning wines from big bold reds to their famous ice wines. Visit their tasting room, The Isle House at 9440 West Main Rd North East. It offers a full menu of wine, wine slushies, spirits, and local craft beer. http://piwine.com 814-725-1314

Yori Wine Cellars is a family-built winery that started as a hobby in their hundred-year-old cellar and grew into a winery that makes over 25 varieties of wine and vineyards growing 15 grape varieties. Their tasting room is located adjacent to their Micheal’s Italian Restaurant. http://yoriwinecellars.com 18 South Lake Street North East 814-725-8466

Driftwood Wine Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery near North East with a storefront/tasting room at 20 E. Main St North East provides guests a relaxed gathering place for family and friends. 814-347-5292 http://driftwoodwinecellars.com

The wineries I have highlighted in these posts are just ten of the twenty-one-member wineries in  Lake Erie Wine Country. There is always something happening because wine trail members participate in the many themed events that Lake Erie Wine Country hosts throughout the year and hold their own activities. Visit the L.E.W.C. website event page to see the roster of events https://www.lakeeriewinecountry.org/events/winery-events

With a little research and planning you can enjoy endless adventures in Lake Erie Wine Country.  Photo Credit: http://lakeeriewinecountry.com

A Winelovers Guide to Lake Erie Wine Country

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Along the southern shore of Lake Erie where it borders Pennsylvania you will find the vibrant and always evolving wineries of Lake Erie Wine Country. The Lake Erie AVA is the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies and a treasure trove of activities but for this post, I’ll highlight six wineries that will provide visitors an itinerary upon which they can build as they become more familiar with the area. 

I’ll start with the winery I consider to have the most name recognition of the region’s producers. Mazza Vineyards and South Shore Wine Company are two destination wineries for first-time visitors or seasonal travelers. Both are a good starting point to explore the wines that these legacy wine companies offer. Mazza Vineyards 11815 E. Lake Rd (Rt5) North East 814-725-8695  South Shore Wine Company 1120 Freeport Rd (Rt89) North East 814-725-1585 http://enjoymazza.com

Our next stop is 6 Mile Cellars and as its name suggests it is located on 6 Mile Creek in Harborcreek. This is the closest winery to downtown Erie making it a convenient stop for visitors. This boutique winery’s tasting room is in a one hundred-year-old horse barn that has been repurposed into an inviting space to enjoy their diverse selection of wines. 5727 Firman Rd Erie 814-580-8375 http://6milecellars.com

Route 20 provides easy access to the popular Courtyard Winery in North East. No tasting at Courtyard’s beautiful tasting room is complete without trying their Chambourcin.  10021 West Main Rd North East 814-725-0236  http://courtyardwinery.com

Continuing on Route 20 we arrive at Arundel Cellars & Brewing Company 11727 East Main Rd North East. This winery is a landmark in the area and is well-known to travelers on Route 20. 814-725-1079 http://arundelcellars.com

If you want to try something different but still taste distinctive wines, consider Burch Farms Country Market & Winery. You can shop at their country market for farm fresh produce, and assorted baked goods from their bakery, and taste their wines. Located at 9210 Sidehill Rd North East

http://burchfarmscountrymarketandwinery.com 

Erie, Pennsylvania offers something for everyone and is an easy drive for many in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. If you haven’t given this region much thought as a day trip or getaway option please take a minute to see if it’s right for you. 

Photo credit: http://lakeeriewinecountry.org

Review: Arrowhead Wine Cellars Riesling

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Arrowhead Wine Cellars is located in North East, Pennsylvania on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Nick and Kathy Mobilia are third-generation owners of Mobilia Fruit Farms. In 1998 they started making wine from their grapes that until then they had been pressing into juice for other wineries. Today, Arrowhead Wine Cellars produces 32 varieties ranging from Red, White, Blush, Sparkling, Ice, and Fruit wine.

 
Arrowhead Wine Cellars Riesling is an off-dry, light-bodied, and very lightly colored Riesling. It is an easy-drinking wine with muted flavors of apricot and melon that would pair well with spicy Thai and Chinese dishes. $15.99   arrowheadwine.com

Courtyard Winery 2015 Chambourcin

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Courtyard Winery 2015 Chambourcin

     As we approached Northeast, Pa. during our recent visit to the Lake Erie Wine Region we were greeted by the obligatory downpour. Luckily, it was brief and by the time we pulled into the parking lot of Courtyard Winery the skies had already begun to clear. I had never been to Courtyard and was eager to taste their wines. The tasting room was very well designed with two bars, one for sweet and the other for dry. The classically styled wine library is decorated with wine barrels and the walls are covered by racks of archived wines. 

After tasting several of their dry Reds I decided on a wine that would be a perfect complement to picnic fare, Courtyard 2015 Chambourcin. This wine is barrel aged to help reduce the naturally high acidity of this grape. Courtyard 2015 Chambourcin is an easy drinking wine with red fruit flavors, light tannins and a smooth finish. Chambourcin pairs well with grilled meats or pasta with red sauce. The bright acidity and lighter body makes this Pa. Lake Erie wine similar to Pinot Noir in structure.

     Lake Erie Wine Country stretches almost 50 miles along the southern shore of Lake Erie between Harborcreek, Pennsylvania and Silver Creek, New York. On your drive you will pass through the largest grape-growing territory outside of California and the 23 wineries that call it home.        http://lakeeriewinecountry.org

Wine Library at Courtyard Winery

Wine Library at Courtyard Winery

Lake Erie Wine Country Wine & Cheese Weekend

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     Lake Erie Wine Country will be presenting its Wine & Cheese Weekend event the weekend of April 21-23, 2017. There will be twenty two wineries participating in this event. Tickets are only sold online and must be picked up at one of the six

Photo Courtesy: Lake Erie Wine Country

designated pick-up wineries along with your gift bag. Tickets will be available until Tuesday April, 18 at 10:00 a.m. A ticket allows you to visit all the wineries for food samples, each paired with a complementary wine. Also included is a $5 gift voucher, wine glass, booklet containing all the recipes of the food you’ll be tasting and additional tastings. The cheese for this event will be provided by sponsor Yancey’s Fancy. Event hours are Friday April, 21st 12-6pm, Saturday April, 22nd 10am-6pm and Sunday April, 23rd 10am-5pm. One regular $38 ticket is good for all three days. The Designated Driver ticket is $20 and includes everything for the purchaser as a regular ticket except the wine tastings plus the $5 voucher is included at no charge. Friday and Sunday “Only” tickets are $28 and have the same privileges as a regular ticket but can’t be used on Saturday. For more information and to buy tickets go to the event website: http://lakeeriewinecountry.org/events/4

Island Wine Festival

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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

Put-In-Bay Winery

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

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!  

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