Ohio wine country has a lake side and a river side: the Grand River Valley and Lake Erie Shores & Islands in the north, the Ohio River Valley around Cincinnati in the southwest. Along Lake Erie and the Ohio River, Cruv shows which tasting rooms are open and what is coming up.
140+ places in Cruv · 330+ upcoming events · 3 wine regions
More than half of Ohio's wine-grape acreage grows in this cool, lake-influenced valley east of Cleveland, along the Grand River.
25+ places in Cruv · 110+ upcoming events
More wine regions in Ohio
8 places in Cruv
Lake Erie Shores & Islands covers Ohio's lake shore around Sandusky and Port Clinton, plus the islands offshore. Lake Erie moderates a cool-climate growing area, and North Bass Island is the Isle St. George AVA, established in 1982.
9 places in Cruv
The Ohio River Valley region runs from Cincinnati to Ripley, the stretch where Nicholas Longworth's vineyards spread in the 1800s and Catawba became sparkling wine. The Ohio Wine Producers Association calls it Ohio's first wine region.
Ohio State University Extension's list of the state's top cultivars by acreage mixes European vinifera, such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris, with hybrids like Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin and native grapes such as Catawba and Concord.
White
Riesling is among Ohio's top cultivars by acreage, says Ohio State University Extension. The Vines & Wines trail in the Grand River Valley lists it among award winners, and the Shores & Islands trail says Riesling plantings complement historic vineyards.
White
Ohio State University Extension also counts Chardonnay among Ohio's top cultivars by acreage. The Vines & Wines trail in the Grand River Valley lists it among award winners, and the Shores & Islands trail says Chardonnay plantings complement historic vineyards.
Red
Cabernet Franc is on Ohio State University Extension's list of top Ohio cultivars. The Vines & Wines trail lists it among award winners, and the Ohio River Valley trail says Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are showing promise.
White
Vidal Blanc is a white French-American hybrid and one of Ohio State University Extension's top Ohio cultivars by acreage. The Vines & Wines trail calls it easy to enjoy, and WineAmerica's Ohio profile spotlights it as a featured grape.
Red
Chambourcin is a red hybrid that Ohio State University Extension lists among Ohio's top cultivars by acreage. The Vines & Wines trail in the Grand River Valley calls it, along with Vidal Blanc, easy to enjoy.
Red
Catawba is a native grape with deep Ohio roots: in the 1800s, Cincinnati-area winemaker Nicholas Longworth won national recognition for sparkling wine made from it. Ohio State University Extension also lists it among the state's top cultivars by acreage.
