Visiting the Lake Erie Wine District

The Ohio “Wine and Vines Trail” begins about 30 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio and about 90 miles west of Pittsburgh. Although the area is interesting year round, the best time to visit is in the spring when new Icewines are introduced and in the fall during the traditional grape harvest. Visitors can fly into either Cleveland or Pittsburgh and rent a car to best explore the area.

Ashtabula and Lake Counties boast a host of interesting and romantic bed and breakfast accommodations as well as charming restaurants. Fitzgeralds B and B, located in Painesville in eastern Lake County, offers visitors a taste of Ireland in a spacious, 12-bedroom Tudor home. The Gilded Swan, on the harbor in Ashtabula, is a Victorian B and B with Jacuzzi tubs and sweeping lake views.

While in the area, be sure to visit one of the many authentic covered bridges that dot the landscape as well as the nearby Amish communities in Geauga Country, known for their handcrafted furniture and family restaurants. Also worth visiting is the quaint village of Chardon, home to dozens of interesting antique shops and the annual Maple Syrup festival.

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