12 Ohio Wineries for Views, Food, History and Fun

Picture Perfect 
At these wineries, beautiful views enhance an already relaxing atmosphere. 

Sarah’s Vineyard // Cuyahoga Falls 
Located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, just across the road from Blossom Music Center, this vineyard’s outdoor seating areas provide striking views. There’s also a butterfly garden complete with a koi pond and a pavilion with an outdoor bar and three-story fireplace. sarahsvineyardwinery.com

Pleasant Hill Vineyards // Athens
On a clear day, up to 14 miles of rolling hills are visible at this southeast Ohio winery. Guests can take in the sight from the tasting room — an American chestnut log cabin built in the 1830s — or from the outdoor picnic tables that sit beneath 150-year-old maple trees. pleasanthillvineyardsllc.com

Terra Cotta Vineyards // New Concord
Located at a higher elevation than the surrounding land, this vineyard’s views provide a scenic backdrop for the cookouts that take place through October. The vistas are equally enjoyable from the tasting room or one of the covered porches. terracottavineyards.com   

Dig In 
These wineries offer great eats to go along with what’s in your glass.   

Gervasi Vineyard // Canton
This Tuscan-inspired vineyard offers three dining options. The Bistro serves upscale rustic Italian fare, the Crush House provides a more casual Italian cafe experience and The Piazza is an al fresco favorite. Order The Bistro’s Tuscan beef short ribs, which are braised for six hours and served with mushroom veal sauce. gervasivineyard.com

Firelands Winery // Sandusky 
In February, this winery celebrated the opening of its Osteria Gusto Exposition Kitchen, which provides an up-close and personal experience for foodies. Chefs are equipped with a camera and microphone, allowing them to talk customers through the process and give them a front-row seat to their meal being made. firelandswinery.com

The Winery at Versailles // Versailles
This winery offers three cozy seating areas as well as a covered patio where guests can enjoy some of the winery’s signature gourmet pizzas. Order the popular A Taste of Italy, topped with sausage, fresh spinach and tomatoes and Italian seasonings, as well as provolone, mozzarella and feta cheeses. wineryatversailles.com 


Living History 
These vintage structures got a second life thanks to some savvy winemakers. 

Baltic Mill Winery // Baltic 
This 1908 mill that once manufactured Little Daisy flour is now a three-story winery in rural northeast Ohio. The structure was remodeled in 2013, with the Garver family who owns the operation adding shelves and walls, while highlighting beautiful features of the original mill that have been preserved. balticmillwinery.com 

South River Vineyard // Geneva
After sitting vacant for nearly 30 years, Gene Sigel relocated this 1892 church from Shalersville to Geneva piece by piece in 2000. The inside looks like a functioning church except the pews are arranged facing one another to create booths. The original stained glass windows, trim, flooring and woodwork are still intact. southrivervineyard.com

School House Winery // Dover
Formerly known as Oak Grove School No. 6, this building opened as a winery in 2009. Built in 1886, the schoolhouse stood vacant for years and was nearly torn down. Today, wine lovers who visit can see some of the school’s original desks and bell as they sample the winery’s creations. schoolhousewine.com  
 

Big Fun
Dog days, hot air balloons and couples canoe trips mix grapes with good times. 

Debonné Vineyards // Madison
Every other hump day is “Woof Wednesday,” where guests are encouraged to bring their well-behaved dogs after 5 p.m. This month, the vineyard hosts an afternoon of classic cars, and guests can get a view of the winery from the basket of a tethered hot air balloon. debonne.com

Mastropietro Winery // Berlin Center
This Tuscan-style winery in Mahoning County offers live music every weekend. This month also brings the ninth annual Balloon Fest, featuring balloon animals and hot air balloon rides, as well as the fifth annual Lite the Nite fireworks show. mastropietrowinery.com

Valley Vineyards Winery & Brewery // Morrow
Every Thursday, this winery hosts It’s Just Wine, Beer and Music, where guests choose from pizzas, paninis, salads and sandwiches while enjoying live music. Twilight Canoe and Dinner for Two, a 3-mile guided float followed by dinner and music, runs through October. valleyvineyards.com