Why you should visit Put-in-Bay wineries in Ohio State
The blog post covers two Put-in-Bay wineries perfect for a wine tasting.
Put-in-Bay wineries are unique, quirky, and delightful in equal measure. They offer unusual wine tours and great wine. Plus, they’re located in the heart of Put-in-Bay Ohio.
Put-in-Bay is a quaint village on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. This little island is the loveliest amongst all the Bass Islands. There are no inland roads into town, which means the island is accessible only by boat and by plane.
To be honest this town only has two wineries. And lucky for us these wineries are super fun!
The first winery on our list offers wine tastings and tours in a big old Victorian home. You’ll drink tasty Put-in-Bay wines and learn about the history of this fabulous house and island. This wine tour is a history buff’s dream.
The second winery on this list offers wine tastings and tours of their Crystal Cave. Yes, that’s right. They have a Crystal Cave that contains the largest geode in the world. At the end of the cave tour you’ll get a glass of wine and your child will receive grape juice. Sparkly rocks + juice = winning combo. Don’t you wish your local museum had figured that out?
Put-in-Bay wineries aren’t merely wineries, they are attractions. So if you’re looking for a town that combines lake time, wine tasting, and kid-friendly activities, I bet you’ll like Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
How to access Put-in-Bay wineries on South Bass Island in Lake Erie
Put-in-Bay wineries are easy to access once you actually reach South Bass Island.
But getting to the island? That’s another story. South Bass Island is a true island with no inland roads. Instead you must access the island by boat or by plane.
Put-in-Bay does have an airport. But it’s very small and offers limited departures and arrivals. Your best bet is to take a ferry. You’ve got three ferry options: the Jet Express Ferry, the Miller Ferry, and the Good Time Ferry.
The Jet Express Ferry operates regularly and delivers customers straight into bustling downtown Put-in-Bay. If you like convenience and reliability, this ferry is your best option.
If you have a car you’ll need to take the Miller Ferry. Miller Ferry is the only option that transports vehicles to the island.
Your third choice is Good Time Ferry. This boat company provides cruises from Sandusky Bay to Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island. Some of their cruises are family-friendly and others are adult-only party cruises.
And last but not least you can certainly access South Bass Island via your own boat. If you’d like more information on how to access the island check out this helpful guide on the Put-in-Bay Visitors & Convention Bureau website.
The best Put-in-Bay wineries for a wine tasting
Put-in-Bay Winery
Put-in-Bay Winery has a wonderful view of the Put-in-Bay harbor. Their patio is the perfect place to relax with a glass of delicious wine.
Put-in-Bay Winery is located on the historic Doller House Estate. A large yellow Victorian-era building is the centerpiece of the property.
Put-in-Bay Winery actually offers a wine tasting tour in this historic home. That’s right – you can drink wine while you tour the Doller House and the historic ice house. The 35-minute wine tours cost $15 per person and include a taste of five wines. The tour includes a tasting of the Put-in-Bay Winery Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Victory Lap White, Sunset on the Bay Tropical Rosé, and their famous Chocolate sweet wine. You might even get to try the sparkling Moscato wine.
If you’re a wine lover and a history buff then this tour was meant for you!
Put-in-Bay Winery likes to educate its customers about the winemaking process. Their winery exhibit follows the evolution of a grape from the second the seeds are planted to the moment the finished wine is bottled. In other words, they show the full arc from seed to sip.
But if you’d prefer to skip the tour and educational exhibit at the Island Life Museum, no worries. Simply take a seat in the spectacular wine tasting room, the peaceful wine garden, or the front porch of the Doller House Estate. From the porch you can enjoy sweeping views of the harbor.
A panoramic view plus exceptional wines? Sounds like a great place to spend the afternoon.
P.S. The Doller Mansion is well suited to large groups. It has a picturesque gazebo, a lakeside front yard, and an expansive backyard that can accommodate large events like family reunions, weddings, and receptions.
Heineman Winery
German immigrant Gustav Heineman founded Heineman Winery in 1888. That makes Heineman Winery the oldest of the two Put-in-Bay wineries!
Heineman Winery is also Ohio’s oldest family owned winery. The third, fourth, and fifth generations of the Heineman family continue to run the winery to this day.
The winery produces variety of wines including both dry wines and sweet wines. Their different wines include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Iced Vidal Blanc, and Sweet Concord (among others). Check out the Pink Catawba wine, which is made from cold-hardy Catawba grapes.
Guests can enjoy tastings in their beautiful wine garden. There’s also a gift shop where you can pick up cheese plates or a few bottles of wine to take home.
Heineman’s Winery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM. On Sunday they’re open from 12-5 PM.
The Crystal Cave is one of Heineman’s claims to fame. According to them, their cave houses the world’s largest geode! Tours of the cave happen several times a day seven days a week from May through September. Crystal Cave tours cost $13 for adults and $8 for children (aged 6-11).
This tour is actually a “combo tour” of the Crystal Cave and Heineman Winery Wine Cellar. Depending on your age, your tour ticket will include a glass of wine or grape juice. So basically you sip grape juice and look at sparkly rocks. Sign me up!
Similar wine regions to explore
We hope you enjoyed this list of the best Put-in-Bay wineries. The Midwest is full of wine country towns just waiting to be explored.
The best Midwestern lakeside towns near wineries
Two other Midwestern wine towns remind me of Put-in-Bay: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin and Petoskey, Michigan.
If you’d like to visit a Midwestern lakeside town that’s a short drive to multiple wineries, check out our list of the best Egg Harbor wineries. Egg Harbor is a small town located on Door County Peninsula, a long peninsula that stretches into Lake Michigan. Door County is a treasure trove of charming villages, fun watersports, delicious food and drink, and miles of gorgeous coastline. This area is so beautiful it’s been nicknamed the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
Petoskey, Michigan is a small town on Lake Michigan. It’s among the most popular vacation destinations in the Midwest, so you’ve likely heard of it. But did you know they have wine? We’ve made a list of the 10 best wineries Petoskey MI offers so you can spend more time exploring and less time researching.
Our favorite wine destinations within Ohio State
If you’re looking for other wine destinations in Ohio State, check out our blog posts on Madison and the Hocking Hills.
These 7 wonderful wineries in Madison, Ohio have three big draws. First of all, they’re close to Cleveland. Second, they’re near Lake Erie. And third, they’ve got great wine. Sounds like a winning combination to me!
If you love wine and hiking look no further than Ohio’s Hocking Hills. We’ve compiled a list of 8 beautiful wineries in Hocking Hills, Ohio that are the perfect place to sit back and relax with a glass of wine. Hocking Hills State Park is the area’s main draw, but I think these wineries are worth a visit too.
