What began as Rob Benfield’s home winemaking project for his wife and friends has grown into a family winery in Swanton, Ohio, producing distinctive wines from grapes sourced from California. Benfield Wines now makes its wines in the restored 1896 Pilliod Opera House, a 9,000-square-foot landmark that also houses its tasting room and event space. The family’s hands-on approach shows in its playful fruit wines as well as its traditional varietal bottlings.
Harpersfield VineyardSince 1979, family-owned Harpersfield Vineyard has grown grapes and made estate-bottled wines on its working farm in Ohio’s Grand River Valley. Its Geneva tasting room pairs those hand-picked-fruit wines with seasonal kitchen fare, vineyard views, live weekend music, and a fireside setting in colder months.GENEVA, OH
Buckeye Lake WineryAfter more than 20 years in Corporate America, proprietors Tracy and Laura Higginbotham turned their love of food and wine into a family legacy at Buckeye Lake Winery. The Thornville winery brings a hands-on California winemaking approach to Ohio, while supporting local growers when possible. Set beside Buckeye Lake, it is also a restaurant and gathering place built around relaxed dining, guided tastings, and lake views.THORNVILLE, OH
Gillig WineryOpened in 2016 by Trevor and Nikki Gillig, Gillig Winery is Findlay’s first winery, producing and bottling handcrafted wines on-site from grapes sourced around the world. The family-owned winery pairs its locally made wines with a bistro menu and a welcoming tasting-room and patio experience, while also hosting bottling parties and private events.FINDLAY, OH
Wyandotte Winery LLCBuilt as both a home and winery in 1977, Wyandotte Winery is Central Ohio’s first and oldest winery, producing handcrafted small-batch wines on the premises of its Northeast Columbus neighborhood facility. The winery uses Ohio-grown fruit whenever possible and welcomes visitors to a relaxed tasting room with wood-fired pizza, small plates, live local music, and private event space. Ownership transitioned in 2023 to David and Robin Panzera, Alena Miller, and Matthew Greenwood, who continue the site’s winemaking tradition.COLUMBUS, OH