South River Vineyard is a boutique winery in Harpersfield, Ohio, producing wines from old-world grape selections grown in the Grand River Valley’s unusually favorable lakeside climate. Operating since 2002, it is known locally as the “church winery,” housed in an 1892 Methodist Episcopal church that owner Gene Sigel moved piece by piece from Shalersville. Guests can sample the wines among the vineyards or in the winery’s unusual wine cave, built from precast highway culverts.
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
Benfield WinesWhat 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.SWANTON, OH
Virant Family Winery, IncSet among the vineyards of Ohio’s Grand River Valley near Lake Erie, Virant Family Winery makes wines from regional grapes and welcomes visitors with the easygoing feel of a family gathering. The winery also pairs its wine with Friday and Saturday dinners and hosts weddings, showers, and private parties, giving it a role as both a local tasting destination and gathering place.GENEVA, OH