In a stone cavern built in the 1860s, South Shore Wine Company makes celebratory wines that put sparkling styles and lesser-known grape varieties at the center. Founded in 1864 as Erie County’s first commercial winery, it carries that regional sparkling-wine tradition into a modern portfolio, including its signature Grüner Veltliner and sweet, balanced selections. South Shore is part of the Mazza family, which has made wine in the Lake Erie AVA since 1972.
Robert Mazza, IncFor more than 50 years, the Mazza family has carried on a winemaking tradition in the Lake Erie AVA, growing Robert Mazza, Inc. from one vineyard into a family of wine, spirit, and beer makers. Today, the company’s locally sourced approach is expressed through its regional wineries and its Westfield destination, where wine, distilling, and brewing share one home.MAYVILLE, NY
Robert Mazza, IncSince 1972, the Mazza family has turned Lake Erie AVA grapes into wine and grown that original vineyard into a regional family of wineries, a brewery, and a distillery. Robert Mazza, Inc. now operates three winery locations, including South Shore Wine Company’s historic 1860s stone cavern, while also offering custom winemaking and distilling for other brands. The company emphasizes locally sourced agricultural products and more sustainable grape varieties.WESTFIELD, NY
Arrowhead Wine CellarsOn the shores of Lake Erie in North East, Pennsylvania, third-generation grape growers Nick and Kathy Mobilia make wine from fruit grown largely on their family’s 250-acre farm. Established in 1998, Arrowhead Wine Cellars controls the process from growing and pressing through fermenting and bottling, carrying the Mobilia family’s agricultural tradition into a 32-variety winery. The family’s Blackberry Wine won the Pennsylvania Governors Cup in 2017.NORTH EAST, PA
Sawmill Creek EstateOn Seneca Lake’s east shore, Sawmill Creek Estate makes handcrafted Finger Lakes wines from a vineyard farmed by the Hazlitt family for seven generations. Founded in 2010 by seventh-generation grower Jason Hazlitt and veteran Finger Lakes winemaker Justin Boyette, the estate’s wines are shaped by the long history of Sawmill Creek Vineyards and Boyette’s low-intervention approach. Its Hector tasting room pairs those wines with a laid-back welcome and a marketplace featuring local food products.HECTOR, NY