If you’re staying with us at Spencer House, you’re already closer to Lake Erie Wine Country than you might think. Some of the region’s best known wineries are just a short drive east, and a day spent among the vineyards is one of our favorite things to recommend to guests. Best of all, tasting rooms stay open right through the winter, so this isn’t just a summer recommendation from us.
What Makes This Region Different
We have learned a lot about Wine Country over the years and while one could really get into “the weeds” with the details, in more simple form there are two main factors that make this region different, the soil and the lake.
The soil make-up is what was left when the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago and it provides the nutrients and proper drainage. Lake Erie acts as a temperature “moderator” helping create the conditions needed for growing quality wine grapes.
Lake Erie Wine Country runs about 50 miles along the lakeshore, from just north of Erie in Pennsylvania all the way to Silver Creek, New York. More than 20 wineries sit along the trail, many with vines running right down toward the water. The whole stretch sits within the Lake Erie AVA with roots in winemaking that go back well over a century.
Concord grapes built the region’s reputation but, with the successful introduction of many European varieties, today you’ll find everything from dry to sweet wines, dessert wines and even ice wines made from grapes harvested after the first hard freeze. It’s sometimes a surprise for guests to learn that this is the largest grape growing region east of the Rockies, with roughly 30,000 acres of vineyards.
How Close is Lake Erie Wine Country to Spencer House?
You don’t need to drive far to get a real taste of the region. North East, Pennsylvania, about twenty five minutes from Spencer House, has one of the highest concentrations of wineries on the whole trail.
A few worth building your afternoon around:
Cellar’54 is the closest winery to Spencer House, and it’s a good one. It’s a smaller, family-owned spot with a more refined, dry-leaning wine list, though sweeter options are available too. They often host live music on Friday and Saturday nights, which is something we personally enjoy.
Mazza Vineyards is the flagship of the Mazza family wineries and has been producing wine since 1972. They’ve made ice wine since 1984, and their tasting room has the kind of easy, welcoming feel that makes it a good place to add to your wine tour list.
Courtyard Winery is our personal favorite of the PA wineries and is the next closest after Cellar’54. They feature a number of award winning wines both sweet and dry which we feature for our Wine and Chocolate package. They often come up with some unique pairings to include wine and gourmet flavored popcorn. It’s also home to our Meet the Winemaker and Picnic in the Vineyards packages. Most of what we know about the growing of grapes and turning them into wine we have learned from Randy, the owner and winemaker.
Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co. is a good stop if your group has both wine and beer drinkers. They’re also known for live music on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons too, and it’s a good lunch stop since they offer the largest food menu of the wineries.
South Shore Wine Company is a Mazza family winery with a tasting room set inside a historic stone cavern, definitely worth a visit for the setting alone.
Lakeview Wine Cellars rounds out the North East cluster and is the only one in PA that provides a view of the lake from the tasting room. They also have quite the unique countertop featuring sand from beaches all around the world.
These are all within a few minutes of each other, so you can easily string together three or four stops without much driving in between.
If you don’t mind driving a bit further, about 45 minutes from Spencer House, Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield, New York is worth the trip and is our personal favorite in New York. It’s the oldest estate winery in New York State, with a long history and a wide range of award winning wines from dry reds to sweet dessert wines. Their tasting room has a wonderful winery ambiance and an extremely knowledgeable staff. They also have live music on Thursday nights.
Planning Your Day
A few things we tell guests before they head out:
– Start earlier in the day if you’re planning several stops. Most tasting rooms open by 11 or noon, and the wineries tend to fill up as the afternoon goes on, especially on summer and fall weekends. Most wineries close by 6:00 in the evening.
– Pace yourself between wineries. A stop for lunch or dinner in downtown North East, or a visit to one of the small beaches along the way, makes the day feel less like a checklist and more like a drive worth taking slowly. Skunk and Goat Tavern is a favorite of ours for Lunch or Dinner. It’s set inside what was originally a bank building, and they still have the old vault, which now holds a table for guests who want a more unusual spot to sit and eat.
– If your visit lines up with harvest season in the fall, ask us about it. That’s when several
wineries host grape festivals and the vineyards themselves are worth the drive as the
smell of grapes is in the air. It’s also a great time to explore what else Erie has to offer in the fall. In late September, Westfield, NY holds its Grape and Wine Festival and North East, Pa holds its annual Wine Fest in the park in the middle of town and the first two weekends in November feature the Lake Erie Wine Country Harvest Weekend Celebration.
Let Us Take Care of the Details
If you’d rather not worry about driving, parking, or picking which wineries to visit, or want to know more details about winemaking we’ve built two packages around exactly that.
Our Stay and Tour package starts with pickup right at our front door in a chauffeured Rupp Limousine town car/SUV. From there you’re off to wine country for five hours, and you can either choose the wineries yourself or let the driver recommend a route (they do this for a living and know the trail well). The package includes your room with hot breakfast, a box of Pulakos chocolates waiting in your room, and a Lake Erie Wine Country Visit Visa that gets you purchase discounts along the trail. When you’re dropped back at Spencer House, pour yourself a glass and settle onto the front porch or in the Library with those chocolates. It’s a package worth booking, especially if you’re bringing a group or just don’t want anyone in your party stuck as the designated driver.
For guests who want to understand the wine itself and not just taste it, our Meet the Winemaker package takes you to Courtyard Winery for something more hands-on. You’ll start with a walk through the vineyard, weather permitting, to learn about the grape varieties grown here and what makes this stretch of shoreline so well suited to them. From there, the tour moves into the winery itself, following the process from the press floor to the bottling line, before ending with a private tasting and a glass of Courtyard wine in the Barrel Room. It’s typically offered from mid-January through the beginning of August, making this a nice fit for guests visiting outside the busiest fall wine season.
Both packages are based on availability, and we’ll follow up after you book to confirm the day and time that works best. Give us a call if you’d like to combine either one with another package, or if you just want to talk through which option fits your visit.
Let Us Help You Plan It
We’ve sent plenty of guests out toward North East over the years, and we’re always glad to talk through which wineries might suit what you’re looking for, whether that’s a quiet afternoon with lake views or something with more energy and live music. Just ask us at breakfast. We’re happy to point you in the right direction and welcome you back to Spencer House at the end of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Erie Wine Country
How far is Lake Erie Wine Country from Spencer House Bed & Breakfast?
The wineries around North East, Pennsylvania are about 25 minutes from Spencer House, making it easy to spend an afternoon or full day exploring wine country without a long drive.
What is the best time of year to visit Lake Erie Wine Country?
Lake Erie Wine Country can be visited year-round, but each season offers something different. Summer and fall are especially popular, while harvest season brings the sights and smells of the vineyards at their busiest. Most tasting rooms remain open through the winter as well.
Can you visit several Lake Erie wineries in one day?
Yes. Many of the wineries around North East are only a few minutes apart, so it is easy to visit four to six in an afternoon without spending much time driving between stops and allowing you time to enjoy each one.
Are there Lake Erie wineries with food, live music, or lake views?
Yes. Several wineries offer more than tastings. Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co. has one of the larger food menus, and Lakeview Wine Cellars offers a view of Lake Erie from its tasting room. Live music is most common during the summer months, although Cellar’54 occasionally offers live music during the winter as well.
Can I tour Lake Erie Wine Country without driving myself?
Yes. Spencer House offers a Stay and Tour package with chauffeured transportation from the Bed & Breakfast to Lake Erie Wine Country for five hours, so no one in your group has to be the designated driver.
Can you learn about winemaking during a visit to Lake Erie Wine Country?
Yes. Spencer House’s Meet the Winemaker package at Courtyard Winery includes a vineyard walk, a look at the winemaking process, and a private tasting, making it a good option for guests who want to learn more about how the wine is made.
If you’re ready to book your Lake Erie Wine Country getaway, check our availability and start planning your stay with us. We hope to see you soon!
