It was too much to record our entire Lake Erie Wine Country trip in one post, so here is part two. If you missed part one, go back and check it out here. Anyway, to sum things up, the Lake Erie area has a ton of wineries that you can travel to and sample wine. 24, to be exact. Some of them even double as breweries and distilleries! Woo. We decided to take a weekend trip there to peruse the libations and feel cultured.

We got to North East, PA in late afternoon on Friday, which meant we could only hit four wineries since they all close around dinner time. Though it doesn’t sound like a lot, doing much more than that is actually a dangerous idea if you are driving. On Saturday, we were able to go to five and even ventured a little further out to New York to go to a brewery/distillery.

The map we used to plan our route.

When planning your Lake Erie Wine Country itinerary, it is important to remember a few things. First of all… bring snacks and water! We were expecting to be able to grab a bite to eat from one of the places, but none of them really had any appetizing options. Also, water is good to have so you can stay hydrated. Some places do sell it, but why buy it when you can just bring a bottle along? Lastly, bring a pen and paper to take notes! After a while, all of the wines started blending together, especially the same varieties that you might try at different wineries. If you really want to keep track of what you are drinking, it’s important to write down your thoughts right away. That way, it makes it easier when it comes time for buying a bottle to take home 🙂

Lake Erie Wine Trail Itinerary, Day 2: Saturday

Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co

Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail.

We got super lucky to be here on pup day, which meant that nearly everyone there had a cute and happy dog with them. Yes! Oh, and the wine was ok too. Really the most exciting part of this place was that it was a brewery as well. That is why we headed here first in the morning – we were excited to try the beer. It cost $2 to get 5 samples, but you could mix and match to sample wine, beer, or hard cider. It was ok, but sadly I was expecting more. I really like the building this winery was in – it had a lot of old charm that had been restored and perfected.

Drinks I Sampled:

• Rebel Blonde: Incredibly delicious with full bodied flavor and a silky smooth finish.
• Double Chocolate Raspberry Stout: Aromas of dark chocolate and coffee are well balanced by a subtle raspberry finish.
• Gandy Dancer: Red. Despite the region’s cold climate, Fredonia maintains pure grape sophistication.
• Reunion: Blush. Hints of cranberry, raspberry and a touch of spice uniquely unite.
• Remix: Rose. Varying combination of varieties for a new taste experience (Sweet Tarts).

Lakeview Wine Cellars

Distance from Arundel Cellars: 2.3 miles

Lakeview Wine Cellars on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail.

It was a little hard to find this place, as it was one of the few places on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail off of the main road. However, when we got there, it was quiet and relaxing. The back porch afforded a nice view of the lake in the distance – one of the few wineries where you could actually see the lake at all! For once, an appropriate name! I felt as though this place was a little more classy and sophisticated, so I felt a little out of my league when sampling the wines. Basically all I know about wine is if it tastes good or not. Oh, and how could I forget their wonderful dog salesman? He came downstairs just to greet us!

Wines I Sampled

• Riesling: Semi dry white with notes of apricot and peach with citrus undertones. As this wine warms slightly you will notice all the different flavors. Serve chilled. 1.5% residual sugars.
• 2013 Shipwreck Red: A blend of Baco-Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in PA oak barrels. A dry complex wine with hints of oak on the finish. 1% residual sugars.
• Sunset Blush: Semi dry with a touch of sweetness, made from Steuben grapes. 2.5% residual sugars.
• Red Sky: A delightful blend of Concord and Niagara grapes. Very smooth, clean and fun wine to drink. 6.0% residual sugars.
• Long Point Red: A blend of hybrid and native American grapes. 6.0% residual sugars.

Arrowhead Wine Cellars

Distance from Lakeview Wine Cellars: 1.3 miles

Arrowhead Wine Cellars on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail.

In case you weren’t aware (I certainly wasn’t until this trip), Arrowhead actually sells a bunch of their wines at Soergel’s Farms right in Wexford. So you don’t have to make the trip all the way to the winery if you get a wine craving. However, I would recommend it, as they have a bunch of tasty, fruity, and girly wines for people like me who know nothing about wine. It’s also situated inside of a gift shop filled with wine memorabilia, meaning you can get all of your necessary add-ons all at the same time.

Wines I Sampled:

• Blackberry: Sweet, 100% fruit.
• Chambourcin: Red. Spicy with flavors of black cherry and raspberries. Similar to Merlot.
• Ambrosia: Red. Hints of dark fruit and berries with a smooth finish.

Heritage Wine Cellars

Distance from Arrowhead Wine Cellars: 0.5 miles

Heritage Wine Cellars on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail.

OMG. This place is awesome for a few reasons, but first of all… samples are free. That’s right, you heard me. FREE! They do ask you to sample within reason, which is almost hard to do because they have soooo many flavors to try! Foolishly I forgot to grab a tasting menu, but they had a large variety of fruity wines (my favorite), reds, and whites, all situated around a self-service bar. That’s what I call awesome! A lot of the wines seemed to be targeted to the wine newbie demographic to which I belong, with sweet and fruit-inspired flavors bearing unique and catchy names.

Wines I Purchased:

• Very Beary Blackberry: Carbonated grape wine with natural blackberry flavor added.

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing

Distance from Heritage Wine Cellars: 11 miles

Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail.

The last stop on our tour was also the furthest. Located all the way in New York, this place was about a 15 to 20 minute drive away from the other cluster of wineries on the Lake Erie Wine Country trail we had clung to most of the trip. However, it was worth the stop. This place is a triple threat, boasting wine, beer, and spirits. Since it is part of the Mazza chain, it carried most of the Mazza wine we had seen the day before. Since this place is relatively new, they still didn’t have too many beers, but it looks like they have plans to expand their brewing in the future. We enjoyed our drinks out on the nice patio with a view of greenery in the distance.

Drinks I Sampled:

• Beer Tasting Flight: Included Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Rye Pale Ale, and Stout fresh from the tap.
• Limoncello: A fresh lemon liquor beverage.