10 of The Best Wineries in Geneva, Ohio

Geneva, Ohio, seems like an unlikely cultural center for wine fanatics to visit. However, this sleepy town with just over 6,000 people or so is one of the most fascinating destinations for wine fans, thanks to its dense number of wineries in and around the city that create surprisingly excellent drinks.

Over the years, it has earned a reputation as the Wine Capital of the Midwest (Though Minnesota has a nice wine scene too), and there are too many wineries to highlight in this article.

Instead, however, I’m going to highlight 10 of the most popular and high-quality options if you live in or near Geneva or plan on visiting our beautiful state of Ohio soon.

Where’s Geneva, Ohio?

Geneva, Ohio, is very close to the Pennsylvania border on the northeastern side of Ohio.

It’s positioned about halfway between Cleveland (45 miles to its east) and Erie, Pennsylvania (55 miles to its west).

Nowhere near as big as these significant metropolitan destinations, it exists within that unique section of Ohio that’s progressing towards the hilly landscape of Pennsylvania without fully committing to it.

If you didn’t know about it, it would be very easy to miss this city entirely and drive by it without stopping.

However, this city is like many others in Ohio, in that it possesses a unique personality that makes it more than worth visiting.

For example, it possesses most of the covered bridges in Ashtabula County, including the shortest covered bridge (Liberty Street bridge) in the United States.

The city also humorously claimed ownership of the moon on April 12, 1966, in a ceremony attended by over 200 people: a significant number for such a small town!

These days, though, Geneva is getting more and more attention for its wine.

This is because it possesses a mild climate that serves perfectly for growing grapes and fermenting wine.

So when I heard about the Geneva Grape Jamboree, an annual festival that lasts two days and includes two parades, food festivals, and musical performances, I knew that the city had fully arrived on the wine industry.

What is interesting about Geneva is that Ohio has become one of the top 10 wine-producing states in the country, which might be surprising to a lot of people.

However, I’ve found that those who’ve never visited our state constantly underrate it.

We’re far more than The Ohio State football team and a breeding ground for astronauts! And many of Geneva’s most famous wines have spread to other parts of the state with ease.

Popular Wines from Geneva, Ohio

So, what kinds of wine are popular throughout Geneva? That depends on where you go!

I have to admit that the city is very happy with Pinot wines.

It produces a large number of Pinot varietals and, from my taste tests, I have to admit that they’re pretty good. They have that uniquely earthy taste you get from most American wines.

These varietals include some surprisingly good Pinot Gris, which is normally better fermented in European towns and villages.

Geneva also has some robust Pinot Blanc varietals and even a Pinot Meunier or two.

However, wine fans in and around the area typically point out the Pinot Noir as one of the better choices here because the Ohio-grown grapes have the wide variety of undertones needed to produce this wine.

That said, Geneva’s most popular wine is probably its delicious desert-style wine (Ice wine).

Winemakers use a unique process when creating this blend: they naturally freeze grapes while they’re still on the vine to minimize any death or decay before the freezing occurs.

Then they ferment the wines for a short period to help bring out the innate sweetness of the wine. I haven’t tried it yet, but the reviews have been fantastic.

How Did I Choose the Best Wineries in Geneva, Ohio?

While you’re reading this list, it is vital to understand how I chose each of these wineries. I did a lot of research on them and read a lot of reviews.

I also tried some of their wines and got a feel for what they have to offer.

I honestly feel like this list is pretty solid and that most people visiting the area will legitimately like it.

Just a few things I examined include:

• Wine Quality: This fact is probably pretty obvious but should be focused on here anyway. I tried to choose wineries that produced the finest-quality wine in Geneva. This factor is a little subjective, but I tried comparing each wine with the industry-leading options to see how well a winery compared. In this way, I got the best understanding of their overall quality.

• Reviews: Beyond my personal examination of wines, I also explored online reviews to get an idea of what other people were saying about these wineries. Each of these wineries received pretty high reviews from just about every review I found online. So, naturally, there were a few 1- or 2- star reviews, and those matter, but were sometimes bitter or even way off-base.

• Price: While I’m not going to give a detailed examination of the average price of each winery (as these precise numbers are subject to change as this article ages), we did use the cost of a wine versus its value when weighing wineries. In other words, a mid-price wine with a higher quality was worth more to us than a high-priced option with a medium-quality level.

• Marketing: How well were each of these wineries marketed, and how well did they choose their branding? That factor is a small deciding element when picking among the best Geneva wineries. That said, I focused far more on quality and pricing rather than presentation and branding. While these elements are essential, they shouldn’t decide which winery you visit.

While there are other factors you may consider when choosing among these wineries, these factors should give you a good idea of what to expect from each.

Well, I’ve dilly-dallied long enough putting off talking about these wineries.

So let’s dive right in and see what they have to offer! I promise that you’re likely to find at least one or two wines that will meet your needs.

10 of the Best Wineries in Geneva, Ohio

In each of the reviews below, I’ll highlight the general aura of a winery, give you an idea of their wines’ general quality, and touch on any food options that they may provide there.

Like many of the best wineries in the area, these 10 options include a broad range of different meals that may work well for a variety of tastes and palates.

Note: these wineries are not listed by relative quality. They’re simply numbered to make them easier to access later. So, without further ado, let’s do this!

Map of The Best Wineries in Geneva, Ohio

1. Hundley Cellars

• Website: Hundley Cellars
• Address: 6451 St. Rte. 307 Harpersfield Twp, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 361 3088

Features:

• Happy hour – Wednesday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm
• Live music 2pm -5pm on Saturdays and Sundays (unless noted otherwise)
• Daily wine tastings
• Great views and big outdoor deck

If you’re in Geneva near State Route OH-307, you should easily spot Hundley Cellars.

This family-owned winery is located near some beautiful forests and fields and provides an unforgettable view while visiting.

Their vineyards are magnificent when grapes are in season and make a great place to visit.

This winery uses a lodge-inspired branding design to create a reasonably homey look and feel.

It’s the kind of place that you might feel comfortable relaxing in for hours if the pictures I’ve seen are true to life.

The outdoor deck is lovely and provides a gorgeous view of the nearby wilderness.

Each wine here tends to have a reasonably oaky and dry taste with a slight undertone of butter that should appeal to dry wine fans.

Unlike many other Geneva wineries, Hundley Cellars’ best wine offerings are dry and not sweet. So head here if you’re into dry wines and want great company.

2. Laurello Vineyards

• Website: Laurello Vineyards
• Address: 4573 St. Rte. 307E, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 415 0661

Features:

• Tasting flights
• Laurello loyalty rewards card
• Laurello gift cards
• Online orders
• Live entertainment
• Dog friendly
• Private gatherings
• One of the 6 wineries that form the Ice Wine Festival Tour

Laurello Vineyards is unique among Geneva wineries for offering more Old World-style wines instead of the more American-style options standard throughout other wineries.

Typically, this winery focuses on single-varietal opportunities to keep their wine more focused rather than having diverse choices.

Bonus: This winery is dog friendly!

What’s the wine quality like here?

This winery typically produces blends with surprisingly crisp acidity with more tannins than other wineries throughout this area.

However, you’re likely to get hit by a remarkably fruity note that will likely make this one of your favorite wines in the region.

Typically, they specialize in ice wines. However, there are also some attractive dry options from this winery.

I love this diverse choice and found it reasonably priced. And watch out for their meatballs! They’re unbelievably good.

3. Harpersfield Vineyard & Winery

• Website: Harpersfield
• Address: 6387 St. Rte. 307, West Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 466 4739

Features:

• 6 foot high rustic medieval fireplace
• Live music

Harpersfield is one of those secrets you often find when exploring wine-friendly towns like Geneva.

This low-key winery is positioned in a fairly rural area and includes beautifully sprawling vines that will make it a great place to visit if you want to get a breath of fresh air and relax.

Impressively, this winery does both red and white wines, though their reds are their specialty.

I tried their Pinot Noir and found it to be one of the best in the area, with the kind of rich undertones you get from an American Pinot.

While European Pinots may always have the edge, this option is no laughing matter.

That said, this winery’s Chardonnay was also surprisingly great, which makes me happy.

I love Chardonnays and am glad to find an Ohio-fermented option within my taste.

Unfortunately, it’s limited to a cheese tray or a flatbread pizza as for the food. Thankfully, both are pretty good.

4. Old Mill Winery

• Website: The Old Mill Winery
• Address: 403 S Broadway, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 466 5560

Features:

• Live music
• Offers takeout
• Private tastings

Like many of the best wineries in Geneva, Old Mill Winery serves delicious foods that pair well with their wines.

That approach is intelligent: when you know your wines, as well as only a winery, can do, you should find it easier to create dishes that blend well with the taste of wine.

Like many Geneva wineries, Old Mill Winery has a reasonably broad variety of semi-sweet and sweet wines that blend perfectly with many tastes.

If you’re not much into dry wines, you may not enjoy this winery.

That said, it definitely has much to recommend if you’re a sweet lover.

Private tasting sessions are available, or just check out their listings on the website linked above.

You may even order a pizza or salad while you’re here or get it prepared for pick up if you don’t want to hang around.

5. Laurentia Vineyard and Winery

• Website: Laurentia Winery
• Address: 4599 S Madison Rd, Madison, OH 44057
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 296 9175

Features:

• Multi-award winning vineyard and winery
• Stunning views
• Wine club membership plans
• Library tasting (club members only)
• Live music
• Online orders

Though Laurentia has a Madison, Ohio, address, it’s not far from Geneva and deserves to be on this list.

With just a few minute’s drive, you find yourself in an appealing outdoor environment, relaxing with a glass of wine. It is a rather beautiful winery that is common to the Grand River Valley.

As for the wines, I tried a few and was definitely impressed.

The whites here are firm and should blend well with their feed options.

The food prices here might be high compared to others but are typically quite good. The baked goat cheese, in particular, gets praised for its quality.

Of all the wines fermented here, the off-dry Riesling seems to get the most attention. Having tried it, I can understand why.

It has that “just-right” blend of earthy and nutty undertones you want from a good white. It also has a touch of sweetness for those who find a Riesling a little too dry for their taste.

6. Ferrante Winery & Ristorante

• Website: Ferrante Winery
• Address: 5585 OH-307, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 466 8466

Features:

• Outdoor terrace
• Inviting tasting room
• Live music
• Wine club membership
• Private events (requires membership)
• Online orders
• Gift cards can be purchased
• One of the 6 wineries that form the Ice Wine Festival Tour

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante is a popular Italian restaurant and winery in Geneva that provides a variety of different pasta-rich dishes and many unique wines.

They often focus on sweeter options that go well with lasagna, spaghetti, fettuccini, and other memorable and delicious dishes.

Typically, Ferrante wines have a touch of caramel, cinnamon, and apple, making them an excellent option for sweet wine fans.

In addition, the branding of this winery impressed me, as they nail the Italian feel by focusing on the European spelling of restaurant and other small branding details.

They offer the option to set up a private party, if you want, allowing you to check out some delicious wines with your family without fighting for space.

7. Kosicek Vineyards

• Website: Kosicek Vineyards
• Address: 636 OH-534, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 361 4573

Features:

• Covered pavilion
• Live music
• You can arrange to have wines shipped to your home
• You might get to meet the winery dog, Brixton!

Located at 636 OH-534, Kosicek Vineyards combines delicious food and great wines to produce a surprisingly family-friendly atmosphere.

That was the significant feeling I got from this winery’s branding: it was the kind of place where you could bring your kid and get them a flatbread pizza while you enjoyed a wine.

As I mentioned earlier, many of the best wineries in Geneva produce surprisingly great Pinot blends. This vineyard is no different.

Its specialty seems to be Pinot Noir, with a hint of black tea, spice, and plum.

I tried this wine and found it had the kind of subtle undertones I typically want from a Pinot without being overwhelming or unappealing at the same time.

Another thing I particularly liked about this destination was its blend of reds, whites, ice, and rose wines.

It didn’t seem to treat one type as superior to others, as you often get with some wineries.

Instead, it provided a broad range that, while perhaps not the best options in their categories, were near the top and more than worth it.

8. South River Vineyard

• Website: South River Vineyard
• Address: 6062 S River Rd W, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 466 6676

Features:

• Beautiful views of the grounds
• Housed in a century old church
• Wine cave
• Online orders
• One of the 6 wineries that form the Ice Wine Festival Tour

One thing that kept coming up in reviews when examining this vineyard was that it was gorgeous.

The photos I’ve seen seem to emphasize this fact. Now, most wineries are fairly beautiful because they’re usually located near valleys and mountains and in rural spots.

However, the scenery here includes a gorgeous view of the South River that is honestly hard to beat. In addition, there’s an outdoor fireplace and a pavilion where you can relax with friends and enjoy yourselves.

But is the wine worth it? Absolutely! Reviews have been laudatory about many of its blends.

The Sémillon gauged the best reviews, with people saying it had a rich sweet taste that contained a bit of a honey aftertaste. After trying it out, I tend to agree.

There’s nothing quite like a good Sémillon, as this wine has a surprisingly complex and dense taste that blends well in many situations.

9. Benny Vino Urban Winery

• Website: Benny Vino Urban Winery
• Address: 834 S County Line Rd, Geneva, OH 44041
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 361 3049

Features:

• Live music every weekend
• Beautiful views overlooking the Grand River Valley
• Private events

Here’s another winery that looks out over the Grand River Valley to provide a rather beautiful look and feel.

But what about this winery stands out from others like it? As far as I can tell, its dedication to using grapes from a broad range of different sources helps make it an exciting option.

For example, they use Niagara grapes when creating their Villaggio Bianco, which intrigues me.

Niagara grapes have such a unique range of tastes and textures and are more than worth checking out. They do particularly well with a Villaggio Biano, an underrated wine if there has ever been one.

When I tried their Pinot, I was impressed by its undertones.

A Pinot isn’t necessarily hard to make, but you need the proper blend of tastes and textures to make it sing.

Is it the best Pinot I’ve ever drank? Probably not, but the overall quality is high and makes me proud to be an Ohioan.

10. Cask 307

• Website: Cask 307
• Address: 7259 Warner Rd, Madison, OH 44057
• Contact Number: (+1) 440 307 9586

Features:

• Contemporary winery that opened in 2019
• Live entertainment
• Online orders
• One of the 6 wineries that form the Ice Wine Festival Tour

Cask 307 is one of those places that you run into once in a while that surprises you.

Located closer to Madison than Geneva, it’s still close enough to the latter city to be worth a trip.

Though not a huge destination yet, I anticipate good things from this winery in the future.

First, I found that their Riesling and Chardonnay offerings were reasonably strong.

The Chardonnay had the perfect zero percent residual sugar level that ultra-dry wine fans love.

The Bourbon Chardonnay variety adds a slight touch of whiskey that also includes smooth hints of vanilla and honey.

What impressed me was their willingness to ferment more obscure wine options.

Yes, they had a Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir, but they had createted Fume Blanc and Essenza D’Amarone.

These two wine types are not incredibly well-known but are well-appreciated by the true wine lover.

In Summary

I hope you have enjoyed the curated list here of the top 10 wineries in Geneva, Ohio. There is something for everyone here, and hopefully this article has been a helpful guide in selecting which wineries to visit in my home state. Cheers!