The Perfect Winter Getaway Is Waiting in Ohio’s Wine Country

By February, most of us are one group chat away from pricing flights to literally anywhere warm.

Before you blow your budget on airport snacks, consider this: Ohio has its own wine country. It is real. It is historic. And it is sitting right on Lake Erie.

Up in Geneva-on-the-Lake, The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake makes a strong case for staying in-state. The property is next to Geneva State Park, which means lake views, quiet trails, and that particular kind of winter calm you only get near water. Inside, there are cozy rooms, cottages if you want more space, an indoor pool, and Horizons Restaurant for when you do not feel like leaving the building.

They are currently offering wine-focused getaway packages that bundle an overnight stay with wine shuttle tickets and dining credits. The shuttle loops through wineries in the Grand River Valley, which has more than 30 stops to choose from. You get to taste, linger, maybe buy a bottle with a label you cannot pronounce, and let someone else handle the driving.

What makes this better than a random wine weekend elsewhere is that Ohio wine country is not a gimmick. It is old.

vintage wine company postcard ohio — The Lenk Wine Company, seen in a 1905 Toledo Chamber of Commerce publication.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas Longworth started growing Catawba grapes along the Ohio River in Cincinnati. His wines took off, and by 1859 Ohio was the leading wine producer in the country. Vineyards lined the river between Cincinnati and Ripley. We were the Napa of our moment.

Disease and the Civil War knocked that industry down, but it did not disappear. Winemaking migrated north. German immigrants recognized that the Lake Erie shoreline had the right conditions for grapes, thanks to the lake moderating temperatures. By the early 1900s, the area was known as the Lake Erie Grape Belt, packed with vineyards and wineries.

Prohibition nearly finished the job, but the industry clawed its way back in the 1960s with hardier grape varieties. Today, Ohio consistently ranks among the top 10 wine-producing states in the country. Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir. All grown here

Back at the Lodge, the vibe stays relaxed.

wine at the lodge at geneva-on-the-lake — Photo courtesy of The Lodge at Geneva-On-The-Lake.

You can book a simple bed and breakfast stay or go all in on a two-night wine excursion package with tasting flights built in. The point is not to schedule every second. It is to slow down a little. Walk by the lake. Order dessert. Pretend you are the kind of person who fully understands tannins.

For Columbus travelers, the best part might be the drive. It is close enough for a spontaneous weekend but far enough that you feel removed from your usual routine. No TSA line required.