The Best Wineries in the Grand River Valley

Around half of every grape grown in Ohio comes out of the Grand River Valley. These are the neighbours we send our own guests to, and what to pour at each.

1. Vincent William Wine

Ours, so take the recommendation for what it is. A winery, a restaurant and an eight-room inn in a lakefront mansion in Madison, with an acre of Cabernet Franc planted on the lake side of the house. The estate Cabernet Franc took Double Gold at the 2025 Ohio Wine Competition; it is aged twelve months in French oak and poured by the glass and the bottle. The kitchen runs American food with Italian and Irish roots, and the wine bar keeps a list of Irish whiskeys that is unusual for Ohio. Adults-only rooms upstairs, with a pool and hot tub above the lake.

2. M Cellars

A family-owned winery making Bordeaux-style reds on the river road, a few minutes from the Harpersfield covered bridge. The Meritage blend is the one to order; the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc are close behind. Indoor and outdoor seating with vineyard views, and cheese and charcuterie boards to go with the wine. If you only have an hour, the bridge and this winery make the best short loop in the valley.

3. Laurentia Vineyard & Winery

A lodge-style tasting room with a fireplace and vineyard views, also in Madison. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc have all won national recognition. The kitchen turns out wood-fired pizzas, small plates and seasonal entrees, which makes it a place to stay for the afternoon rather than an hour.

4. Ferrante Winery & Ristorante

A family estate that has been making wine in this valley since 1937, with an Italian restaurant attached: house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, live music at weekends. The Riesling and Pinot Grigio are the strengths, and the ice wines are worth the detour.

5. South River Vineyard

A winery in a converted 1892 chapel, pews and stained glass still in place. Old-world vinifera: Riesling, Pinot Noir, and the Trinity red blend. The veranda looks over the vineyard rows, and you are welcome to bring a picnic.

6. Cask 307

Ten minutes from our gate and the first stop on the Route 307 run. A contemporary tasting room with a strong teaching bent, a list that goes from dry European styles to sweet specialties, and a small delicatessen doing boards, flatbreads and sandwiches. Ask about the Back 9 Concord blend and the ice wines. Wine release parties, food trucks and live music run through the season.

7. Baci Winery

Part of the St. Joseph Vineyard estate, in Madison. Rieslings, reds and blends, wood-fired pizza, a full bar with beer and spirits, and a large patio over the vineyard.

8. Hundley Cellars

A small family winery with wood-burning fireplaces and vineyard views, a few minutes from Ferrante and Harpersfield. Traminette and Firehouse Red are the guest favourites. Seasonal menu, live music at weekends.

9. Buccia Vineyards Winery & B&B

A casual tasting lounge with estate-grown wines, including the rare Rogers 15 Agawam grape, and vineyard-view B&B suites with private hot tubs. Live music through the season.

10. Debonné Vineyards

The largest family-owned estate winery in Ohio, fifteen minutes inland, with more than 175 acres of vines and Double Wing Brewing Co. on the same site. Riesling, Cabernet blends and ice wines. Weekend afternoons fill up; if you want the patio, go before three or plan on a wait.

Plan the loop

Route 307 between Geneva and Harpersfield is the densest run of wineries in the state. We keep a map of the valley for guests. Park the car at the inn and let someone else drive the loop.