Heineman Winery Tastings

Out of all the things to do in Put-in-Bay, the Heineman Winery wine garden is one of the most beautiful sites on Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The wines from Heineman Winery are a Put-in-Bay, also known as South Bass Island, production from start to finish. The grapes are grown at Put-in-Bay, the wine is made at Put-in-Bay, it’s bottled at Put-in-Bay. These wines are the island in a bottle. Stop in for a tasting in the gorgeous wine garden to find your favorite variety. You can go on a tour of the winery for only $8 for adults, and $4 for children. These tours include a walk through the spectacular Crystal Cave.

Head to Heineman’s for an awesome cheese plate to pair with one of their many wines. They have 25 different types of wine to choose from, and as we mentioned before, all of them are made from seed to bottle on the island! It might not be the best idea to try all 25 wines in one trip to the winery. However, you should sample as many as your tolerance level allows you to, and then come back another time to try the rest. That’s because all of Heineman Winery’s wines are incredible!

Put-in-Bay has much to offer including diners, eateries, grilles and much more!

Located on Catawba Ave across the street for Perry’s Cave, Heinemans Winery is a short taxi ride from downtown Put-in-Bay many of the best Put-in-Bay restaurants are found. With many great dining options with great food downtown is the place to be late into the night. This includes Upper Deck and their famous lobster bisque the Boathouse Bar with their phenomenal Lake Erie Perch and Walleye.  Looking for live entertainment? Walk down Delaware Ave and check out Mr. Eds Bar and Frosty Bar for a true island vibe. For dessert grab some ice cream from Dairy Isle. For some late night food options try an appetizer from Cameo Pizza, the freshest meatball or Italian sandwich from Subway, or a Perch taco or burrito from Taco Bay. 

Some other must try dining options include entrees from Reel Bar, Alaskan King Crab from The Boardwalk, Cuban sandwich from The Keys, or a savory crepe from Pasquale’s Cafe. 

Just a Few of Heineman Winery Wine Varieties

-Burgundy
-Cabernet Sauvignon
-Pinot Grigio
-Cabernet Franc
-Pink Catawba

You should also make sure to try the grape juice. This grape juice, believe it or not, is a big part of the story of Put-in-Bay’s history. There were, at one point, dozens of wineries on the island. Then prohibition forced all of them out of business, except for Heineman’s, which survived in part thanks to this grape juice. The grape juice sales, in addition to the Crystal Cave tours, kept the Winery afloat until prohibition ended.

Heineman Winery is able to ship their wines anywhere in Ohio year-round. Unfortunately, they cannot ship their wines out of state. So if you join us from outside of Ohio, make sure to take enough home with you!

Put-in-Bay is very proud to be the home of Heineman Winery. It’s a family business that has been passed down through the generations! Grab a couple bottles of their awesome wines as a gift to take back on the Put-in-Bay ferry for family and friends back home!

Testimonials

Nicholas T: “Fantastic experience and family-friendly too! The tour is $8 and includes the cave tour, wine tour, and a glass of wine or grape juice – the grape juice is divine. And they have wines for even the most stubborn of “I don’t like wine” people. Highly recommend this stop if you are going to Put-in-Bay.”

Joe B: “Fantastic winery. Good selection. They have a tour that is very good. Much of it is grown on the island. They also have grape juice from Concord and Catawba grapes. The perfect place to go before heading to one of the many Caribbean tiki bars for a margarita. It is a must-stop for us. They also discount if you buy multiples and will deliver it to the ferries.”

Lauren B: “I really enjoyed the in-depth tour that walks you through the steps of production. I appreciate that they happily answer questions. I’m amazed at what it takes and how this small team produces so much. The family is very friendly and takes pride in their product. The tasting room is very popular. You get a small sample with the tour. Grape juice is available for kids and non-drinkers. The ice wine is the most expensive, being made out of frozen grapes from the first frost. Many wines of differing dryness available. Shipping to any location in Ohio only and delivery to the boat available. Once you are done the Goat soup is with walking distance to helping sober up. The over 21 crowds can enjoy the beer garden and there is a small gift shop.” 

Michael S: “Easily the best winery on the island. My wife and I visit Put-in-Bay every summer and this is always our first stop each trip. We’ve gotten into the habit of taking a bottle(preferably Cab Sav my favorite) to Derivera Park where there is outdoor seating. There we can watch the boats come and go from Put-in-Bay harbor or observe the consent commotion going on up and down Bayview Ave. If you’re looking for some good food in the are check out Hooligans, Mr. Ed’s Bar and Grille, or Mossbacks.”