There are a number of wineries throughout the north county in Lake Erie Wine Country from Silver Creek to Ripley such as 21 Brix, Liberty Vineyards, and Mazza 5 & 20. Other options include Merritt Estate Winery in Forestville and Quincy Cellars in Ripley. Visit the wineries page on TourChautauqua.com or Lake Erie Wine Country to find the right wineries for your group. Most wineries take about an hour to tour and require advanced notice for group visits. Some wineries offer charcuterie pairings up to full food menus, along with group activities and programming.
There are a number of attractions you can add to your wine country itinerary including the Grape Discovery Center where your group can shop local artwork and unique grape products, have a tasting or meal, and browse the small museum about concord grape growing in the region. Just minutes from Johnson Estate Winery and Mazza 5 & 20 in Westfield.
Barcelona Lighthouse and Dunkirk Lighthouse offer scenic views of Lake Erie and are great additions to itineraries in between stops at our fantastic wineries. Both lighthouses are within close proximity to wineries along the trail. The Dunkirk Lighthouse has its original third-order Fresnel lens, an extensive collection of military and maritime artifacts, and offers guided group tours. Barcelona Lighthouse was the first natural gas lighthouse in the world built in 1829 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historical Places.
Lily Dale Assembly is the world's largest Spiritualist community in the world offering seminars, workshops, and healing and medium services by appointment during their 10-week summer season. The Lily Dale Museum is open from late June through early September, and by appointment the rest of the year. The museum houses photos, artifacts, and more from the beginning of the Spiritualist movement.
Located in Westfield, the McClurg Museum is operated by the Chautauqua County Historical Society in a 14-room Federal-style mansion. The museum features three floors of exhibits and archives relating to the settlement and development of the county. The collection includes artwork, antique furnishings, and more. Guided tours are available.
Some dining options along the trail include places like Grace & Abe's in Westfield, restaurants at the nearby Dunkirk Boardwalk with indoor and outdoor seating seasonally, and Cabana Sam's Sunset Bay Grill in Irving that offers casual beachfront dining on Lake Erie beginning in early May. For a list of group dining suggestions in the area click here.
There are so many ways to spend a day in Lake Erie Wine Country that you may find yourself wanting more time here. If you're interested in what else there is to do in Chautauqua County take a look at this one day itinerary for Chautauqua Lake.