The grape growing region of eastern Lake Erie in western New York state offers a great blend of tastes, activities, and adventures. Nicknamed “America’s Grape Country,” this 50-mile long and 5 mile wide strip of vineyards, beaches, and quaint villages is a fantastic road trip and vacation getaway destination.
Key highlights of the area include 50 miles of beautiful Lake Erie shoreline along a low-lying lake plain dotted with more than 20 wineries and 30,000 acres of scenic vineyards. In addition to being the home of the Lake Erie Wine Country wine trail, the region also boasts some of the best walleye and bass fishing in the Great Lakes.
Here are some suggestions for a fun-filled 2-3 day trip to the area:
Since the Lake Erie Grape Belt region is a linear region traversed by parallel Routes 5 and 20, one could start at either end and enjoy all the sites referenced below. For the sake of this suggested itinerary, we will start in the southwest and move northeasterly.
Westfield, NY is the original home of Welch’s Grape Juice, which is owned today by a cooperative of grape growers still concentrated in the region. While Welch’s is no longer headquartered in Westfield, the Grape Discovery Center promotes the grape and wine heritage of the area, which is officially designated as a New York State Agricultural Heritage Area. Visitors to the Grape Discovery Center will enjoy tasting area wines, juices, and jams, shopping in the extensive grape-themed gift shop, and learning about the history and process of early grape production. The area is actually the largest grape growing region east of the Mississippi River.
Westfield boasts Johnson Estate Winery, Mazza Five & 20 Brewery and Distillery, Noble Winery and nearby Quincy Cellars Winery (in Ripley). Johnson Estate began operation in 1961, making it one of the oldest wineries in New York State. Mazza Five & 20 is the first establishment in New York to produce wine, beer, and spirits. Noble Winery is located partway up the 600-foot escarpment overlooking Lake Erie and provides a spectacular lake view for patrons.
Westfield’s quaint “main street” downtown offers plenty for visitors to enjoy. There are several restaurants offering different styles of dining experiences and a couple of great coffee shops. Full Strength Coffee is a favorite, while the Westfield Diner is a must for those who enjoy a diner-style breakfast or lunch experience. Shopping in Westfield is distinctive, including several boutiques, an art shop, book shop, and 3-4 antique shops all in the Main Street (Route 20) corridor. Portage Pies and Grace & Abe’s brew pub round out the culinary offerings of the Westfield area.
Westfield has a corresponding lake fun zone known as Barcelona, which is one of the main Lake Erie harbors in the region. In addition to an excellent boat launch there are a couple of small beach areas which are not lifeguarded but nonetheless frequented by sunbathers, ankle-waders, and beach glass hunters. Visitors will also enjoy the historic Barcelona Lighthouse which was the first natural gas lit lightouse, dating back to 1829. Barcelona boasts a beachfront BBQ joint as well as a couple of small restaurants near the harbor. Visitors can also pick up a supply of smoked whitefish at the acclaimed Westfield Fisheries shop at Barcelona.
Before leaving the Westfield area, it should be noted that nearby Ripley hosts a riding stable known as Double DAB Riding Stables. Double DAB offers scenic trail rides on horses and ponies and also has a fun petting farm.
Traveling eastward along Route 20 from Westfield, one finds the small village of Brocton. A highlight in the Brocton area is 21 Brix Winery which is well-known not only for its excellent wines, but the large pink elephant that sits by the road outside. For those traveling Route 5 (closer to the Lake Erie shore), Lake Erie State Park offers more than 100 campsites and 10 cabins. In addition to camping, there are also a number of walking and bike trails at the park.
Further east along Route 5 is the City of Dunkirk. This small city (population 12,400) is located right on the shore area of Lake Erie. The Dunkirk Harbor has a distinctly maritime feel and is a big gathering spot for outdoor concerts in the City Pier, festivals along the water in area parks, Point Gratiot Park and Beach and Wright Park and Beach, and as the home base for many members of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association. As you might guess, fishing Lake Erie is a big deal in Dunkirk. A charter excursion will usually land the angler their limit of large Lake Erie walleye, as well as bass, or lake trout. Many guests to the Dunkirk area will stay at the Clarion Hotel located right on the waterfront. Visitors should not leave Dunkirk without a visit to the historic Dunkirk Lighthouse, Park and Veterans Museum which overlooks Lake Erie from atop a 50-foot embankment.
Adjacent to Dunkirk and located along Route 20 in the “Lake Erie Grape Belt” is the village of Fredonia. Fredonia is a picturesque and well-kept Victorian era village and college town. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafés. One of the notable centerpieces in the village is the historic White Inn—a 25 room elegant boutique hotel that was completely renovated in 2024. The White Inn also boasts an excellent restaurant with a nice porch dining area available. The other appealing centerpiece in Fredonia is Barker Commons, a split town square area that serves as a great place to relax as well as enjoy regular entertainment events. The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is located on Barker Commons and offers concerts, shows, and movies throughout the year. Fredonia also boasts a number of “watering holes” that are popular with locals, the college crowd, and visitors to the area.
Just east of Fredonia are four more wineries—Woodbury Vineyards, Merritt Estate Winery, Willow Creek Winery, and Liberty Vineyards—making this part of the wine trail one of the busiest.
A little further up the road, via both Route 20 and Route 5, is the village of Silver Creek and the Sunset Bay area. Sunset Bay offers an expansive sandy beach experience in the summer and features Cabana Sam’s restaurant and the Sunset Bay Beach Club. There are also dozens of cottages in the area available for rentals, making them perfect for summer vacation or shoulder season getaways. One bay over from Sunset is the Hideaway Bay Resort, offering 10 elegant waterfront cottages and Drift Restaurant and Lounge. Spectacular sunsets are the norm along this beautiful stretch of Lake Erie.
Routes 5 and 20 through the “Lake Erie Grape Belt” are a popular road cycling destination, either as a stand-alone route or part of many cyclists’ longer road trips. Cyclists can enjoy a linear route or a loop involving both roads. And, the overall route can be shortened using connecting roads that link Routes 5 and 20. Information about the Lake Erie cycling routes and other suggested area cycling routes area available at https://www.tourchautauqua.com/play/cycling-and-mountain-biking
For more information about the “Lake Erie Grape Belt” and of Chautauqua & Lake Erie, NY experiences, visit TourChautauqua.com