Touring & Tasting Along the Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail

Tucked into the upper northwest corner of Pennsylvania is the charming town of North East (an ironic name), home to almost 12,000 acres of grape vines. Nestled among the vineyards are the four Pennsylvania wineries on the Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail. These and the other 11 wineries that dot the southern shore of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania and New York are open for touring and tasting year round -- a charming way to spend a chilly autumn afternoon.

Special Holiday Wine Weekends are scheduled for the first two weekends in November (beginning Halloween weekend), where a single ticket gets you festive food and special wine at any of the vineyards along the trail. If you plan to make a weekend of it, Ohio wineries continue the Lake Erie Viticultural Area to the east. Other nearby attractions include the Titusville Oil Heritage Region, Presque Isle State Park and the Allegheny National Forest.