I could hear the beautiful, distinct sound of bagpipes through a large crowd of onlookers as I approached Old Firehouse Winery. I immediately took notice of the quaint little antique fire truck at the front of the building, half the size of the ones today, and entered the winery to sample a few of their wines. The sassy red barn had been converted into a firehouse before becoming a winery and restaurant twenty-five years later. “Old Betsy”, a 1926 Graham Brothers engine, represents the historical evolution of Old Firehouse Winery.
Standing in line with other patrons, I soon realized that the slushies were one of the winery’s best sellers. I was easily entertained by the television screen with interesting information about the winery and Old Firehouse wines.
I had watched the informative loop twice when I was next in line to be served. I decided to try the preset Sweet Wine Tasting Samples which included ten 1-ounce sized plastic cups for a cost of $8.99 plus tax.
The umbrella-covered table had a lakeside view where I could enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie. An Arts & Crafts Show had been set up in an open area where visitors browsed the booths and made a few purchases. During the summer, the fair takes place every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day with hours from noon to 8.
Each Old Firehouse sample was numbered in the order of less sweet to the sweetest.
- The Firehouse White is made of Catawba grapes was a Gold Award Winner.
- The Firehouse Red is a semi-sweet wine, with a jammy taste and beautifully red in color.
- Made from the popular, local Niagara grape, my next sample was the Lighthouse Niagara wine.
- Lake Erie Riesling was surprisingly sweet compared to other Rieslings I have sampled in the past.
- Raspberry Reflections has a sunset hue, but with its aromatic raspberry scent, it was perfectly prepared with just a hint of raspberry flavor.
- Not quite sure what to expect with Spiced Apple, I was pleasantly surprised by its refreshing taste.
- Frosty Peach, a lovely summertime wine, was lightly flavored with a hint of peach.
- Grape Jamboree is typical of an Ohio sweet wine and is one of the winery’s best sellers. The Grape Jamboree is also an annual festival that takes place in Geneva during the month of September.
- Pink Catawba, with its deep cranberry color was the sweetest wine yet.
- My final sample was the Sweet Concord which tastes like grape juice that packs a punch. This was my favorite sample and I purchased a bottle to make some sangria on a hot summer afternoon.
The view from where I was sitting was absolutely gorgeous. Within a few feet from the seating area was an antique Ferris wheel at the edge of the lake. This stand-alone attraction is well known to the locals and was built in 1956. They call it the #5 Big Eli because it was fifth patent of George Ferris. Old Firehouse Winery has a port wine named after this colorful wheel and has a spectacular view from the top.
Strolling through the winery before leaving for the Lakehouse Inn and Winery, I could not pass up the opportunity to try the slushie and I quickly learned why they are one of Old Firehouse Winery’s best sellers.
Have you visited Geneva on the Lake and tried the wines at Old Firehouse Winery? I would love to hear about your fun experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for checking out my post about the Old Firehouse Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Old Firehouse Winery
9425, 5499 Lake Road East
Geneva on the Lake, OH 44041
Telephone: 440 466 9300
Open seven days a week year around, the winery and restaurant provides daily entertainment during the summer months with extended hours over the weekend. For more information about the winery and their themed weekends which run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, check out their website.
Where to Stay:
Holiday Inn Express Ashtabula – Geneva
1831 Austinburg Road
Austinburg, OH 44010
Telephone: 440 275 2020
Where to Eat:
Biscotti’s Restaurant
186 Park Avenue
Conneaut, OH 44030
Telephone: 440 593 6766
Serving Italian cuisine, I ordered the Medallions Gorgonzola Alfredo to try their homemade Alfredo sauce, so rich and delicious.