The heart of New York's grape country: the historic Chautauqua grape belt along the Lake Erie shore. Updated for 2026.
The New York shore of Lake Erie is the heart of the state's grape country, a broad, historic belt running along the lake through Chautauqua County in New York's far southwestern corner, near the city of Dunkirk and the towns of Westfield and Fredonia. This is grape-growing country on a grand scale: the Lake Erie region is one of the largest grape-growing areas in the eastern United States, long dominated by Concord grapes for juice (this is Welch's country) but also home to a wine industry that stretches back generations. Part of the vast Lake Erie AVA, the first multi-state AVA and the largest east of the Rocky Mountains, the New York shore benefits from the lake's moderating effect, which extends the growing season for both native and vinifera grapes. From historic estates like Johnson Estate to a growing, welcoming cluster of family wineries, it offers an authentic, easygoing taste of New York's grape heritage.
Below are the New York Lake Erie wineries we recommend most, from the historic Johnson Estate to welcoming family estates along the Chautauqua shore. Current as of October 2026.
A historic estate winery
Founded in 1961 in Westfield, Johnson Estate is one of New York's oldest estate wineries, a historic, family-run producer in the Chautauqua grape belt making classic regional wines (including estate-grown vinifera and hybrids), the natural first stop in the New York Lake Erie wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Westfield.
Our tip: Taste at one of New York's oldest estate wineries; historic and family-run.
The Mazza family on the NY shore
The New York outpost of the respected Mazza family (of Pennsylvania's Lake Erie wine country), this Westfield winery brings a broad, well-made range, including acclaimed ice wines, to the Chautauqua shore, a quality-minded, welcoming stop on the lakeside trail.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. Westfield.
Our tip: Taste the broad range and ice wines; the Mazza family on the New York shore.
A longtime family favorite
A longtime family winery in Forestville, Merritt Estate is one of the region's established names, making a broad, approachable range of Lake Erie wines in a welcoming setting, a popular, easygoing stop rooted in the Chautauqua grape country.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Forestville.
Our tip: Taste the approachable range; a longtime, welcoming family favorite.
A welcoming Sheridan estate
A family winery in Sheridan, Liberty makes a wide, approachable range of Lake Erie wines in a friendly setting, an easygoing, crowd-pleasing stop that reflects the hospitable character of New York's Chautauqua wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Sheridan.
Our tip: Taste the wide, approachable range; a welcoming Chautauqua estate.
A modern Portland-area producer
A welcoming winery in the Portland area of the Chautauqua grape belt, 21 Brix pairs a well-rounded range with a lively tasting room, a friendly, modern stop that captures the easygoing spirit of New York's Lake Erie wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. Portland area.
Our tip: Taste the well-rounded range in a lively room; a modern Chautauqua stop.
A pioneering vinifera grower
A longtime Chautauqua-area producer, Woodbury Vineyards was an early grower of European vinifera in the Lake Erie region, a historic, established name whose wines reflect decades of experience on the New York shore of the lake.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. Dunkirk area.
Our tip: Taste the range from an early vinifera grower; a historic Chautauqua name.
A welcoming Ripley estate
A family estate in Ripley near the Pennsylvania line, Sparkling Ponds makes a well-rounded range of Lake Erie wines in a relaxed, welcoming setting, an easygoing stop at the western end of New York's Chautauqua wine trail.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Ripley.
Our tip: Taste the range in a relaxed setting; a welcoming western-end estate.
Wine, spirits, and beer
A large, modern producer in Westfield making wine, spirits, and beer under one roof, Five & 20 offers a something-for-everyone experience in the heart of the Chautauqua grape belt, a lively, convivial stop for groups exploring the Lake Erie trail.
Good to know: Tastings; Westfield.
Our tip: Taste wine, spirits, and beer in one stop; lively and convivial.
New York's Lake Erie wine country lies in Chautauqua County in the far southwestern corner of the state, along the lakeshore between Dunkirk and the Pennsylvania line, about an hour southwest of Buffalo. The wineries are spread along and near Route 20 and the lake through Westfield, Fredonia, Forestville, Sheridan, and Ripley, so a relaxed day lets you visit several (Johnson Estate, Mazza Chautauqua, Merritt, Liberty, and more). Base yourself in the Westfield or Dunkirk area, plan three or four stops, and visit late spring through fall; the grape harvest in early fall is the region's signature season, when the Concord aroma famously fills the air. Many wineries lean toward approachable and sweet styles, so ask about drier bottlings if you prefer them.
Do not expect a fine-vinifera showcase like the Finger Lakes; the New York Lake Erie belt is historic grape-and-juice country with many approachable and sweet wines, which is part of its character, so taste with an open mind. Do not overlook the ice wines, the lake-moderated climate and cold winters make them a regional strength (Mazza Chautauqua is a good example). And do not confuse this with the Pennsylvania Lake Erie shore just across the state line, though the two are closely connected within the same AVA.
What is the New York Lake Erie wine region known for?
Being the heart of New York's grape country, a historic belt along the lakeshore in Chautauqua County in the state's far southwest. It is one of the largest grape-growing areas in the eastern US, long dominated by Concord grapes for juice (Welch's country) but also home to a generations-old wine industry. Part of the multi-state Lake Erie AVA (the largest east of the Rockies), it is known for approachable regional wines, ice wines, and a welcoming, authentic lakeshore wine trail.
Which New York Lake Erie wineries should I visit?
Standouts include the historic Johnson Estate (founded 1961) and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars (known for ice wines) in Westfield, the longtime Merritt Estate in Forestville, the welcoming Liberty in Sheridan, the modern 21 Brix, the early-vinifera Woodbury Vineyards, the Ripley estate Sparkling Ponds, and the wine-spirits-and-beer Five & 20, spread along the Chautauqua shore.
Where is New York's Lake Erie wine country and how do I get there?
In Chautauqua County in the far southwestern corner of New York, along the Lake Erie shore between the city of Dunkirk and the Pennsylvania line, about an hour southwest of Buffalo. The wineries are spread along and near Route 20 through Westfield, Fredonia, Forestville, Sheridan, and Ripley, so a relaxed day by car lets you visit several along the lakeshore trail.
What wine is the New York Lake Erie region known for?
A range rooted in its grape-belt heritage. The area is dominated by Concord and other native grapes (much of it grown for juice), and many wineries make approachable and sweet wines from them. But the region also produces vinifera and hybrid table wines and, notably, acclaimed ice wines, helped by the lake-moderated climate and reliably cold winters. It is a region to taste with an open mind, asking for drier bottlings if that is your preference.
How is this different from the Pennsylvania Lake Erie wine region?
They are two parts of the same grape belt, closely connected within the multi-state Lake Erie AVA, just on opposite sides of the New York-Pennsylvania state line. The New York side sits in Chautauqua County around Westfield and Fredonia; the Pennsylvania side centers on North East. Both share the Concord heritage and lake-moderated climate, and some producers (like the Mazza family) operate on both shores, so they make a natural combined trip for the curious.
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