Pennsylvania's oldest wine region: the historic Lake Erie grape belt around North East, near Erie. Updated for 2026.
The Lake Erie shore is Pennsylvania's oldest and most historic wine region, a lakeside grape belt in the far northwest corner of the state around the town of North East, near the city of Erie. Grapes have grown here since Deacon Elijah Fay planted the first wine vines in 1818, and the region became the heart of a vast juice-and-grape industry, much of it Concord, that still defines the landscape of vineyards along the lake. Part of the sprawling Lake Erie AVA (established 1983, the first multi-state AVA and the largest east of the Rocky Mountains), the Pennsylvania shore benefits from the lake's moderating effect, which extends the growing season and buffers winter cold. Today a friendly cluster of wineries around North East, from the cornerstone Mazza to the pioneering Presque Isle, pairs that deep heritage with a welcoming, easygoing lakeshore wine trail.
Below are the Lake Erie (Pennsylvania) wineries we recommend most, from the cornerstone Mazza to the pioneering Presque Isle and historic lakeshore estates. Current as of October 2026.
The Lake Erie cornerstone
A prominent family winery in North East on the Lake Erie shore, Mazza is the cornerstone of Pennsylvania's oldest wine region, making a broad range from vinifera to acclaimed ice and fruit wines, a well-established, welcoming anchor and the natural first stop in the PA Lake Erie wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. North East.
Our tip: Taste the broad range and the ice wines; the Lake Erie region's cornerstone.
A pioneering 1964 winery
Founded in 1964 in North East, Presque Isle is one of Pennsylvania's oldest wineries and a longtime pioneer and supplier to the broader industry, a historic, serious Lake Erie producer that is central to the story of Pennsylvania wine.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. North East.
Our tip: Taste at one of Pennsylvania's oldest wineries; a pioneering Lake Erie name.
A historic Lake Erie estate
One of the original wineries established after Pennsylvania's farm-winery law, Penn Shore in North East is a long-running Lake Erie producer with a broad, approachable range, a historic, welcoming stop on the lakeshore wine trail.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. North East.
Our tip: Taste the approachable range on the lakeshore; a historic Lake Erie estate.
A family favorite for sweet and fruit wines
A longtime family winery in North East known for its wide range of sweet, fruit, and Concord-based wines alongside others, Heritage is a popular, welcoming Lake Erie stop that reflects the region's deep juice-and-grape heritage.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. North East.
Our tip: Taste the sweet and fruit wines; a family favorite rooted in Lake Erie heritage.
Wine and a working fruit farm
A family winery in North East tied to a working fruit farm, Arrowhead pairs its wines with a farm-market atmosphere, a welcoming, family-friendly Lake Erie stop that captures the agricultural roots of the region.
Good to know: Tastings; winery and farm. North East.
Our tip: Taste the wines at a working fruit farm; welcoming and family-friendly.
Wine and beer on the lakeshore
A North East producer making both wine and beer, Arundel offers an easygoing, something-for-everyone tasting in the Lake Erie wine country, a relaxed, convivial stop for groups exploring the lakeshore trail.
Good to know: Tastings; winery and brewery. North East.
Our tip: Taste the wine and beer in a relaxed setting; an easygoing lakeshore stop.
A welcoming small producer
A small, welcoming family winery in North East, Lakeview makes a well-rounded range of Lake Erie wines in a down-to-earth setting, a friendly, personal stop that rounds out a day on the Pennsylvania lakeshore wine trail.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. North East.
Our tip: Taste the range in a down-to-earth setting; a friendly small producer.
A family estate on the trail
A family winery in North East, Yori makes an approachable range of Lake Erie wines and offers a welcoming, personal tasting, an easy, likable stop among the cluster of wineries along the Pennsylvania lakeshore.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. North East.
Our tip: Taste the approachable range; a welcoming family stop on the lakeshore trail.
Pennsylvania's Lake Erie wine country is compact and easy to tour, clustered around the town of North East in the far northwest of the state, a short drive east of the city of Erie (and an easy add-on to a visit to Presque Isle State Park). Most wineries sit along or near Route 5 and the lakeshore, so you can visit several, Mazza, Presque Isle, Penn Shore, Heritage, Arrowhead, and more, in a relaxed day with little driving. Base yourself in Erie or North East, plan three or four stops, and visit late spring through fall; summer and early fall are the liveliest, with the grape harvest and local festivals, and the lake keeps the area pleasant. Some wineries lean toward sweet and fruit wines, so ask about the drier bottlings if that is your preference.
Do not expect a fine-vinifera showcase like the Lehigh Valley; the Lake Erie shore is a historic grape belt with many sweet, fruit, and Concord-based wines, which is part of its charm, so taste with an open mind and ask for the drier wines if you prefer them. Do not rush, the cluster around North East is made for an easygoing loop. And do not miss the history, grapes have grown here since 1818, among the oldest wine traditions in the country.
What is the Pennsylvania Lake Erie wine region known for?
Being Pennsylvania's oldest and most historic wine region. Around the town of North East near Erie, grapes have grown since 1818, and the area became the heart of a large juice-and-grape belt, much of it Concord, alongside a wine scene. Part of the Lake Erie AVA (the first multi-state AVA and the largest east of the Rockies), it is known for a welcoming lakeshore wine trail and a broad range from vinifera to acclaimed ice and fruit wines.
Which Pennsylvania Lake Erie wineries should I visit?
Standouts include the cornerstone Mazza Vineyards and the pioneering Presque Isle Wine Cellars (founded 1964), the historic Penn Shore, the sweet-and-fruit-focused Heritage Wine Cellars, the farm-tied Arrowhead, the wine-and-beer Arundel, and the welcoming Lakeview and Yori, all clustered around North East along the lakeshore trail.
Where is the Pennsylvania Lake Erie wine country and how do I get there?
In the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania, around the town of North East, a short drive east of the city of Erie along the Lake Erie shore. It is easy to combine with a visit to Presque Isle State Park. Most wineries cluster near Route 5 and the lakeshore, so you can tour several in a compact, relaxed day by car.
What wine is the Pennsylvania Lake Erie region known for?
A broad range rooted in its grape-belt heritage. The area has long grown Concord and juice grapes, and many wineries make sweet, fruit, and Concord-based wines, but they also produce vinifera and hybrid table wines and, notably, acclaimed ice wines, helped by the lake-moderated climate and cold winters. It is a region to taste with an open mind, asking for the drier bottlings if that is your preference.
Why does Lake Erie matter to this wine region?
Because the lake makes grape-growing possible this far north. Lake Erie acts as a heat reservoir, warming the shoreline vineyards in autumn to extend ripening and buffering the coldest winter temperatures, the classic lake effect. That moderation, along with well-drained lakeside soils, is why the North East area has been a productive grape belt since 1818 and anchors the Pennsylvania portion of the multi-state Lake Erie AVA.
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