Lake Erie, OH

In this region, vines were grown since 1850. Before prohibition, the east coast production was larger than the Californian. The appellation has 40.000 acres and stretches along the soutside of Lake Erie one of the big five lakes. Politically, the appellation lies in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. About 50 wineries are active. The soil consists of glacial gravel and mud deposits. The lakes do moderate the climate; summers are less hot, winters less cold. Native American grapes and increasingly Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir are the main varietals.