Heineman Winery

The Heineman Winery was founded in 1888 by Gustav Heineman, an immigrant from Baden, Germany, the grape growing region of that country. The Lake Erie Islands were already noted for quality grapes as a result of ideal soil conditions and the long growing season because of the tempering effect of Lake Erie.

By 1900, Heineman’s was one of 17 wineries on Put-in-Bay. The passage of the Volstead Act creating the Prohibition of Alcohol in 1919 was catastrophic to the Island’s grape and wine industry. Most of the wineries failed and the vineyards fell into disrepair. Heineman’s survived under Gustav’s son, Norman, by selling unfermented grape juice and providing taxi cab service to and tours of the Winery’s caves.

Today, following in the footsteps of generations before, Dustin Heineman proudly continues the family wine making traditions. Hands on experience in the wine cellar through the years with his father, Edward and Grandfather, Louie has allowed Dustin to continue sharing the rich history of Heineman Winery into the future. He considers Edward and Louie his mentors.

The Heinemans and other local growers cultivate 20 acres of grapes on the island. This gives the winery “vine to wine” quality control year after year. The native grapes are grown on South Bass. The two major varieties are Concord and Catawba.

Wines produced from a single grape and that carry the name of the grape are called Varietal, that is, made from a single grape variety. Other wines are created when two or more varietals are blended and given names like Sauterne or Burgundy to denote their classical heritage.