It is amazing to see the effect the Great Lakes have on agriculture. Many grape growers in Michigan, Ontario, Ohio, North Western Pennsylvania and North Western New York benefit from close proximity to the Great Lakes. The lakes have a tendency of keeping the nearby land cooler in the spring. The cooler air delays bud break and perhaps cuts the losses due to late freezes during bud break. The growing season is extended in the fall. Wineries in Ohio near Lake Erie just recently had a frost, a few weeks later than other parts of the state.

There are similarities in land use between the south shores of Lake Ontario and south shores of Lake Erie. Both regions have high population regions around cities such as Hamilton in Ontario and Cleveland in Ohio. Spreading out from the cities there are residential areas and then agricultural areas. As one approaches Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario the number of vineyards noticeably increases almost to the point that every turn leads to another vineyard.

Our travels took us to several wineries along the south shores of Lake Ontario in Canada and Lake Erie. There are some differences in grapes grown in these regions. Along the south shores of Lake Erie there are more Native American grapes grown whereas most of these grapes were pulled out along the south shores of Lake Ontario in Canada. Many vineyard owners still sell Concord and Niagara grapes to Welch’s. Ohio vineyards also have plantings of Catawba, a Native American grape that made Ohio a leading producer of wine in the United States during the nineteenth century. We observed similar passion for wines made from Catawba grapes in Ohio as we did for wines made from Muscadine grapes in North Carolina. There is a range of vinifera plantings as well as hybrids. This gives local wine consumers a vast array of wines to purchase locally.