South River Winery
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The tasting room of South River Winery is a beautiful century-old church that was moved from Shalersville, Ohio, to its current location in the Grand River Valley.
There are a variety of wines, from sweet to dry, that can be enjoyed either inside the unique South River Winery tasting room while sitting in a church pew or on the grounds under the pavilion, or while roaming through the South River Winery itself.
Visit South River Winery
South River Winery welcomes wine lovers seven days a week to their beautiful 140-acre property located in the Grand River Valley. Although they does not have a kitchen, guests are welcome to bring their own food and enjoy a picnic while enjoying a range of delicious wines.
Guests can decompress on the veranda, near the outdoor fireplace, on one of two pavilions, or at one of the pews in the tasting room. South River Winery provides a serene space to enjoy your wine tasting and only occasionally invites musicians in for live music.
South River Winery’s unique tasting room is a century-old Methodist Episcopal Church that was originally located in Shalersville, Ohio. The owner of South River Winery, Gene Sigel, was fascinated by an abandoned church while on his way to Kent, Ohio. He stopped to ask permission to photograph the building and ended up being offered the structure if he moved it himself.
Sigel dismantled the building and moved it, where it is now the focal point of South River Winery. If you visit the tasting room at South River Winery, you can still see the interior door, gorgeous hardwood floors, some of the stained glass windows, and sit in the original pews. The “church winery” theme continues with their creative wine names, including Karma, Trinity, Creation, and Temptation.
Stop by the original interior door for a photo op with the nun… but do not steal the glasses! You are welcome to take your wine with you as you follow the path to visit the Red Eagle Distillery, just west of the South River Winery, which is also owned by the same family. M Cellars is also within walking distance from South River Winery, right across the street from Red Eagle Distillery.
The bar staff at South River Winery are very considerate of their guests, and all wore masks out of concern for COVID-19. Busses, shuttles, and limos are welcome here, but you need to call ahead.
South River Winery Video
South River Winery Wines
- 2017 Sémillon (dry white)
- 2020 Pinot Grigio (dry white)
- 2019 Chardonnay (dry white)
- 2019 Dry Riesling (dry white)
- 2018 Pinot Noir (dry red)
- 2018 Malbec (dry red)
- 2018 Karma (dry red)
- 2018 Cabernet Franc (red)
- 2018 Trinity (dry red)
- 2018 Creation (sweet white)
- 2019 Temptation (sweet blush)
- 2019 Riesling Winery Reserve (sweet white)
- 2019 Blush Ice Wine (sweet blush)
- 2017 Concord Ice Wine (sweet red)
South River Winery Food Menu
South River Winery does offer a bread and cheese plate, but they do not have an onsite kitchen. Guests are welcome to bring outside food while enjoying their wines. Just pack your picnic basket – maybe some fried chicken and potato salad (try this favorite recipe) – and find a comfy place to relax and unwind!
We LOVED this winery. It was our favorite of the 5 we stopped at that day. Beautiful scenery. Wonderful wine flights. When we make our next trip to Geneva we plan to visit and just spend an entire afternoon or evening there. They have a fireplace for chilly nights and plenty of space to spread out, let kids play, and walk the vineyards
Isnidair (TripAdvisor)
Cindy’s Insider Ohio Tips!
The winery stands out for its exceptional story of transforming a church into a winery, which I absolutely love. With abundant seating both indoors and outdoors, it offers a comfortable experience. When visiting on a chilly evening, don’t miss the far outside pavilion where they typically have a roaring fire in the fireplace!
Where is South River Winery?
South River Winery is located in the Grand River Valley at 6062 South River Road, Geneva, OH 44041 – 440-466-6676 – website.
South River Winery is located in the Grand River Valley, which is a mere 20 minutes from Geneva-on-the-Lake. It is also close enough for a quick weekend getaway from Cleveland or Columbus, Ohio, or northeastern Pennsylvania. If you are looking for a place to stay nearby, the bed and breakfast, Polly Harper Inn, is within walking distance of South River Winery, Red Eagle Distillery, and M Cellars.
Wineries in Ohio
Below is our comprehensive map of wineries in Ohio! If you do not see your favorite on the list, send us an email at team (at) visitohiotoday (dot) com. If you want to level up your wine-tasting knowledge, we recommend you read this book.
Let’s go to South River Winery
Have you been to South River Winery? We want to know what you thought! Which wine was your favorite? You do not have to pick just one. We left with more than one bottle of wine to enjoy at home later! If you want to learn more about Wineries in Ohio, you can visit our Ohio Wineries category page to plan your next wine-tasting trip!
Grand River Valley
The Grand River Valley, located in northeastern Ohio, previously covered by glaciers, now grows over 50% of Ohio’s grapes and is the home of over 30 wineries. The micro-climate of the area is prime for grape growing due to the extended growing season. Many of the wineries offer events 12 months a year, including tasting trails, live music, or pairing classes.
The Valley Wine Group
Debonne Winerys, Grand River Cellars, Cask 307, South River Winerys, Blue Dog, and Double Wing Brewing Company are all part of the Valley Wine Group. Wine, beer, and gourmet treats from the Grand River Valley area are available for order at one website to Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Medina, and Summit Counties. A $50 minimum order is required and is delivered for a $5 delivery fee (or free if you order over $150 in beer, wine, and treats).