Conneaut, Ohio
Markko Vineyard
Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon from a small vineyard planted in 1968, one of the first here for European grapes.
What to Expect
Arnie Esterer and Tim Hubbard founded Markko in 1968, with advice from Konstantin Frank, who had pioneered European grapes in New York's Finger Lakes. Their vineyard helped show that Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon could grow beside Lake Erie, and those wines are still the core of what Markko makes.
- In the glass
- Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon
- The vineyard
- Planted in 1968
- The story
- Early European grapes in Ohio
On These Day Trips
For the White Wine Lover
Start with Riesling on the lake, then Riesling by a creek, Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner from vines planted in 1979, a Sémillon poured in an old church, and the vineyard that planted European grapes by Lake Erie in 1968.
See the Day TripOff the Beaten Path
Five wineries 13 to 30 miles from the Madison and Geneva cluster, each worth the drive: a meadery, a 1930s racehorse stable, a frozen wine dessert, a vineyard with rooms, and one of Ohio's first European-grape vineyards.
See the Day TripNearby Wineries
Tarsitano Winery
Estate Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay near Conneaut. Call first; it may still be closed.
Buccia Vineyard Winery and B&B
Flatbreads and charcuterie with your tasting, and four guest suites if you want to stay the night.
Rosabella Winery
Pizza, cheesecake flights and wine floats, with patios where dogs are welcome.
Sources & visitor information
Profile researched 2026-09-09. Visitor sources checked 2026-09-14. Schedules and offerings may change.