We all know that California holds the lead for wine production in the US. But what you may not know is that Ohio ranks 7th! The exact number of wineries depends on your source, ranging from 360 to nearly 500. Either way, that’s a lot of wineries. And nine of those are wineries near Lancaster, Ohio, just 20 minutes south of Columbus. These Fairfield County wineries make for a great trip on their own, or you can make them a pit stop as you pass between Columbus and photogenic Hocking Hills!

Below is a map of the nine wineries near Lancaster, Ohio in Fairfield County.

Note: the winery above Mirabelle is Slate Run, and the winery near Rockside is Rhonemus Cellars.

Valley View Hills Winery

Valley View Hills Winery has one of the largest properties of the Fairfield County wineries. It has plenty of parking and indoor and outdoor seating – I especially love the indoor atmosphere! And there’s a grassy area where kids can play and burn off some energy while the adults chat.

The winery has a great drink and food selection available, and also offers wine flights. They recently started canning a couple ciders, one dry and one sweet, as well as some fruity wines. And they have several whiskeys available for those who prefer something stronger. I had a glass of their Bourbon Barrel Red Blend, which was really smooth! That one is in limited supply, so jump on that while you can!

It’s especially worth noting that the winery has space for weddings and other events. They also have cabins in the Hocking Hills region that can host between 2 and 18 people! (Actually, the cabins and wedding venues came first – the winery is a recent addition to the enterprise, with the ribbon-cutting in 2023.) The cabins look beautiful, often including hot tubs, all having 2-5 acres, and would have incredible views with autumn colors! And of course, you can have wine included in your cabin package. I haven’t stayed at the cabins yet, but I want to!

Love this rustic charm of Valley View Hills Winery!

Looking for more to do in Fairfield County? The Sherman and Georgian Houses are a must-see for those interested in Civil War history! Also, check out the Ohio Glass Museum for the significant role central Ohio has played in the US glass industry. Or perhaps you’d prefer a bit more of the paranormal with a tour of the Fairfield County Infirmary.

Manchester Hill Winery

Manchester Hill Winery is small, but has a lot to offer! First of all, the wine. They offer several whites and reds, iced wine, hard ciders, and wine slushies.

Last time, I got the County Line Red, which is a mix of nine grapes and aged in Hungarian and French oak barrels. The name originates from the winery sitting on the county line between Fairfield and Pickaway. Two other ladies were present at the winery when I visited, and they each got a glass at my recommendation and were also a fans! It’s not surprising it won the Silver Medal from the 2023 American Wine Society. The label is also cool, featuring a map of the county line where the winery sits, with a beautiful tree on the front representing the tree where they host live bands.

The winery offers indoor seating and some picnic tables in the yard. My favorite, though, is the patio seating under the canopy! Vines and grapes stretch along the row, and it’s a beautiful place to sit!

Also on offer is a VRBO property and a food truck. The owners had intended to add a kitchen to the winery, but COVID messed up their construction plans. So instead, they got a food truck for their outdoor kitchen. With the owners being from New York and New Jersey originally, they know a thing or two about making pizza. Their menu offers a few pizzas that are all made fresh from scratch and never frozen.

I love the outdoor seating at Manchester Hill, and being able to sit at the long bench underneath the grapevines!

White Barn Vineyard

White Barn Vineyard has a beautiful and casual rural setting! The barn has been converted into their seating and bar space, with both seating inside and outside overlooking the vineyard. Or you can go down the stairs to sit outside on the grass and beside the vines.

The winery is a fun retirement project for the owners, so their schedule is more relaxed. The winery is only open on Saturdays, opening the first week of May and closing the first weekend of October. However, this year they ended up closing a couple weeks early due to running out of wine – a great problem to have! This is especially impressive as they don’t spend a dime on advertising; all their business is from word of mouth.

They often have food trucks on site, and they can host larger gatherings if this interests you.

This winery is also unique in that it’s the only winery in the county that doesn’t add sulfites, preservatives, or other chemicals to its wines. Yes, this means their bottles only have about a two-year shelf life. But if you easily get headaches from the sulfites found in wines, you’ll find this a relief!

White Barn Winery is so cozy and charming inside!

Slate Run Vineyard & Winery

Slate Run Vineyard is perhaps the oldest winery in the county, as it began in 1997 and still has its original owner. He clearly knows his wines, and he’s happy to chat about different types. His own wines are inspired by the German style of winemaking. When I visited, there were 17 wines available, and he does offer tastings if you’d like to try them all.

There’s plenty of parking on a gravel lot, though there are fewer seating options. However, he’s open Monday through Saturday, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to visit! Like Manchester Hill, this Fairfield County winery is also right on the county line, with Slate Run being closer to Columbus and an easy drive south from the big city.

This is perhaps the most modest of the wineries as far as atmosphere. But don’t let that deter you! As I said, this man knows his wines, and he has several bottles on display which have won awards.

And if you’re interested in purchasing a winery, this may be a perfect opportunity! He’s looking to retire and sell the winery. This also means you should visit soon!

Mirabelle Farm & Vineyard

Mirabelle Farm & Vineyard has such a charming farmhouse vibe! There’s plenty of indoor seating, including larger tables. There are also several tables outside, as well as a few small tables set between the vines. You may even see some of their chickens walking around the vineyard.

All five of their wines (three whites and two reds) are 2025 Ohio Wine Competition winners, with four of the wines winning Silver and one winning Double Gold! Flights are offered so you can taste all five. I went with a flight, especially since all their wines are award winners, and I was not disappointed!

As this is a newer winery, they’re still growing and experimenting with food options. They do have a few nibbles, including a cheese tray, that you can purchase on site. Additionally, guests are welcome to bring their own food to nosh.

Mirabelle is just a short drive down the road from Slate Run, so I encourage you to visit both if you’re able!

Nothing better than a flight of award-winning wines with a lovely view.

Clearcreek Country Vineyards

If you’re looking for a winery with a family vibe in a rural setting, Clearcreek Country Vineyards is the place. The farmhouse on the property has been converted into their bar and seating area. There’s plenty of seating indoors, including a couple large TVs – perfect for football games. Additionally, several chairs and small tables are set outside on the spacious front porch. I’m all about a porch, so this place is fantastic for some front porch sittin’ and wine sippin’ in their rocking chairs overlooking the vineyards and farmland!

The atmosphere is also very family-friendly. In fact, several of the owners’ family members and children were present when I visited. And the large front yard is ideal for letting any kids in your group run off steam. Also, in the fall the owners make a family-friendly corn maze, complete with additional activities for the kiddos.

Speaking of the wines, they offer a large variety of both dry and sweet options. The Coyote Red is their most popular dry, and the Indian Summer is their most popular sweet – and for good reason! But my flight also included Crimson Fox and Brambleberry, both of which I also enjoyed, so I’m looking forward to a return trip to try more. A family member designs their labels, and she does a great job!

As for food, it seems they have food trucks fairly often, so be sure to check their social media for updates.

This winery is also only open on Saturdays, and it’s only a few minutes from Mirabelle, so you can easily visit both if you’re up for it.

I LOVE a big front porch, and this one comes with wine and a view!

Rockside Winery

Of the wineries near Lancaster, Ohio, Rockside Winery is located just outside the city, making it an easy stop. The gravel parking lot has plenty of room, and there’s seating available both inside and outside. The winery sits up on a slight hill, so there’s a beautiful view looking down over the vines and a couple rolling hills beyond.

Rockside Winery has a great selection of wines, including dry whites and reds, sweet wines, and wine slushies. And let me tell you, some of those wine slushies are dangerously good! I’m not always a wine slushie kinda gal, but they had a chocolate-covered banana wine slushie recently that was incredible! I also love that their wine labels often include local or historic scenes, like Serene, a raspberry merlot, which features Cedar Falls from Hocking Hills. Wine flights are available.

Rockside offers a few food options, like a meat and cheese tray or hummus tray, as well as pizzas. They also often have food trucks. (Heads up, the kitchen may be closed if they have a food truck on site.) For any non-wine drinkers, there are a few local craft beers available.

It’s worth noting that pets are welcome in the outdoor seating area, and that kids are welcome, but the winery is 21+ on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You can find more details on their website.[https://www.rocksidewinery.com/faqandpolicies]

If you’re looking for recommendations, I’m a big fan of the Rockside Red and Uncle Billy.

Buckeye Lake Winery

Buckeye Lake Winery is perhaps the largest winery in the county, with ample parking and seating both indoors and out. If you love lakeside vibes, this will be your go-to winery! They’re located right on the lake and even have their own dock, so you can pull up with your kayak or boat and make a pit stop for a glass or lunch before venturing on. I’m a big fan of the Adirondack chairs overlooking the water!

This winery has a full menu. They also host larger events and special occasions. And there’s a stage outside for live music. This winery has a busy social calendar, so keep an eye on their social media for events!

When I visited, I had the Lake Water (white) and Lake View Red wines, both of which were dry. I’m generally more of a dry red gal, but I admit that Lake Water was smooth and refreshing for a hot day!

The vibe here is more commercial than the smaller, family-owned wineries of Fairfield County, so it just depends on the atmosphere you prefer. But you certainly can’t beat those sunset views over the lake with a glass of wine and an Adirondack chair!

Rhonemus Cellars

Rhonemus Cellars is Fairfield County’s newest winery, opening its doors earlier in 2025. Currently, there are several red and white wines available, though only one – the Pinot Grigio – is from Ohio. The owners, who are local, select the hand-crafted wines they offer. I chose the Pinot, which is from the Geneva area, and while Pinot is not usually my first choice in wine, I really liked this one! It’s definitely smoother than other Pinots I’ve had.

There’s also a vineyard on the property, so hopefully in the next year or two we’ll start seeing some of those bottles on the menu!

The menu currently isn’t very large, but it does offer a nice variety! From a burger to pizzas to poke or a charcuterie board, plus a few options for the kiddos, there’s something for just about everyone.

Of the wineries in Fairfield County, this is the most upscale. It’s a beautiful building with large glass windows overlooking the vines and a golf course. There’s plenty of parking in the gravel lot, as well as seating both indoors and out. The indoors offers a couple of fireplaces and a lovely restaurant setting. Meanwhile, there’s seating outdoors on the deck, or more casual seating in comfy chairs downstairs by the firepits. Those chairs are the perfect setting for enjoying a book for conversation and enjoying the view!

Final Thoughts on the Wineries Near Lancaster Ohio

With nine wineries near Lancaster, Ohio, you have plenty of options to fit your personality. And being so close to Columbus, they’re easy to visit if you’re visiting the Buckeye State on business or exploring the natural gem that is Hocking Hills. And for more information on what to see and where to go in Fairfield County, be sure to visit the official Fairfield County tourism board site!

I can’t choose a favorite. Each one has delicious wines, friendly staff, and a unique atmosphere, which means I choose the winery based on my mood. From the modest yet experienced winery that is Slate Run to the newer and more upscale Rhonemus Cellars and every charming winery in between, these Fairfield County wineries are sure to include one that you love!