Inside Scoop: 23rd Annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival & Area Events

Restaurants
Written By Elyse Pitkin

The Grand River Valley Wine Region invites wine lovers to celebrate the 23rd Annual Ice Wine Festival, taking place throughout the month of March. Participating wineries showcase true ice wines—crafted from grapes left on the vine until winter temperatures drop below 17 degrees, then harvested and pressed while frozen to create richly concentrated wines. 

This year’s festival features six wineries offering ice wine tastings and one distillery debuting a signature ice wine cocktail. Many locations have also expanded their menus to include specialty cocktails created exclusively for the festival. Guests can explore a wide range of unique ice wine expressions, including habanero, maple, cherry bourbon, espresso, and bourbon barrel–aged ice wines. Each location will provide samples of their ice wines along with a delicious appetizer and souvenir cordial glass. Area maps will be provided at all wineries to help patrons plan their route.

Click through the links below to view event schedules, menus, and festival Saturday experiences available at each participating business in the Grand River Valley Wine Region.

Ice Wine Festival Details & Locations

  • 📍7259 Warner Rd. Madison, OH 44057

    cask307.com / 440-307-9586

    Click Here for the Cask 307 Ice Wine Fest Details & Schedule

    Featured wines:

    • Rosè of Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Expresso Ice Wine, Chambourcin Iced Wine (choose 2)

    Appetizer:

    • Tiramisu

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative Cask 307 Festival Glass

    • Ice Wine Cocktails

    • Ice Wine Cheesecakes sold by the slice

    • Ice Wine Food Pairing Flight

    Festival Saturdays:

    • Taylor Farms Boutique Pop Up March 7th

    • XOXO Permanent Jewelry March 14th, 21st, 28th

    Other Activities:

  • 📍7840 Doty Rd. Madison, OH 44057

    Click Here for the Debonne Vineyards Ice Wine Fest Details & Schedule

    Featured Wines

    • 2023 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Cherry Bourbon Ice Wine, 2024 Riesling Iced Wine (choose 2)

    Appetizer:

    • Pulled Pork Slider with Ice Wine BBQ Sauce

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative Debonne Festival Glass

    • Ice Wine Specialty Cocktails

    • Live music Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

    Festival Saturdays:

    • Ice Carving 3 pm sponsored by Tour Lake County

    • Ink & Arch Permanent Jewelry

    Ice Wine Progressive Dinners Fridays -3/6 3/13, 3/20, 3/27Reservations Required. Limited Availability.

    Sunday Ice Wine Brunch! 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, & 3/22 11AM-2PM. Bubbly Bar Mimosa Menu, Ice Wine Cocktails. Reservations Required. Limited Availability.

  • 📍5585 N. River Rd. W. (Rt. 307) Geneva, OH 44041
    ferrantewinery.com / 440-466-8466

    Click Here for Ferrante Ice Wine Fest Details & Schedule

    Featured Wines:

    • Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Bourbon Barrel Aged Ice Wine

    Appetizer:

    • Roasted Poblano Pepper & Sweet Corn Chowder

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative Ferrante Festival Glass

    • Live music Friday & Saturday

    • Lunch & Dinner ice wine featured menu

    • Sunday Brunch

    • Ice Wine Pop-up Bar & Ice Wine Food Specials in the Pop-up Bar

    • Special Ice Wine Cocktail Menu

    • Wine Shop Gifts & Ice Wine Packages

    Festival Saturdays:

  • 📍5750 S. Madison Rd. (Rt. 528) Madison, OH 44057
    grandrivercellars.com / 440-298-9838

    Featured wines:

    • 2024 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Maple Ice Wine or Port Style Dessert Wine or Chocolate Port Style Dessert Wine

    Appetizer:

    • French Onion & Blue Cheese Mac n Cheese

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative Grand River Cellars Festival Glass

    • Ice Haus Signature Ice Wine Martini Flight

    • Ice Haus Pop Up Wine Bar

    • Ice Wine Marshmallow Roast All Day

    • Ice Wine Cookie Tasting Tray

    • Specialty Ice Wine Cocktail Menu

    Festival Saturdays:

    • Wood Carving Artwork by Skid Row Academy every Saturday

    • Scarves by Serena & Charlie’s Lamps March - 7th

    • Chestnut Ridge Farm Products March - 7th

    • Holpits Engraving - March 14th

    • Howdy Honey Boutique - March 21st

    • Charmed by Crystal - March 28th

    Other Activities:

    • Ice Wine Progressive Dinners Fridays -3/6 3/13, 3/20, 3/27Reservations Required. Limited Availability.

    • Ice Wine Sweet Treats by Pucker Up Candy Shop & Ice Wine Candles by Delightfully Soy

  • 📍4573 OH-307 (Rt. 307) Geneva, OH 44041

    laurellovineyards.com / 440-415-0661

    Featured wines:

    •  Simply Mad Habanero and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

    Appetizer:

    • Whipped Ricotta and Laurello Olive Oil and Brown Butter Granola

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative Laurello Festival Glass

    • Live entertainment Fridays & Saturdays

    • Ice Wine Cocktails

    Festival Saturdays:

    • Jennica Rose Beauty March 7th & 21st

    • Bead Bar March 14th

    • Lala Cake Pops March 28th

    Other Activities:

    • Wood-fired specialty pizzas, perfectly paired with Ice Wine

  • Red Eagle Distillery
    📍    6202 S. River Rd. W. Geneva, OH 44041
    redeaglespirits.com / 440-466-6604


    Festival Ice Wine Cocktail:

    • Planter’s Punch with SRV Blush Ice Wine and Red Eagle Spirits

    Appetizer:

    • Chicken Tikki Masala

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative festival tumbler

    • Bonus Stop: the “Speakeasy Ice Wine Cocktail Bar” at the Black Door Tavern

    • Visit Black Door Tavern for a mini-ice wine cocktail flight paired with Black Door Signature Smoked Potatoes for $10

    • 3 Course meals for $39 every weekend in March to celebrate Cleveland Independent Restaurant Month

  • 📍6062 S. River Rd. W. Geneva, OH 44041
    southrivervineyard.com / 440-466-6676


    Featured wines:

    • 2024 Concord Ice Wine & 2024 Blush Ice Wine (Blend of Chambourcin & Vidal Blanc)

    Appetizer:

    • Truffles by F Bomb

    While You Visit:

    • Participants receive a commemorative South River Vineyards Festival Glass

    • Ice Wine Spritzer Cocktail

    Festival Saturdays:

    • Bonus Stop: the “Speakeasy Ice Wine Cocktail Bar” at the Black Door Tavern for a mini-ice wine cocktail flight paired with Black Door Signature Potatoes for $10

    • 3 Course meals for $39 every weekend in March to celebrate Cleveland Independent Restaurant Month

Special Overnight Packages

The Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival runs March 1-31 from 12-5PM with Festival Events at each winery on Saturdays.

Choose the day you would like to attend. The date you select is used to calculate your rate, it is NOT a hotel reservation. YOU MUST CALL the Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn in Madison, OH to confirm the reservation for your room in advance.

Live Ice Carving

Plan your festival Saturdays around the Ice Carving Demonstration at 3PM each Festival Saturday at Debonné Vineyards! Ice Carving sponsored by Tour Lake County!

2026 Annual Ice Wine Festival March 1-31
Ice Carving Demonstration on Festival Saturdays at 3PM on March 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

More Nearby Places to Stay the Night!

His Majesty’s Bed & Breakfast

In the heart of the Ohio Grand River Wine Valley, located within minutes of all of the wineries of this renowned region, you will find comfortable accommodation and a warm welcome at His Majesty's Bed & Breakfast in Madison

Standing Rock Farms

This modern working farm cultivates and produces a variety of fresh, high-quality goods, including commercial flowers, honey, Highland calves, farm-fresh herbs, and organic produce while offering a breathtaking backdrop for life’s celebrations and a variety of experiences for creating lasting memories for all who walk through its gates.

About Ice Wine

By: Debonne Vineyards

The cold of Northeast Ohio brings out the sweet nectar frozen on the vines in snow-laden vineyards located south of Lake Erie.  This creates a microclimate that allows Ohio winemakers to grow grapes and make exceptional ice wines. 

Ice Wine harvest is typically completed late at night or in the early morning hours when temperatures dip well-below freezing.  The natural water content that is found in the grapes needs to be frozen when harvested.  This results in an extraction of concentrated heavy juice which, in turn, is used to create Ice Wine.  Typically, the brix (sugar) level is between 37-40, which is ideal for producing this decadent dessert wine. 

Ice Wine varietals in the Grand River Valley region include Vidal Blanc, Concord, Cabernet Franc, Riesling and Chardonnay. Each varietal has its own set of unique characteristics that are sure to be palate-pleasing. Flavors of sweet peach, apricot, honey, cherry, and citrus can be found in these delicious Ice Wines.  Pair any of these dessert wines with pungent cheeses like gorgonzola and goat cheese or go sweet and enjoy with chocolate hazelnut spread or white chocolates. The possibilities are endless! 

The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley encourage you to come sample the finest Ice Wines in the valley!

The following wineries and distillery locations participate in the Ice Wine Festival featuring samples and small bites. Additional wineries throughout the Grand River Valley do offer Ice Wine but may not be included in this packaged event.

Join the Harvest in 2027!

Elyse Pitkin
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23rd Annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival