Time to hit the Winter Warmer Trail

Winter warmers abound during a drive in wine country

February jaunts can be so restorative when you drive into Ohio’s wine country for a tasting or to pick up freshly made bread at La Crust, where breads are baked in a hand-built wood-fired oven.

La Crust owner baker Patrick Vautrin has added soups to his winter menu. The business’ Crust Hut, tucked in along the highway between a pair of wineries at 6387 Route 307 in Harpersfield Township, is open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Four nearby wineries and a distillery have banded together for the Winter Warmer Trail, which offers three wine samples or a cocktail, served with a sweet treat or comfort food during their open hours for the month of February. Cost at each is $6, and those who stop at all of them sometime in February will be entered in a drawing for an overnight stay at the new Hampton Inn-Madison plus $50 in gift certificates for participating establishments.

In addition to the tastes, comfort foods and sweets, each winery has created a specialty cocktail or sangria for an additional charge. Most will be open from noon to 6 p.m. but check websites for exceptions.

Trail cards can be picked up at any of these Valley Wine Group establishments, all of which are just a few minutes’ drive apart: GRAND RIVER CELLARS WINERY AND RESTAURANT » 5750 S. Madison Road, Madison; 440-298-9838; grandrivercellars.com. It’s serving White Cheddar Mac & Cheese with Brisket and offering Chocolate

Strawberry Sangria at extra charge.

CASK 307 » 7259 Warner Road (Route 307), Madison; 440-3079586; cask307.com. It’s serving Louisiana Chicken and Dumpling Soup and offering Cherry Sangria at an extra charge.

SOUTH RIVER VINEYARD » 6062 S. River Road, Geneva; 440-4666676; southrivervineyard.com. It’s serving Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownie and offering a Grand

River Kir Cocktail at an extra charge.

RED EAGLE DISTILLERY » 6202 S. River Road, Geneva; 440-4666604; redeaglespirits.com. It’s serving Mini White Chocolate and Raspberry Cocktail with Marianne’s Caramel Chocolate Turtle and offering Dirt Hoe Martini at an extra charge.

There are lots more wineries in Grand River Valley, many with addresses along Route 307, which also is called Warner Road and North River Road West, depending on the location. It’s the first road south of the Route 528 (Madison Road) exit from Interstate 90 and about a 20 minute drive from Mentor.

NEWS-HERALD FILE Wine expert Lauren Fiala welcomes a visitor to South River Vineyard, one of the participants in February’s Winter Warmer Trail among some area wineries.

JANET PODOLAK — THE NEWS-HERALD Patrick Vautrin shows off Bertha, the hand-built wood-fired brick oven he constructed for baking breads at his La Crust.

JANET PODOLAK — THE NEWS-HERALD Red Eagle Distillery will offer Winter Warmer Trail goers a Mini White Chocolate and Raspberry Cocktail with Marianne’s Caramel Chocolate Turtle.