Grand Bend - Schatz Winery

When the Ihrigs expanded and added a winery to their large estate that already held a popular restaurant, event venue and inn, they may have picked the perfect name. The term Schatz is a term of affection in German that roughly translates to honey or dear, and this winery is quickly becoming one of the darlings of the burgeoning Huron Shores wine region.

The Schatz Winery at Hessenland Inn specializes in cool climate varietals and strives to educate its customers about the versatility of grapes grown in this region and to highlight the terroir of the unique microclimate that they have nestled on the shores of Lake Huron.

They began with a test plot and soon expanded to five acres. While they have been selling their wines from a boutique within the main building in 2017, they have been working on renovating a former horse barn on the property since 2020. Finally, this summer they are ready to launch the new winery building to the public.

The space is filled with barrels fermenting their wine and is the perfect complementary piece to the whole Huron Shores region, says winery manager Brandon Chaffe. The light airy space that celebrates the white oak that remains from the original barn is the perfect space to further engage the public with their unique wine offerings. Wine flights are served on authentic white oak boards made from salvaged wood from the renovations, and served to comfortable settees or interesting tables made from farm gear by the current owner’s father and grandfather.

The space was opened on June 4 and will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm daily, with a regular bar service and offering charcuteries on the menu to accompany the wine tastings.

Come discover Huron County’s distinct wine flavours. You may find that the wines grown in the lee of Lake Huron are the perfect complement to a summer evening and pair perfectly with a sunset.  72981 Bluewater Highway, Zurich (just north of St. Josephs). www.hessenland.com