Catawba Island Wine Company
Also known as: Mon Ami Restaurant & Historic Winery
Why it's listed
Built between 1872 and 1873 of native limestone quarried on site, this winery on the Catawba Island Peninsula was constructed for the Catawba Island Wine Company, a co-operative of local grape growers. The building rises two stories above ground with two vaulted cellar levels below, and the masonry contract went to George Loeb of Toledo. With a 130,000 gallon capacity, it was the largest winery on the peninsula. The company went into receivership in 1881 and was succeeded by a second company in 1885. The building was later used as a putt-putt golf course and tea room, then in 1937 became the home of the Mon Ami Champagne Company. A 1943 fire gutted the interior, and restaurant facilities were added in 1945. Additions have been made on the north and east sides, yet the cellars look much as they did a century ago. Today it still produces wine and serves as a restaurant, and it is the last of four large island-region co-operative wineries.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be one of the oldest and most prominent wineries in the Lake Erie Islands region, an area once known nationally and internationally for its wines. It is also the last of four large co-operative wineries that shaped the region's wine industry. It is one of only three active wineries in the region with buildings of both historical and architectural merit.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83002019, listed May 5, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3845 Wine Celler Rd., Port Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | May 5, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002019 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | George Loeb |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a restaurant and working winery; the form lists condition as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.53203, -82.85857 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83002019.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138646604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.