The Heineman Winery was founded in 1888 by Gustav Heineman, an immigrant from Baden-Baden, Germany, the grape growing region of that country. The Lake Erie Islands were already noted for the quality grapes as a result of ideal soil conditions and the long growing season because of the tempering effect of Lake Erie.

By 1900, Heineman's was one of 17 wineries on Put-in-Bay. The passage of the Volstead Act creating the Prohibition of Alcohol in 1919 was catastrophic to the Island's grape and wine industry. Most of the wineries failed and the vineyards fell into disrepair. Heineman's survived under Gustav's son, Norman, by selling unfermented grape juice and providing taxi cab service to and tours of the Winery's caves.

Today the third and fourth generations of Heinemans, Louis and Edward, share the family wine making tradition. The Heinemans and other local growers cultivate 50 acres of grapes on the island. This gives the winery "vine to wine" quality control year after year. The Lubrusca, or native grapes are are grown on South Bass. The two major varieties are Concord and Catawba. These are used in to produce two grape juices and many of the wines including the most popular, Pink Catawba. Ives, Delaware and Nia gara are other examples of Labrusca grapes grown on the Island.

Wines produced from a single grape and that carry the name of the grape are called Varietal, that is, made from a single grape variety. Other wines are created when two or varietals are blended and given names like Sauterne or Burgundy to denote their classical heritage.