A Taste & Tour of Wine Country: Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan

I really enjoy trips to Michigan’s Wine Country in the Leelanau (pronounced: Lee-luh-nah) Peninsula. It has a rather unique vibe and is a bit more relaxing than some of the other wine trips I have taken. Timing really matters when visiting Leelanau. I strongly recommend looking into the weather for the time of year you are planning your visit. This can have a big impact on how you’ll feel about visiting the area and contribute to available activities.

Reader beware: a lot can change in the tourism industry within a short amount of time. Restaurants change. Hotel aesthetics are altered. Wine brands can change, close, or get created. It’s just part of the tourism culture. But I hope these suggestions create a great trip for you, nonetheless! Click on the teal headings to take you to the actual webpages for what is listed within this blog post.

Cheers!

Know Before You Go

The are two land masses associated with the state of Michigan, which are surrounded by several Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Heron. The Leelanau Peninsula coasts Lake Michigan and is a part of the Michigan land mass that looks a bit like a left-handed mitten. Leelanau County and Traverse City are located in the little pinky part of the mitten land mass. I know that now that I provided this description, you can’t unsee the pinky or the mitten. 😊

In truth, every time I’ve visited Michigan, I’ve driven there. Since I had friends and family in the area, this somehow managed to become my way of traveling in and out of the state. Thus, I’m not the best at recommending flight patterns into and out of Michigan. Nonetheless, there is an airport in Traverse City, which is a great place to visit if you’re planning a trip to the Leelanau Peninsula. The Cherry Capital Airport is right in the heart of Traverse City and will likely be an accessible hub to use if you plan on flying into this region.

Also, it is likely you will need a car to travel through this wine region. Wineries are spread rather far apart and require some sort of ground transportation to get to and from a tasting room. Again, always be safe, Wine Lovers. There are several local transportation businesses in the area that can help maintain your safety while touring Leelanau’s Wine Country.

More Information

If you are looking to plan your next trip to the Leelanau area, I recommend going to the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail website. Not only does it stay more current on the various tourism options in the area, but it can help with lodging and transportation possibilities to make your trip comfortable.

The Food

Unlike my time living in Napa Valley, I don’t have as many experiences at restaurants throughout my visits to Leelanau. If I’m honest, sometimes during my travels, I ate at the hotel restaurant out of convenience. My advice is to do a bit of research before you go to see what the current, top-reviewed trending restaurants are in the area. There are not a lot of options in the peninsula part of Leelanau. However, there are a variety of restaurants to choose from in Traverse City that offer delightful experiences.

Another piece of advice: ask the hospitality/tasting room staff while you are visiting wineries, or prior to visiting a winery. Many of them have some good local restaurants that they prefer, and I was not disappointed when I took their suggestions. Some of the wineries also offer some small snack options, which is a great opportunity to take in the winery’s culture and atmosphere while sipping on Michigan wines.

The Wineries

Leelanau is known for the higher acid white wine varieties. This is a cooler climate region, and thus, whites and rosés are going to be their specialties. However, I found several good quality red wines on my travels, as well, but they lean into the lighter- and medium-bodied styles. Plus, you don’t want to miss out on visiting one of my favorite sparkling wine houses in the U.S. If you enjoy a good bubbly, this stop comes strongly recommended!

I was never able to visit all of the wineries in the area. But here are a few where I had particularly positive experiences, listed in no particular order.

Black Star Farms – If you want to experience something unique

Everyone I know that visits Black Star Farms has a truly enjoyable experience. You can stop during the day and enjoy a tasting, or stay for a while: both for dinner and maybe an overnight stay at their inn! The wines are just part of the picture at Black Star.

Blustone Vineyards – If you are a fan of traditional wine culture

If you have been to as many tasting rooms as I have, you come to appreciate being able to sit with a glass of wine, grab a small plate of goodies, and take in the views with a quiet ambiance and pleasing aesthetic. Blustone offers this kind of experience. I’ve enjoyed many wines from Blustone, but I also truly appreciate the wine-country vibe that their tasting room brings to the region.

Chateau Fontaine – If you are a dog lover

I can’t remember now where I heard about Chateau Fontaine, but I remember making sure I visited this winery on my travels to Michigan. The dog-theme in this quaint tasting room will have dog lovers mesmerized. Plus, the wines are certainly quaffable!

Cherry Republic – If you love cherries in both wine and food form

I mean… it’s hard to visit Cherry Republic and not fall in love with all things cherries. Michigan happens to be one of the largest producers of tart cherries in the U.S., and so missing out on this gem would be a tragedy. There’s something for everyone at Cherry Republic. In fact, the wines are not the center stage! But there are some really fun cherry-centric wines available here if you are interested in having a taste.

Mawby – If you enjoy sparkling wines

Most wine industry members east of the Rocky Mountains are familiar with this sparkling wine house in Michigan. It’s a delight to visit, and you’ll find I’ve often featured many of their sparkling wines in previous Sip & Swirl editions as well as on social media. There are sparkling wines for every taste preference. My favorite just happens to be Grace.

Shady Lane Cellars – If you enjoy an outdoors and ski resort feel

Nestled into a lovely spot in Michigan, Shady Lane Cellars offers a variety of wines. I was tickled with the opportunity to taste wines from Shady Lane Cellars while my friends and family enjoyed some distilled spirits on a trip to Traverse City. Many of their aromatic white wines were quite nice, and I had a fond appreciation for their Gewurztraminer. If you get a chance to visit their tasting room, you can enjoy the lovely outdoors of this region in Michigan, which offers a relaxing approach to wine culture.

The Extras

Like in many “Wine Country” regions, there are so many additional things to see and do in the Leelanau Peninsula region. It’s one of my favorite things to do while traveling to taste wines: discovering these pockets of America that I may not otherwise know exist. Here’s a few of my favorites that I have seen over the years.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park

I don’t think a trip to this region is complete without visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes. Truly, I was not prepared how difficult this trail would be. You will literally walk through dunes. It’s a great workout and a great hike! At the end, the dunes open up to the vividly vibrant waters of Lake Michigan. This was such a unique experience, and I definitely recommend taking the time to visit this National Park.

Fishtown

If you are into history or like a great spot to find fresh or smoked fish, Fishtown is quite an interesting area. Several shops and a few restaurants line the rows of fish shanties, preserving this historical fishing site.

Traverse City

The wineries on the Leelanau are closest to the city, Traverse City, which is a shore town off of Lake Michigan. Truly spectacular views of Lake Michigan’s water envelop this town. I have never been anywhere else where the natural light was so vibrant. Plus, Traverse City is filled with many activities, restaurants, and hotels for guests to stay and enjoy.

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Initially, this building was the Traverse City State Hospital, an asylum run by the state of Michigan for many years. Today, you can take a tour of the old asylum, which offers several types of tours – from historical to thrill seeking. Purchase advance tickets! But the site also offers plenty of natural and beautiful walking trails, dining opportunities, and a host of boutique shops unique to the area.

Day Trip to Mackinac Island

If you are in for a little bit of driving, or maybe an overnight stay, to get to a ferry that takes you to an island surrounded by the colorful waters of Lake Michigan… do it! Mackinac (said: mack-in-awe) Island is quite beautiful, offering lots of outdoor activities, dining, shopping, and family fun activities. Truly a hidden gem in America.

Can’t Make a Trip? Taste & Tour The Leelanau Peninsula at Home!

Maybe it’s not the right time to venture to Michigan. That’s okay! You can still create an at-home tasting that provides an essence of the taste of Leelanau. I’m truly honored that some of my friends and colleagues in Michigan provided me with some of their favorites to recommend to you. (Thank you to all of those people!) Plus, you’ll get a fine selection of some of my favorites. Basically, anything here you, too, can enjoy wherever you call home!

Michigan Sparkling Wines

Mawby Grace

I have featured this traditional sparkling wine quite a few times, not only because I love the name, but because I also enjoy the wine. It’s a Brut style sparkling wine, elegant, and fruity, with the crisp acidity that is retained in many Michigan wines.

Mawby Fizz

If dry wine is not your thing, then this sparkling wine is truly a safe bet. Fruit-forward and pleasantly sweet, it’s hard not to like this wine. Plus, their food pairings are so fun (check out the webpage!).

Michigan White Wines

Shady Lane Cellars Gewurztraminer

It’s really quite difficult for me to pass up a good Gewurztraminer, and I was truly intriqued with Shady Lane Cellars’ Gewurz. It had some lovely spice and tropical fruit essences, which really captures the heart of what Gewurz wines taste like. Note that this is a dry Gewurztraminer, but if you are a fan of the variety, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one!

Left Foot Charley Kerner

Have you heard of the Kerner variety before? My guess is no. For that reason alone, this is a good wine to try. It’s an “Aromatic White Wine” variety that is quite fruity. Think lots of apples, pears, nectarines, apricots, and even some relatively noticeable tropical notes like mango. This wine has gotten some notable recognition from industry experts and is likely a safe bet to sip… swirl… and savor!

Blustone Pinot Blanc Reserve

In Michigan, you will find quite a bit of Pinot Blanc wines, and many of them are very good! Pinot Blanc is a very refreshing variety with crisp citrus, apricot, and peach flavors. They can certainly be zesty! This wine is relatively unique with the added touch of delicate oak.

Mari Vineyards Bestiary Ramato

This primarily Pinot Grigio blend made in the ramato style (skin contact during processing) that captures the phenolic and colorful essence of the variety, is pretty unique. This is a relatively bigger wine, and it’s possible the style is not for everyone. But, it is certainly something that is different in the sea of wine choices!

Enjoy White Wines With Michigan Inspired Cuisine: Potato Chips, Fried Chicken, Schnitzel, Spätzle Pasta, Fish (think white fish like tilapia, cod, flounder, halibut, or trout), Fried Fish or Fish and Chips, Fried Shrimp, and Cheese Plates.

Michigan Red Wines

Boathouse Vineyards Syrah

Syrah is truly planted in some of the most unique places! As this region in Michigan is known for its cooler climate, remember that the reds are going to be a little bit lighter-bodied with more “Old World Style” fruit characteristics. With that in mind, this elegant version of Syrah is one to taste.

Blustone Ad Lib

I still remember tasting this red wine and thinking, “This wine just works.” This is not your typical dry-style red wine. Instead, there is a light essence of sweetness that comes through with this wine, but it’s just rightly balanced, making it truly delightful. This red wine is Marquette-based and blended with some bigger, bolder varieties. Even if you are a dry-wine-only person, I think one taste of this will immediately prove its appeal!

Enjoy Red Wines With Michigan Inspired Cuisine: Detroit-Style Pizza (or any pizza you can find), Cornish Pasties, Calzones, Coney Dogs (hot dogs topped with a beef-based sauce, onions, and mustard), Hamburgers, Burritos (maybe even give a “Wet Burrito” a try), Bratwurst Sausage Sandwiches, and Pot Pies.