TIME VISITED:Summer 2017 BUSY ? EXTREMELY ON WEEKENDS
WEATHER: 70s⛅️ REASON FOR VISIT: Wine
WHERE TO STAY: AIRBNB EXPENSIVE: $$-$$$
If you read my post about Old Mission Peninsula and thought they had a lot of wineries to offer just wait until you read about Leelanau Peninsula. This peninsula has three times as many wineries (27 total) plus a brewery, distillery and two cider houses. I may write a blog post in the future about all the wineries/drinking establishments, but for now I am going to start with my favorites.
Once again, these are MY favorites. I have spent my summer working as a tour guide for Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours and these are my go-to’s to visit on my days off. Everyone’s palates are so different, so do a bit of research yourself to make sure you will enjoy their wine, spirits, cider or beer!
45 North Vineyard and Winery
45 North Vineyard and Winery was the first winery that stole my heart in this area. They are located right off 204, you pull around the bend and see the vineyard that is wrapped completely around their stunning property. The building looks like an old updated barn and the cowboy western décor is so unique. You walk in and are welcomed with the smell of cedar (offering some nostalgic notes for me) and the team that works here is such a friendly and passionate bunch! As a bonus they have bocce ball area out front and a very large patio. Their most popular wine here is their Peach Cremant . Their wine taster Kiersten told me it resembles a Bellini, I gave it a taste recently and I couldn’t agree me! They also are known for their 45 White, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and 45 Red. This winery has more wines to offer, but these are what I hear most on tours and what they sell the most of. My personal favorites are their Sauvignon Blanc and Red Barn Red. If you are visiting as a couple, walk up to their beautiful wooden bar and enjoy a tasting and then a glass there or out on the patio. They also have one of my favorite charcuterie boards here in Northern Michigan. If you have the opportunity to go in with a group of six or more call ahead and reserve a spot in their private tasting room for an unbelievable experience with one of their tasting leaders. I have heard amazing things about their employees Corbin and Matthew, if you do a tasting ask for them!
Bel Lago Vineyard’s and Winery
Bel Lago Vineyard’s and Winery is the first winery I visited on Leelanau Peninsula. It was recommended to me by Merry Ball, she is the owner of the most adorable book store in Leland, called Good Old Books. If you ever make your way up to the adorable Leland fishtown absolutely check out her store. Her and her husband, George, had such an extensive book collection that they built an addition on their home and now sell their books out of it. When we were walking through this book store, Merry mentioned how much she loves Bel Lago and how often she visits, so I knew this meant we had to check it out! OK I got sidetracked, back to the wine! Bel Lago’s tasting room is one of the smallest I have ever seen and I love that about it, so quaint, just a few employees but a lot of great wines and ciders to taste! We loved their white wine and cider because it had very low residual sugars, so if you aren’t into sweet wines and wish you could find a cider or white that you liked, this is definitely a place you will want to try. We were standing next to a couple in the tasting room and they told us they drive 6 hours every summer, just to visit their tasting room and try their ice wine. If you aren’t familiar with ice wine it is an EXTREMELY sweet dessert wine. And according to this couple, Bel Lago makes the best!
They also just announced their new wine cork art! I can’t wait to go check it out.
French Valley Vineyards
French Valley Vineyards was started on the idea of a romantic adventure for a husband and wife. They started their adventure with a cherry farm and a waterfront inn with a small restaurant. From there this beautiful vineyard and winery evolved .The small restaurant later became the tasting room, but you can still enjoy an amazing pizza made by Chef Dan while you enjoy their wonderful wine. Their most popular bottles are Jezebele and Cabernet Franc, I tried and loved them both! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Pam the owner, Dan the pizza chef, and Alex, the tasting manager. They were all so passionate about what goes on here at French Valley. On a nice summer day walk down to their private beach or if it’s chilly their tasting room is quite cozy, especially if they have the fire place going. Either way enjoy this beautiful view right on the water, it’s one of the best on this peninsula!
Green Bird Organic Cellars
Green Bird Organic Cellars is the only certified organic vineyard and winery in Michigan. This is what caught my attention and the reason for my initial visit, but once you arrive they make you love this place for so many reasons. Ben and Court are extremely hands on owners, they started a brewery in Traverse City with a few other folks a few years ago and left to invest in this vineyard and winery instead. They wanted a place where their kids could run around a farm and they have even incorporated that into the business. Not only do they sell great wine and cider they have an all natural “beauty line” called Noisy Village Farm that produces some essential oil soaps, bug spray and other beauty products for sale. I love the all natural bug spray!
If you go on the weekends you cannot leave without a sea salt caramel chocolate chip cookie made by Court’s wife, one of my favorite cookies I have ever had! As for favorites we loved their Ciderrye, Blueberry Sangria and Ginger Beer the best, but to be honest I haven’t tried something here I didn’t enjoy.
Hop Lot Brewing Company
Switching from wine to beer here, Hop Lot Brewing Company is the place to be, enough said. They offer such a welcoming environment and when you pull up you will immediately think, “I want to join this party!” They have a few fire pits with benches around them and you take a seat and end up making friends with the couple or group sitting across from you. This place has so many “summer in Northern Michigan feels” all wrapped into one awesome brewery. Last time I was there, I met a girl who lived out in Fort Collins, Colorado and told me about this company that is making marshmallows that are stuffed with yummy ingredients called Stuff’n Mallows. It completed the experience for me ! Drinking an amazing local beer, sitting around the fire, learning about pre-stuffed marshmallows?! I mean come on! To top it off Hop Lot is also family friendly. There is a large yard right behind the fire pits for your kids to run around while you enjoy a beer catching up with friends and family.
L Mawby
L Mawby is doing something different than anyone else up here in Northern Michigan and are specializing in sparkling wine or what I like to call, bubbly! They have something for everyone to enjoy; including Dry(brut), Semi Dry (extra sec), Semi Sweet(sec) and Sweet (demi sec). Their most popular bottle is the SEX Dry Brut. And I am sure you can see why, people never get sick of saying “Omg, I can’t wait to try some sex!”My favorites were the Sex (of course), Wild and Talismon. This bubbly is great on its own or in a mimosa and on Sunday’s they sell their special Mawbosa’s(includes: their Detroit bubbly topped with frozen orange juice topped with a little sex !), 2 for $9! L Mawby is a bit off the main road and offers beautiful wooded views from their tasting room. They also have some cider to try if you aren’t as interested in bubbly as I am!
Leelanau Wine Cellars
Leelanau Wine Cellars is located right on the bay of Omena so you can’t beat this view on a nice summer or fall day. This winery is the most popular on Leelanau Peninsula for many reasons. First, they are one of the only wineries that still offers complimentary tastings. Next, if you are a Michigander I am sure you have heard of the wine Witches Brew. If you haven’t, you can run to Meijer right now and pick yourself up a bottle ! This is because Leelanau Cellars is the biggest producer and distributor of wine in Michigan, and they sell four of their wines year round in every Meijer in Michigan. What’s so great about them is they have over 30 bottles of wine to try, I have never taken a group there and had someone not find one they like. Their most popular wines are their Winter white, Great Lakes Red, Red and White Sangrias, and Witches brew. I love that they have little carts to shop around and trust me you will need them, my tour groups come out with the most cases after visiting this winery!
Northern Latitudes Distillery
I am struggling to find the words to explain how much I love this place! Northern Latitudes Distillery offers 4 free tastings at their tasting bar and then you can enjoy one of their amazing cocktails after. Traverse City cocktails are expensive to say the least, but you can get a cocktail here just as strong if not stronger for ½ the price. The workers here are incredible and do a great job explaining and sampling the spirits. Their most popular bottles here are their Jack Pine Gin, Mackinac Island Fudge Chocolate Liqueur, and my personal favorite Horseradish Vodka. If you are a Bloody Mary fan look no further, hop in your car and head here to pick up a case of Horseradish Vodka, it will take your bloody game to a whole new level! They also have an awesome retail section very eccentric and fun gifts, they sell hilarious little signs, I like to call them the”original memes.” (pictured below)
Insider tip: Head next door to Red Top Pasteria and order a pizza when you first arrive, then they will bring it over to you after your tasting and then you can enjoy a cocktail with it!
My latest obsession is their pesto cheesy bread! SO. GOOD.
They are known for their Detroit style pizzas and their “The Mackinac Bridge” pizza is to die for- pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella topped with dollops of ricotta cheese.
Suttons Bay Ciders
Suttons Bay Ciders is my all-time favorite place to drink in Northern Michigan, it is also one of the newest drinking spots on the peninsula. Their location is up on Hilltop Road off of M22 and they take the cake for the best view of West Bay. I have taken so many people here that say “Oh we can go because my wife likes ciders, but they are definitely not for me.” Then they come out saying, “Holy shit I loved that place, and ended loving at least a few of their ciders!” The owner Mark is only in his second summer making cider, and he has made some unbelievable ciders. He has eight to choose from, all very unique, my favorites are Testamint and Power Island. I love the huge window right when you walk in, even the view from where you order your cider is amazing.
Then head out to the deck to enjoy your cider and be wow’d by the stunning views of West Bay and Power Island! If you are up for a game of Cornhole head out back and check out their set up behind the tasting room.
Tandem Ciders
Tandem Ciders has incredible cider, but also keeps me coming back because their staff is so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. The owners Nikki and John are doing something special here because most of their employees have been with them from the very beginning almost 10 years ago! They are most popular for their Dry Spell, Farmhouse, Green Man and Smackintosh. For the first 8 years or so, the owners stuck stern to simple apple varieties, no flavors. In the last couple of years they have branched out and they have produced a Honey Cider, called Bee’s Dream (I love this one!), Cinnamon and Plumb Cider. They have over 15 cider varieties to try and some are even bottled and canned and sold all over Michigan! Polish horseshoes outfront and a location you can’t beat between Omena and Northport so you will feel you are all alone enjoying some of the best cider you have ever had in Northern Michigan! Tandem Ciders is just a bit off M-22 and just when you think where is this did we miss it you’ll come across this awesome sign.
Head inside and enjoy a flight or pint at the bar or take it out to one of the few outdoor seating areas. Insider Tip: Try one of their amazing pickled eggs at the bar!
Willow Vineyard and Winery
John and Joe the owners of Willow Vineyard and Winery have something special here. I’m sure from the name you’d assume but yes they are a few gorgeous Willows that you’ll drive under when you arrive. When it comes to views I don’t know how you can get better than this. It has the same view as Suttons Bay Ciders(Willow is located 100 yards down the street from them) but add a beautiful vineyard in front ! They are known for their Sweet Rain, Roadtrip Riesling and Pinot Noir Rose. They have a wonderful patio off the back of their tasting room so order a tasting flight and bring it back here to enjoy!
For more information on some other wineries in the area check out my post on the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula!
Have you enjoyed drinking on the Leelanau Peninsula before? What were your favorites and why- comment below!
