One of my favorite things about Traverse City is all the collaborations that occur between our local businesses. Of course, there’s still competition up here but I’ve noticed more and more that our community truly works together and believes we are all stronger when we do so. Many of you have seen how often I post about Bubbies Bagels on my Instagram and you’ve also seen me post about my obsession with Left Foot Charley. Well, I give you my favorite Traverse City collaboration yet and my new favorite spot to kick off Sunday Funday, Bubbies and Barrels in The Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley!
*If you’re simply looking for the link to reserve your table for Bubbies and Barrels please scroll down to the end of this post*
Left Foot Charley
Left Foot Charley is one of the few wineries that have a location right downtown Traverse City and they are located in the former Northern Michigan Asylum. I love this location because you can enjoy a tour, some shopping at the surrounding buildings, have dinner at one of the incredible surrounding restaurants and then make your way for a flight or glass of wine or cider at Left Foot Charley. In my opinion, here you can find some of the best wine made in Northern Michigan. Left Foot Charley focuses on red and white wine varietals, hard cider, and sparkling wine and they are all so yum.
The tasting room is open year-round and we love their patio in the warmer months (it’s also great in the winter with their heaters!)
If you’re looking for the perfect spot to try some awesome new wine I couldn’t recommend a stop at Left Foot Charley more.
The Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley
Located right behind their tasting room, you’ll find Left Foot Charley’s new barrel room. The Barrel Room is also located right next to the entrance of Tanglewood Trail and Meadows Loop Trailheads (for any hikers.) They’ve leased this building for some time but have recently started hosting events here and it was so cool to finally get to take a look around!
This space is where you will enjoy Bubbies and Barrels if it were raining or if they choose to continue this offering during the colder months. Definitely take a look around before or after you enjoy your experience.
We have gone back and forth about becoming wine club members here and after seeing this room and hear they serve some wine club dinners here I don’t think we’ll need much more convincing😍.
When the sun is shining you’ll get to enjoy Bubbies and Barrels right here on the patio!
My New Favorite Winery Experience in Traverse City, Bubbies and Barrels
We had the opportunity to check out the first weekend of Bubbies and Barrels and it exceeded all of our expectations. It was a beautiful day and the patio was perfectly decorated with fresh flowers from Old Mission. This event is offered every Sunday and you can make reservations between 11 and 3.
Bubbies and Barrels is $35 per person. For $35 you get a flight of wine (4 different wines), bagel crisps, 2 types of cream cheese, egg salad, pickled onions, and a cidermosa. We are huge fans of Bubbies Bagels but had never tried their bagel crips and were so excited to try them!
We are also huge fans of Left Foot Charley’s Henry’s Pippin Hard Cider so we were happy to hear that’s what they use for their delicious cidermosa.
Here are the wines they serve in your flight. My personal favorites are the Kerner and the Le Caban Riesling but they are all tasty. Please keep in mind that this was their first weekend so they may change up the flight or offerings a bit.
What wine pairs best with the cream cheese and crisps?
Our personal favorite pairings were; regular cream cheese with their 2019 Le Caban Riesling, scallion cream cheese with their 2020 Cremant and their 2018 red drive red, and the egg salad with their 2019 Le Caban Riesling. I also recommend adding a glass of their 2017 Getali because it went so well with Bubbie’s egg salad. Their egg salad is so fresh made with celery and fresh dill and OH MY GOD, so good!
I loved this offering so much because Left Foot Charley has done the perfect job creating a unique, tasty, and fun experience! We are so fortunate to have so many wineries that offer tastings or flights, but so few of them take it and make it into an experience you wont forget! You definitely won’t forget this experience and it is absolutely my new favorite place to be on a Sunday. I can’t wait to go back.
Do you plan to check out Bubbies and Barrels? If so, click here to make a reservation! Thank you to Left Foot Charley for having me, for making the best wine, cider, and experiences, and thanks Bubbies Bagels for making the best bagels, egg salad and cream cheese ever! Click here to check out my other Traverse City recommendations. Please let me know if you loved Bubbies and Barrels and what your favorite pairings were😃.
