Black Star Farms continues run of awards
By Ross Boissoneau
Sun contributor
Best wine hotel. Best American Riesling. Business of the year. The accolades continue to roll in for Black Star Farms. Managing owner Sherri Fenton says they are a testament to the staff at the Suttons Bay business fulfilling the vision of her father Kerm. “It’s exciting,” says Fenton. “It plays into the original vision of my father (for) world class customer service.”
Earlier this year, The Inn at Black Star Farms was named the Best Wine Country Hotel in the country by USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards. Black Star Farms was first nominated for the award in 2020, when it was named to the top spot. Every year since it has been in the top three, and won the award again this year. Chateau Chantal on Old Mission Peninsula was named #2.
But wait, there’s more: Bistro Polaris at Black Star Farms was named among the Top 10 winery restaurants, placing fourth after finishing sixth in 2024 and tenth in 2023. It was the only Michigan winery restaurant in the Top 10.
Last month, Newsweek named Black Star Farms as one of the best tasting rooms in the country. Readers can vote for their choice among the 15 nominated by a panel of experts. Black Star Farms is the only tasting room in Michigan to be nominated.
The most recent wine award was its 2023 Arcturos Semi-Dry Riesling being named the Best American Riesling at the 2025 Canberra International Riesling Challenge. The challenge attracts wines from Riesling-producing countries worldwide and is one of the most significant events of its type globally. “It’s a big honor,” Fenton says.
It’s the second time Black Star Farms has been honored at the competition. Its 2017 Arcturos Dry Riesling took the highest honor, winning Best of Show at CIRC in 2018.
Black Star Farms also just was named the 2025 Business of the Year by the Leelanau Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber selects a business based on a variety of factors, including community contributions, ongoing growth and innovation, opportunities for professional development, and recognized excellence in guest services.“The Black Star Farms family is honored to receive this award,” Fenton said upon learning of the award.
She says being a part of the local community for nearly 30 years has been rewarding for the business. “We have embraced continuous growth and innovation. I think we’re doing something right,” she says, again pointing to the business’s commitment to high-end customer service.
And while not explicitly an award, last month Black Star Farms hosted a fall harvest dinner as the culmination of the filming of Detroit: City of Chefs III. The third installment of the Detroit PBS film series about Detroit’s culinary heritage focused on vegetarian and vegan cooking, utilizing products from Black Star Farms and featuring a number of chefs from around the area. The dishes prepared were all paired with a wine from Black Star Farms. The special will be broadcast in fall of 2026.
It’s not the first time PBS has showcased the region. The PBS series Wine First featured Black Star Farms, Brys Estate, and Chateau Chantal in a 2022 episode. “It was all about the culinary scene, pairing food with wines they wanted to feature,” says Fenton.
She continues to be pleased and surprised by all the accolades, while maintaining a down-to-earth approach. “It’s pretty chill,” she says with a laugh. “It’s still northern Michigan, very approachable.”
Black Star Farms took root when Kerm and Sallie Campbell purchased property on Old Mission Peninsula in 1987. They saw the potential of the local wine industry after becoming enamored of the industry while living in Europe. In 1998, they purchased a 120-acre parcel in Suttons Bay with three other couples, eventually buying them all out. In 2015, their daughter Sherri Campbell Fenton was named managing owner of Black Star Farms.
Today the operation not only includes winemaking and the inn, but a working farm, dining, meeting space, an event space and hosting special events. Fenton is pleased that Black Star Farms continues to be at the forefront of the emerging wine industry in Michigan. Michigan is the seventh-largest producer of wine grapes in the country, and Michigan wineries continue to make inroads in the world of winemaking.
She says business remains strong. “The business is experiencing a nice uptick amid all the economic and political challenges. The inn is up, and while the wine industry is down across the country, here it’s all good.”
The wine industry is as much about relationships as it is producing fine winers. Fenton says that many of its customers return year after year. “Every year we get new people, and people who come back. What we’re doing right is exceeding our guests’ expectations. People book (again) with us as they leave.”
