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Michigan By The Bottle expands local wine downstate

Taylor and Sam Simpson know wine. They were brought up in the business, and today Simpson Family Estates includes Aurora Cellars, Good Harbor Vineyards and Harbor Hill Fruit Farms. So, too, do Geoff Hamelin and his parents Paul and Marty Hamelin, who have owned and run Verterra Winery since 2007. Now the two families have teamed up to showcase not only their wines but those of more than a dozen other wineries from across the state. They have purchased Michigan By The Bottle. The tasting rooms in the metro Detroit area offer patrons the chance to try wines from all around Michigan. “The mission is to bring Michigan wines to more consumers,” says Taylor. “It’s not limited to the Leelanau Peninsula. It’s all AVAs.”

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Leland Wine & Food Festival returns to iconic Leland harbor

The Leland Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the return of the 2025 Leland Wine & Food Festival—a celebration of wine, flavor, and community on the shores of Lake Michigan—set against the spectacular backdrop of Leland Harbor on Saturday, June 14. Last year’s event was canceled. This highly anticipated summer tradition brings together the best of Northern Michigan’s wines, craft beers, and gourmet cuisine in one unforgettable lakeside experience.

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Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail hosts “Wine with a Twist”

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is shaking things up this spring with “Wine with a Twist,” a one-of-a-kind tasting event running May 2–4, where traditional wine tasting meets creative craft cocktails.

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Leelanau wineries offer special wintertime events

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’Tis the season for—wine? According to the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, a.k.a. the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, yes, it is. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty much always the season for wine. While the tasting rooms are most crowded in the summer and fall is harvest season in the vineyards, there are still plenty of reasons to visit wineries in the winter. Starting with the wines themselves, of course, but beyond that, there are a number of special events in the wintertime. “Our wine trail events are all about bringing people together to celebrate the exceptional wines that make our region so special,” said Andie Hobbins, managing director for the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. “Northern Michigan is producing wines of outstanding quality, and we love sharing that with visitors from near and far.”

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Bel Lago, French Valley celebrate sustainable viticulture

In a significant stride towards sustainable viticulture, Bel Lago Vineyard, Winery & Cidery, along with Bel Lago North Farm and its sister winery, French Valley Vineyard, announced the attainment of the prestigious SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certification this past February. This accolade highlights Bel Lago’s commitment to eco-friendly winemaking, its community, and patrons.

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Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail holds Vino-Madness

Get ready to elevate your wine tasting experience to new heights with Vino-Madness, presented by the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. Set to take place on March 16 and 17, this innovative event promises a unique fusion of wine and familiar household snacks, just in time for the first weekend of March Madness. Vino-Madness isn’t your typical wine tasting affair. It’s a revolutionary exploration of how everyday snacks can complement and enhance the flavors of your favorite wines. Picture this: chocolate covered pretzels paired with Pinot Noir, potato chips with Chardonnay, and so much more. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized as you witness the magical harmony between wines and snacks, all in the cozy ambiance of winter.

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In Vino Veritas: the wisdom of Leelanau’s early winemakers

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“In wine, there is truth.” Overquoted? Maybe. But in the case of the early winery owners and their family members of the Leelanau Peninsula, the expression holds true. Writing for the Glen Arbor Sun, Rebecca Carlson set out to understand the origins of the current successful wine industry in Leelanau. Through years of experimenting, working and taming the soil and vines, “In Vino Veritas” is in the lifeblood of these early Leelanau Peninsula vintners.

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Experience Leelanau wines

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The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is where stunning landscape and natural splendor meets exquisite wine making. “Experience Leelanau” is the Wine Trail’s new signature event, May 19-21—a celebration honoring ‘Michigan Wine Month’ and everything that makes our region special. Click here for information and to get your tickets.

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Second-generation farmhand delivers grapes, workers, tortillas

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Consider Tomas Moreno a matchmaker for Leelanau County’s migrant farmworkers. The soft-spoken, good-natured Texas native and Leland Public School graduate with family roots in Mexico manages 54 vineyard acres north of Lake Leelanau for Bel Lago and French Valley wineries. He interprets for and leads a crew of Hispanic farm workers, indispensable to the harvest, some of whom arrive in northern Michigan on H-2A temporary work visas. Tomas, who turns 41 next month, also recently began making fresh tortillas with his wife Julieta to sell to the local Latino community.

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Wine Tasting Al Fresco in Leelanau

With bars in Traverse City and Bellaire writing lengthy pleas to the public to respect their employees, to refrain from cursing, spitting and worse, it was time to check in with Leelanau County’s wineries and see how they’ve managed the COVID-19 requirements of mask-wearing, distancing, sanitizing surfaces, and more.

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