Posts

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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Still the Simpsons at Good Harbor Vineyards

Taylor Simpson grew up at Good Harbor Vineyards, located on M-22 west of Leland. Her dad, with his degree from the University of California at Davis where he studied wine making and grape growing, managed the back of the house, tending the grapes, making the wine, along with the family fruit farm, while her mom ran the tasting room. “The school bus would drop us off here and we would wash glasses from the day’s visitors.”

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Detroit to Leelanau: Taking over the Ciccone Family Winery

Sometimes you end up where you never thought you would be. This is the case for Paula Ciccone, the introverted and warmly welcoming head wine-maker at Ciccone Winery, taking over from her father Tony, founder and creator of Ciccone Winery just south of Suttons Bay. As she tells the story, it was not something she actively sought, nor ever really imagined till it just started to happen.

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Women Making Wine—Finally Getting Attention

“The wine industry is a sea of men,” confirmed Kasey Wierzba, head winemaker at Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay, as we sat down to discuss her experiences in the wine industry and the path she took to arrive where she is—in charge of production at one of the region’s most beloved wineries, winning accolades alongside her colleagues.

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Cancer battler McKenzie Gallagher fulfills dream with Rove Estate

Rove Estate is the dream made possible by Creighton Gallagher of the Gallagher family, which has farmed in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties for multiple generations, and McKenzie, his wife and partner and a Gallagher for 10 years’ now, who brings her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen to the project.

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Nathaniel Rose—a rose of a winemaker

Coming full circle to his new home on M22, Nathaniel Rose is looking to revitalize the vines planted by Warren Raftshol, upon which you could say Nathaniel cut his wine-making teeth. Neglected over the past 10 years, the Raftshol vines (which line a portion of the western side of M22 between Suttons Bay and Omena) are in need of Nathaniel’s skill and his assistant Riley’s careful pruning.

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Leelanau Vintners hold October-long benefit for Red Cross

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners’ “Hung for the Reds of October” raises funds for the American Red Cross and raises awareness about local red wines in a fun way. In its sixth year, the Hunt for the Reds of October event takes place weekdays for the entire month. The event costs $10 per person and includes a signature wine glass, a complimentary red wine pour at each of 21 wineries and a $5 donation to the American Red Cross.

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Cherry Republic celebrates Michigan Wine Month during May

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Cherry Republic will raise a glass to Michigan’s wine industry throughout the month of May by celebrating its wide selection of cherry wines with special tasting events at each of its retail locations. Special volume pricing on wine (10 percent off quartets and 20 percent off cases) is also available.

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Wine tasting event benefits Leelanau food pantries

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The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail has announced the launch of Sips & Soups. Proceeds from this SOUPer wine and soup tasting event will be donated to Leelanau Christian Neighbors to help restock the local food pantries after its holiday needs are met.

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Sustaining a beautiful legacy at Longview winery

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With Charlie Edson, owner and winemaker at Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery mentoring them, the Alan Eaker and Linda Ackley selected vines, and planted 10 acres of wine grapes on their land. Today there are 12 acres of grapes, including hybrids Cayuga and Frontenac, and vinifera varieties Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc.

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