20 Michigan wineries worth a road trip

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Aug 6, 2021 at 2:48 pm

Sure, everyone might know California as a wine state, but who needs Napa Valley when you have the Upper Peninsula? From wines made from Michigan cherries to ice wines made from frozen grapes, Michigan’s wineries prove you don’t need to catch a flight to have a great wine experience.

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Cherry Republic Winery

6026-C S. Lake St., Glen Arbor; 800-206-6949; cherryrepublic.com

Cherry Republic did not take the “cherry” in its name lightly. Founded in 1989, the company offers more than 200 cherry-based products including BBQ sauces, jellies, salsas, condiments, and of course, wine.

Photo via Google Maps

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Yooper Winery

915 48th Ave., Menominee; 906-864-9302; yooperwinery.com

Yooper Winery is located in that part of Michigan that might as well be Wisconsin. But don’t fret, this upper peninsula winery uses cold climate grapes and Northern Michigan grown fruit to make their wine.

Photo via Google Maps

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Mackinaw Trail Winery

3423 US-131, Petoskey; 231-487-1910; mackinawtrailwinery.com

This family-owned winery sits on 30 acres in Northern Michigan. While they offer your typical bottles of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay, they also make fruit flavored wines like strawberry rhubarb, blackberry, and raspberry.

Photo via Google Maps

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Tempo Vino Winery

260 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo; 269-342-9463; tempovinowinery.com

Tempo Vino Winery is located in downtown Kalamazoo with a wide variety of wines for tasting. The real gem? You can make your own bottle of wine here!

Photo via Google Maps

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Northern Sun Winery

983 10th Rd., Bark River; 906-399-9212; northernsunwinery.com

All wine at this Northern Michigan winery is made from grapes grown on the estate and bottled there as well. This means with every visit, wine varieties might vary.

Photo via Google Maps

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Aurora Cellars

7788 E. Horn Rd., Lake Leelanau; 231-994-3188; auroracellars.com

If you like red wine, this place is your place. Aurora Cellars highlights its cool climate red wines. Blaufrankisch, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot are harvested and barreled in small batches here.

Photo via Google Maps

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Peninsula Cellars

11480 Center Rd., Traverse City; 231-933-9787; peninsulacellars.com

The Peninsula Cellars tasting room is a converted one room schoolhouse in Traverse City. The outdoor patio overlooks the vineyard for a serene tasting experience.

Photo via Google Maps

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St. Julian Winery

127 S. Main St., Frankenmuth; 989-652-3281; stjulian.com

St. Julian Winery is the oldest winery in Michigan. While it has tasting locations all over the state (including in Troy), the Frankenmuth location is perfect for a quick getaway.

Photo via Google Maps

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Leelanau Wine Cellars

5019 N. West Bay Shore Dr., Omena; 231-386-5201; lwc.wine

Whether you want to be classy with wine in a bottle or chill with wine in a can, Leelanau Wine Cellars offers both for each version of you. This tasting room sits right off the lake so you can sip your wine and enjoy views of the water.

Photo via Google Maps

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12 Corners Vineyards & Winery

1201 N. Benton Center Rd., Benton Harbor; 269-927-1512; 12corners.com

12 Corners Vineyards was founded by a group of friends and with a 115-acre estate. Try any of their award-winning wines including Cabernet Franc or Pinot Grigio.

Photo via Google Maps

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Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

3309 Blue Water Rd., Traverse City; 231-223-9303; brysestate.com

The Brys Estate has 111 acres with more than 40,000 grapevines. They grow eight different varieties including pinot noir, merlot, riesling, and chardonnay.

Photo via Google Maps

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Lemon Creek Winery

327 N. Beacon Blvd., Grand Haven; 616-844-1709; lemoncreekwinery.com

This family owned winery not only has a good selection of wines to choose from, but every first Friday of the month there’s live music, food trucks, and art vendors. You can also catch a live performance on the first Sunday of every month during the Mimosas & Music series.

Photo via Google Maps

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Good Harbor Winery

34 S. Manitou Trail, Lake Leelanau; 231-256-7165; goodharbor.com

With 125 acres dedicated to growing grapes for pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay, pinot grigio, and gruner veltliner, Good Harbor offers a large selection of wines. However, the family-owned vineyard stays true to its Michigan roots with their Cherry Wine.

Photo via Google Maps

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Warner Vineyards Winery

706 S. Kalamazoo St., Paw Paw; 269-657-3165; warnerwines.com

Founded in 1938, Warner Vineyards is the second oldest winery in Michigan. Not only does Warner Vineyards offer many wines (including a Peach & Honey fruit wine), they also offer non-alcoholic sparkling juices.

Photo via Google Maps

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Howell’s MainStreet Winery

201 W. Grand River Rd., Howell; 517-545-9463; howellsmainstreetwinery.com

This boutique winery makes and produces its own specialty and seasonal wines. The wine might be what brought you there, but their stone oven thin crust pizza might be the reason you stay.

Photo via Google Maps

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Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery

3720 Atkins Rd., Petoskey; 231-290-9463; petoskeyfarms.com

Located just a few miles from downtown Petoskey, this winery not only has an outdoor patio, it offers wine flights. WINE FLIGHTS!

Photo via Facebook

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Thunder Bay Winery

109 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena; 989-358-9463; thunderbaywinery.com

Thunder Bay Winery offers a wide variety of wines made from the selection of fruits like apples, cherries, and any of the 12 varieties of grapes grown on their vineyard. The tasting room also sometimes serves brunch and has live music performances.

Photo via Facebook

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Shady Lane Cellars

9580 E. Shady Ln., Suttons Bay; 231-947-8865; shadylanecellars.com

So a doctor buys a fruit farm … no, really, a doctor bought a Suttons Bay fruit farm, and that was the beginning of Shady Lane Cellars. The original tasting room was a renovated chicken coop, but now you can also enjoy the vineyard view on an outdoor patio.

Photo via Google Maps

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Chateau Grand Traverse

12239 Center Rd., Traverse City; 231-938-6120; cgtwines.com

In a normal year, Chateau Grand Traverse vineyards yield over 700 tons. Despite the massive grape growth, this vineyard grows sustainably by planting green cover crops to combat erosion and uses local compost to fertilize their crops.

Photo via Google Maps

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Black Star Farms Suttons Bay

10844 E. Revold Rd., Suttons Bay; 231-944-1270; blackstarfarms.com

This 160-acre winery offers more than 45 different wines that are sure to wet your whistle. What’s even cooler is that there’s also an inn on the estate. So why not stay the night after you indulge in their award winning riesling?

Photo via Facebook

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