Article is sponsored by Fenn Valley Vineyards in Fennville

 

Ask any local wine aficionado, and every one will have their own favorite “fun fact” about Michigan wine: how the “lake effect” creates an ideal growing temperature, how we sit at the same latitude as some of Europe’s most renowned wine-growing regions, or that Michigan is one of the few locations able to make true ice wine. 

The truth is, there’s a limitless amount of things to love about the wine found in West Michigan! Explore some of our insider info below, and use your favorites to plan your next wine tour through the area!

South West Michigan Wineries

Winery tours are back at St. Julian! Join them in Paw Paw for an enhanced tour of their winery! Get the full winery experience including a full tour of their production facility, an exclusive barrel tasting, and wine tasting complete with charcuterie from The Grazing Table. Learn all about the winemaking process from Michigan’s largest, longest running, and most-awarded winery here. 

Join Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek on August 5th for their Corks & Kegs at the Zoo event. This event is an exciting time to celebrate beer and wine tasting and zoo-themed fun for adults over 21.Food, live entertainment, animal encounters, a VIP experience, raffles, silent and live auctions and much more will round out the wildest event of the summer 

With four small-batch wineries that call the Saugatuck/Douglas/Fennville area home, you can make an entire day of sampling different red, white, sparkling, and fruit wines unique to their region. Their wineries include Crane’s Winery, Fenn Valley Vineyards and Winery, and Modales Wines. Visit each one for a different experience and selection of wine.

The Ravines Golf Club will be hosting their Wagner Family Wine Dinner Pairing on May 10th. This memorable dining experience includes a 5-course meal with expertly paired food and wines from the Wagner Family portfolio, including selections from Caymus Vineyards.

On May 20th, the Star of Saugatuck paddlewheel boat will be hosting their Wine on the Water cruise. Sit back, sip, and savor the wine and views of the Kalamazoo River as a wine professional guides you through tastings of each featured wine. 

Kalamazoo County has great wineries to explore like Tempo Vino Winery which offers unique pairing events, Twine Urban Winery owned by Michigan’s first Black female licensed winemaker, and a new winery in the south part of the County, 468 Wine, just to name a few. Check out more must visit wine spots here. 

Round Barn Union Pier Tasting Room is the perfect stop for a quick trip to enjoy some of your favorite wines, beers, and spirits from Round Barn and their sister wineries, Tabor Hill and Free Run Cellars. 

In Buchanan, Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurants award-winning wines paired with stunning vineyard views are best spent with friends and family.Their Vineyard Lounge makes the perfect backdrop for enjoying all Michigan wine country has to offer. Open May – October, the Vineyard Lounge allows guests to sip on a Tabor Hill Classic or discover something new. 

Van Buren is a rich and verdant pastoral county, perhaps that’s why South Haven, Fennville, and our good friends in Paw Paw are home to award-winning vineyards and wineries! Consider South Haven your gateway to Michigan’s coastal wine country, and explore their directory today!

Central West Michigan Wineries

Sample some local flavors on a short wine tour while you’re visiting Ludington! New to the Ludington area: Pere Marquette Winery specializes in high-quality, distinctive wines produced in small quantities. Enjoy wine tasting in the stables at the elegant Huggard Estate near the beautiful Buttersville Peninsula. These wineries are a gorgeous setting where you can enjoy an afternoon of tasting!

Holland is a great base to explore West Michigan’s wineries. Right in its historic downtown lie two tasting rooms. Explore the latest vintages from Warner Vineyards or savor Cherry Sangria at Cherry Republic. Making a weekend of it? Pick up a free Handcrafted Passport from the Holland Convention & Visitors Bureau to guide your voyage to vintages. 

RedWater offers great wine lists at all 10 of their restaurants with some of the best pricing around. Reds at Thousand Oaks, Cork Wine & Grille, and Vintage Prime & Seafood have also earned the Wine Spectator Restaurant Award of Excellence every year since 2019! Join them for a night of fun at their monthly Wine School! Enjoy multiple wine pours paired with small plate courses and a fun class about the wine selection  with their wine specialist.

Mecosta County has its glass completely full when it comes to amazing, local wineries with Gwin Girls Winery, Heavenly Vineyards and Young Farms just to name a few. You can find a listing of the Wineries in the Big Rapids Region on the Mecosta County website.

North West Michigan & Upper Peninsula Wineries

Join Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay on August 10th for their Dinner in the Vines event. Enjoy live acoustic music by Luke Woltanski and catering by Bayside Gatherings Farm to Table menu paired with Shady Lane Wines. 

Calling all craft beverage drinkers! Charlevoix welcomes you to try their beer, wine, and spirits. Check out their curated list here.

Hello Vino/Fireside Lounge in Bellaire is a wine & cocktail lounge featuring wines from around the world, including their very own specialty wine cocktails. It’s a great place to grab a delicious drink, a charcuterie or appetizer board, and enjoy live music all summer long. They also feature monthly blind wine tastings on Wednesday, May 17th and June 21st at 6pm. Check out the event details here.

This May in the Petoskey Area, Petoskey Wine Region will be holding a wine event at Odawa Casino called Petoskey Uncorked. This will feature tastings from 14 different wineries in the region, many hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment! 

There might not be a dedicated winery on Mackinac Island, but there are plenty of spots to wine and dine. Whether you’re enjoying dinner at a hotel restaurant or order a glass at a waterfront location, the wine selection is sure to impress!

For the fun and fancy of it, join the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island for their Spring Food & Wine Weekend! Experience incredible meals throughout the weekend and discover your love for food, wine, and travel with this special wine tasting and hotel package. On Saturday evening prepare yourself for an incredible pairing dinner, with a menu curated by our Grand Hotel Executive Chef. Each course is paired perfectly with a wine selection chosen by Elizabeth Schweitzer, Grand Hotel’s Master Sommelier. 

Join Bonobo Winery in Traverse City for excellent wine, delicious small plates, their famous frozen lavender lemonade, food & wine pairings, their Summer Dinner Series, and breathtaking West Bay sunsets! Learn more here.

Come to Cadillac this summer for a Monthly Wine Tasting Event at Coyote Crossing Resort on May 1st, June 5th, July 10th from 6 to 9 pm. Taste a variety of red and white wine with select food pairings. Each tasting features a specific theme, so make sure to check here for details and to make a reservation. 

Check out downtown Marquette’s Zephyr Wine Bar + Café to experience Michigan’s longest by-the-glass wine list plus great beer, cocktails, espresso and food. Boasting over 140 wines that span over 100 regions, this inspiring collection is every wine lover’s dream. Paired with specialty cured meats, cheeses and small plates, Zephyr is the perfect spot to experience memorable foods and wines. 

Named the 2019 Best Wine Country Hotel, travel from Hotel Walloon’s central location in Walloon Lake Village to the 14 unique wineries within the Petoskey Wine Region and start your Hotel Walloon experience with a glass of welcome wine or select a beverage of your choice from their private Hearth Room Bar. Learn more here. 

Featuring an array of Michigan-made and fine wines hand-selected by their in-house sommelier, allow their team to recommend the perfect pairing for your entrée selection at Walloon Lake Inn or enjoy a private five course tasting with wine pairing at The Varnish Room. Learn more about tasting experiences here.