Michigan By The Bottle

Video Travel Diary: 2013 LPVA Media Weekend

Cort, her cousin/"assistant" Melissa and Paper Shannon embarked on a Northern Michigan adventure April 20 for the LPVA Media Weekend. From offroading in a bus to tales of cougars and porcupines, it was an action-packed event. What's your favorite Leelanau Peninsula winery? Come tell us about it!

Spring has sprung on Michigan's wine trails

With Michiganders finally beginning to emerge from hibernation, things are starting to heat up on the state's wine trails (even if the temperatures are still lagging behind). Upcoming trail events include...

Get Me to the Grapes! Guide: Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail

Looking for recommendations on dining, lodging and ancillary attractions along Michigan's wine trails? We've got you covered! Take a peek at what Michigan By The Bottle fans consider the must-sees, must-dos, must-eats and must-stays along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail.

We're still seeking suggestions, so drop us a line if you'd like to contribute! Please include your first and last name and city of residence, as well as an address/website for the place you're recommending, if possible. 

Last updated: Nov. 19, 2012

WIOG Weekly Roundup: Sept. 16, 2012

This edition of WIOG Weekly Roundup features some Michigan wines we tried over Labor Day while visiting the Leelanau Peninsula. As we often stress, we're not wine experts, but we do taste a lot of Michigan wine. (You may have noticed.) WIOG is our attempt to give you an idea of some selections that you may be interested in checking out based on what we've been tasting. Cheers!

Sip & Savor Leelanau County wines « Glen Arbor Sun

In this video below, Leelanau Peninsula Vintners spokesperson Andy McFarlane and Dan Matthies of Chateau Fontaine promote the annual Sip & Savor event, which encourages tasters to visit all wineries in beautiful Leelanau County during the May 5-6 event.

via glenarborsun.com

Great video on Sip & Savor

Video Feature: LPVA Media Weekend

Winemakers, media members and industry professionals gathered at the Good Works Collective in downtown Traverse City April 28 to talk all things LPVA — Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association, that is. Take a peek at what was said about the state of Michigan wines as a whole, the promise of the latest vintages, the reasoning behind including Michigan offerings on restaurant wine lists and more.

SUPER HUGE Michigan Wine Month Giveaway: April 30

Congratulations to JANE VAINNER FOSTER! She was randomly drawn from yesterday's entrants to win a Free Run Cellars T-shirt and tasting tokens. Jane, please email us at cort@michiganbythebottle.com within 48 hours to claim your prize. (For prizes not claimed within 48 hours, we will redraw from the original pool of entrants to determine a new recipient, so be sure to check back daily to see if you're a winner!)

And don't forget: Even though Michigan Wine Month technically ends today, April 30, we have great prizes to give away through May 4!


This contest is closed as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 30.

Today's sponsor: Traverse City Wine & Art Festival

Today's prize: A pair of tickets to the June 30 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival. The fourth annual celebration, held 3-10 p.m .at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, features wines from Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City and the Benzie area, along with food and desserts from Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants, original artwork from dozens of regional artists, and live entertainment — including headliner Rusted Root!

Please click through for restrictions and instructions on how to enter...

Video Feature: Northern Wine Loop's Wine Release Weekend

Want the short version? Watch the video. Want the long version? Read the recap. Want the full story? Do both! 

Keep reading for a meandering travel diary detailing our whirlwind weekend on the Northern Wine Loop, including where we stopped and (of course) what we drank ... Then stop by our Facebook page to chat about which Northern Wine Loop wineries are your favorites!

SUPER HUGE Michigan Wine Month Giveaway: April 7

Congratulations to CAMILLE GATZA! Camille was randomly drawn from yesterday's entrants to win a $40 gift certificate to Sandhill Crane Vineyards' new café, plus a VIP cellar tour. Camille, please email us at cort@michiganbythebottle.com within 48 hours to claim your prize. (For prizes not claimed within 48 hours, we will redraw from the original pool of entrants to determine a new recipient, so be sure to check back daily to see if you're a winner!)

This contest is closed as of 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 7.

Today's sponsor: Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association

Today's prize: A pair of tickets to the LPVA's May 5-6 Spring Sip & Savor. Ticketholders can visit up to eight wineries on Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Each participating winery will feature special food and wine pairings during the celebration, and visitors also can vie for prizes in the Sip o' de Mayo Hat Contest by donning festive headgear. Tickets include wine samples and food pairings at each winery, a commemorative glass and a $5 gift certificate redeemable at any LPVA winery.

Please click through for restrictions and instructions on how to enter...

Northern Exposure: Northern Wine Loop prepares for New Release Weekend

If you've only ventured as far north as M-204 on the Leelanau Peninsula, you've only seen half of the county — and, in terms of wine, half of the story.

So says a group of Leelanau Peninsula wineries, which is redoubling efforts to ensure that visitors go the extra mile — or extra few miles — and see what they're missing at the peninsula's northernmost end. The Northern Wine Loop, a recently formed "collective" of 10 wineries, all north of M-204, encourages people to venture beyond the shop-lined village of Suttons Bay and into the more rural areas to discover hidden gems.