Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room

Get to know our partner wineries

Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room includes representation from all over the state, including the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail, Petoskey Wine Region and beyond. All of our partner wineries are family-run operations – some of which have existed for generations – that use their own estate-grown fruit and/or locally sourced fruit to produce high-quality wines. Each partner winery has its own story to tell; take a peek at their individual backgrounds, philosophies and specialties.

  1. Royal Oak

    Bel Lago Winery Cedar

    Located in Cedar, on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, Bel Lago Winery gets its name from the Italian term for “beautiful lake.” It’s a fitting name, since Bel Lago wines are made from grapes grown in picturesque vineyards overlooking Lake Leelanau, in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula. Founded in 1992 by Domenic, Ruth and Amy Iezzoni, and Charles Edson, Bel Lago’s vineyards were first planted in the late 1980s, and their tasting room opened in 1999. The emphasis at Bel Lago has been on quality, with an unwavering commitment to excellence. As winegrowers, the team believes firmly in the old adage “the wines are made in the vineyard.” Bel Lago wines are based on the production of quality fruit from select clones of a very unique varietal mix, with more than 100 varieties grown on 37 acres. The current winemaking team consists of Charles Edson, Blake Lougheed and Kyle Leppek.

  2. Auburn Hills

    bigLittle Suttons Bay

    NEW PARTNER WINERY! Launched in 2010 by brothers Peter and Michael Laing, bigLittle wines has grown from a pair of unique wines to a complete lineup of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Big and little brother, making big wines from this little Peninsula. The goals we have for our wines can be summarized in one word: Balance. We aim for a balanced vine canopy in the vineyard during the growing season. We strive to maximize quality and yield based on the style of wine we are making, so balancing crop load per vine is critical. We want a balance of sugar, acid and flavor when we decide to pick the grapes. We want to balance flavors, alcohol, acidity, sweetness, and mouthfeel when we make our blends. And we want to make sure our wines and styles complement one another to make a strong portfolio of products. We believe strongly that blending grapes together can often result in a more complex and higher quality wine than individual varietal wines. To that end we have several wines that are blends. We believe strongly in sustainable vineyard practices that include limiting pesticides, planting beneficial crops in row middles, irrigating responsibly, and general respect for the land.

  3. Royal Oak

    Blustone Vineyards Lake Leelanau

    Finding a piece of Leland Bluestone on the shore of Lake Michigan is finding a rare treasure of nature. Blustone wines are inspired by these unanticipated moments in life.

    Our story started 20 years ago visiting Leland as a family for the first time. The simplicity and beauty of the “tucked away” secret that is Leelanau has always been what we treasure most about the area. There is a connection to the land found only here amongst the lakes, dunes, hills, and sunlit fields and our dream to start Blustone was born out of that. Our namesake is reflective of that connection and the celebration of life which we hope to inspire with every sip of wine.

  4. Auburn Hills

    Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery Traverse City

    Walter and Eileen Brys, proprietors of Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, Michigan, planted the first of 40,000 vines in 2001 and opened the doors of their tasting room in 2005. Spanning 91 acres, Brys Estate is is one of the largest contiguous winery estates on Old Mission Peninsula. Today there are eight different varietals planted at Brys Estate: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer.

  5. Auburn Hills

    Burgdorf’s Winery Haslett

    Burgdorf’s Winery is a mid-Michigan “garagiste” winery located in Haslett. It was opened in 2005 by Deb and Dave Burgdorf, who have over 38 years of artisan winemaking experience. Grapes and other fruits are either estate grown or hand-selected from local Michigan farms. The entire production of our award winning wines occurs on site – from juicing, fermentation, bottling and labeling to sales and distribution – making Burgdorf’s Winery, truly, a Michigan winery, through and through.

  6. Auburn Hills • Royal Oak • Shelby Twp

    Chateau Aeronautique Winery Jackson

    Chateau Aeronautique Winery was founded on the ideals of creating fine wines from Michigan grapes and offering those wines for tasting in a beautiful, relaxing setting. The theme of the winery is the airpark lifestyle: flying, vintage airplanes, and living in a home with a hangar on a grass runway surrounded by forests. The models for the winery are the chateau wineries of Bordeaux, France. The reason for the winery is a passion for viniculture: the aromas of the winery, the mystique of the wine cellar, and the pleasures of the tasting room.

  7. Auburn Hills

    Chateau Chantal Traverse City

    Chateau Chantal is a 65-acre estate located on Old Mission Peninsula in one of the most scenic areas of the Great Lakes. It is a unique destination that combines vineyards & winery, a bed and breakfast, winding roads, fresh air and kind company, all of which serve to create a retreat in Northern Hospitality. We offer tours, wine tasting, seasonal entertainment, year-round lodging and more than 35 hand-crafted wines, all of which are in keeping with the area’s growing reputation for exceptional hospitality, fine foods and superb wines! The chateau sits high atop a ridge near the northern end of the Old Mission Peninsula, offering stunning views of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bays. You’ll find a wide variety of wines from very dry to sparkling and sweet, produced from the same vineyard blocks.

  8. Auburn Hills

    Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Mattawan

    Cody Kresta is a small, family winery specializing in hand-crafted wines produced at our vintage 1882 homestead in southern Michigan. We are dedicated to sharing quality wines with our friends, family and community while helping to preserve our rural countryside. All grapes used in our wines are grown in the Lake Michigan Shore Appellation, including those from our own estate vineyard. Our name, Cody Kresta, was created to honor Cody, our beloved golden retriever and David’s Croatian heritage. David is a third-generation grape grower nurturing the tradition passed on to him by his Croatian-born grandparents, Joseph and Anna.

  9. Royal Oak • Shelby Twp

    Domaine Berrien Cellars Berrien Springs

    Domaine Berrien Cellars is located in Berrien County, in the Lake Michigan Shore Viticultural Area, and produces all estate wines. Set on an 80-acre farm, Domaine Berrien is a family operation, with 42 acres currently planted in grapes. Opened in 2001, the winery offers a quaint tasting room overlooking the wine production facility. All of our handcrafted wines are made on-site from our own handpicked, estate-grown grapes. We grow 21 different grape varieties and make 22 different varietals and blends. Our motto is: “High quality grapes into high quality wine!”

  10. Royal Oak

    45 North Vineyard & Winery Lake Leelanau

    Established in 2006, 45 North is a family-owned producer of wines and ciders in the heart of Leelanau Peninsula. The Grossnickle family has vacationed on nearby Little Traverse Lake since 1982, savoring the peninsula’s beauty, lifestyle, and local goods. When it came time to open the tasting room on the 100-acre centennial farm, the mission was clear: Good Times, Great Wines.

  11. Auburn Hills

    Hawthorne Vineyards Traverse City

    Hawthorne Vineyards is a friendly boutique winery passionate about making finely crafted, small production, quality wines. The pristine acreage, nestled high on a ridge on Northern Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula, offers a peaceful and serene destination. We offer daily wine samplings from our elegant tasting room or outdoor patio while enjoying the spectacular views of East and West Grand Traverse Bays.

  12. Auburn Hills

    Laurentide Winery Lake Leelanau

    Laurentide Winery – located in lovely Lake Leelanau, along the 45th Parallel in Northwestern Michigan – is a small boutique winery, specializing in cool-climate wines. Laurentide was named in honor of the last great ice sheet that receded 10,000 years ago from the upper tier of the North American continent. At that time, the Leelanau Peninsula was exposed, and rocks and fossils from the 350 million-year-old ancient sea floor began formulating the soil that sustains our vines today, contributing to the unique terroir of the region. We started growing vitis vinifera on our cherry farm in 2006; we now have six varietals flourishing on about 12 acres, located on sweeping vistas almost 900 feet above sea level and about 1 mile from Lake Michigan. We are dry farmed, with high-density planting, and associate with the most professional and knowledgeable experts at all levels and all times on the journey from soil to bottle. Our mission is to grow the best grapes that can be expressed as the best wine.

  13. Auburn Hills

    Left Foot Charley Traverse City

    Left Foot Charley is a winery like no other. In lieu of the single estate model, LFC is a collection of grape and apple growers located throughout Northern Michigan, dedicated to growing fruit for our wine and cider. Located in the urban setting of the former Traverse City State Hospital campus – known as The Village – LFC creates an array of balanced white wine, red wine and hard cider. Every bottle tells the story of the farm, the vintage and the winemaker’s dream of sharing it all with you.

  14. Auburn Hills

    Mawby Suttons Bay

    NEW PARTNER WINERY! Larry Mawby founded L. Mawby Vineyards in 1973 with a parcel of land and a personal promise to make the best wines he could while respecting mother earth. Over the years his passion for sparkling wine developed with the realization that such styles are best suited for our climate and growing region. After over 40 years of leadership in the wine industry, countless awards, and the respect of his peers, Larry turned MAWBY over to a new era of leadership. Brothers Michael and Peter Laing, who combined have over 20 years of experience at MAWBY, now lead the team on this voyage into the future. Our vision remains the same as when Larry founded the company; we wish to create the finest sparkling wines while respecting the land. MAWBY is a sparkling wine experience with vineyards and a tasting room located in the rolling coastal hills of Leelanau County adjacent to Lake Michigan. MAWBYness is also a feeling of being, an everyday celebration, a toast to life. All MAWBY sparkling wines and ciders are produced by fermenting twice to exacting standards. The second fermentation in a closed vessel produces a natural effervescence, our wines are not carbonated. MAWBY produces a range of sparkling wines with tastes to suit most any palate, each uniquely approachable, each with their own personality and purpose.

  15. Auburn Hills

    Mackinaw TrailPetoskey

    Mackinaw Trail Winery is a family-owned business that was founded in 2004, in Manistique, MI. Owned and operated by proprietors Ralph and Laurie Stabile, the business came into fruition when Ralph followed his lifelong dream of owning a winery. One of Ralph’s fondest memories as a child was at the age of 5, pressing grapes with his Grandfather who was a Sicilian immigrant making the yearly supply of wine for him and his family. Ralph continued to make the wines until 2010 when his son Dustin took over all operations in the wine production facility. This continued the family heritage of making wine. As one of the fastest growing wineries in the state of Michigan, Mackinaw Trail Winery was able to build a brand new state of the art facility in Petoskey, MI. The winery produces a full lineup of reds, whites, sparkling, dessert and fruit wines.

  16. Royal Oak • Shelby Twp

    Peninsula Cellars Traverse City

    Peninsula Cellars is a family run winery located on the Old Mission Peninsula, just north of Traverse City. Our philosophy toward wine making has always been very minimalistic, allowing the regional expression of the fruit to come through. For six generations, the Kroupa family has been working the land on Old Mission, growing crops that thrive in the distinct microclimate. Peninsula Cellars was established in 1994, and has specialized in white wines since the beginning. Although white wine is the focus, Peninsula Cellars has stayed true to their roots, and produces three different cherry wines, as well as an apple wine. Rounding out the product line are several red wines, including Merlot, Cabernet Franc and several blended reds.

  17. Auburn Hills

    Resort Pike Cidery & WineryPetoskey

    Sister winery of Mackinaw Trail, Resort Pike Cidery & Winery is located just a few minutes south of Petoskey. With over 20 taps, we offer a great selection of award winning ciders along with some amazing sparkling and non-sparkling wines.

  18. Shelby Twp

    Rove Winery Traverse City

    Over 300 years ago, thousands of Irish were forced to flee their native land in what is historically known as the “Flight of the Wild Geese.” What most history books don’t record is that a large number of these refugees went on to establish some of the most renowned wineries across the globe. These forgotten Irish craftsman and their ancestors are reverently named “Winegeese.” As fifth-generation farmers of Irish heritage, Creighton and McKenzie Gallagher established Rove Winery at the Gallagher Estate to pay homage to the Winegeese and preserve their family’s legacy. The estate was born from the Gallagher farmland, an integral part of Traverse City’s history for nearly 130 years, and the winery opened in 2016.

  19. Royal Oak • Shelby Twp

    Sandhill Crane Vineyards Jackson

    Sandhill Crane Vineyards’ award-winning wines are all made on their premises with local grapes and other fruits. The family-run winery includes a tasting room, café featuring fresh local ingredients and small banquet room. Committed to their community and the environment, Sandhill Crane Vineyards makes a number of wines that benefit local charities.

  20. Auburn Hills

    Shady Lane Cellars Suttons Bay

    Crafting vibrant cool climate wines on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, we invite you to experience the history, creativity and craft that are the pillars of Shady Lane Cellars. We focus on creating wines that exhibit both elegance of structure and intensity of aroma and flavor. At Shady Lane Cellars, we are guided by the nature of our historic vineyards and the fruit they produce. We respect that every wine is a product of a thousand details, all of which need to be governed by the philosophy of reaching toward and developing an expression of time and place. We believe our vineyards and our team, both of which are part of our “terroir,” make Shady Lane Cellars the place to achieve this vision. Discover the History. Experience the Craft.

  21. Royal Oak • Shelby Twp

    Verterra Winery Leland

    At Verterra Winery, our goal is simple. Begin with high, sloped property with the right soil types. Then, plant the varietals, clones and rootstocks that have proven to produce great fruit in our area, are sought after by consumers and tourists, and make wines that we like. Next, plant and farm these grapes with an eye towards the highest possible quality and sustainability. We are committed to going the extra mile with our vineyard practices, appropriate yet minimal chemical application, small yields, hand pruning, tying and harvesting, and closely evaluating fruit quality and timing harvest based on both science and taste. Once our fruit is harvested, we waste no time in getting the fresh, cool fruit to the crush pad to transform it into Michigan's finest wines.

  22. Auburn Hills

    Wyncroft/Marland Pullman

    Wyncroft/Marland is a small family-owned estate winery located in the glacial moraine hills of Southwest Michigan. Our proximity to Lake Michigan provides a unique micro-climate, perfect for growing many of the noble vinifera grape varieties from which the world’s greatest wines are made. James Lester, our winemaker and owner, has been growing vines and making wine in Michigan for more than 30 years. Wyncroft wines are crafted from grapes grown in our estate’s vineyards. Marland wines are crafted from grapes grown in our neighbor’s vineyards. All Wyncroft Marland wines are handcrafted at the estate winery from 100% Michigan-grown vinifera grapes.