Wineries
There are more than 150 wineries making wine with grapes found throughout Michigan.
The first record of wine being made in Michigan was by French explorers back in 1679 using wild grapes found on the banks of rivers. However, wine has been commercially made here since the mid-1800s. Get to know the people and community that braves some of the toughest winter climates to bring you an outstanding range of grapes and wine styles.
Let's explore the list of Michigan wineries and their wines.
Michigan Winery Facts
- There are about 160 wineries making wine from grapes in Michigan.
- The oldest winery in Michigan that is still running dates back to 1867.
- More than 600,000 tourists visit Michigan’s wineries each year.
- The Michigan Wine Industry creates over 45,000 jobs.
Selected Michigan Wineries
Finding a piece of Leland Blue stone 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 Our story started over 30 years ago visiting the Leelanau Peninsula as a family for the first time. The simplicity and beaty of the "tucked away" secret of this part of Michigan has always been what we trasure most. 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. Our Vineyards This is where the story starts each season. Our vineyard team works nonstop year-round to create the outstanding fruit that makes Blustone's exceptional lineup of wines year after year. Our vineyard management team spends countless hours with each grape across our portfolio of properties to ensure only the best fruit makes it to the crush pad. Our vineyards are located near the 45th Parallel North – the same latitude as the Bordeaux and Rhône wine regions in France. We've learned there's nothing quite like the trademark Leelanau sunshine and temperate Lake Michigan climate to create such optimal growing conditions. Our Winemaking Our winemaking process starts with a principle: let the wine express itself. It takes a lot of time and patience to make a stand-out bottle of wine and while it's tempting to make wines that answer to deadlines and constraints, we're constantly refocusing to make it all about a product that reflects the labor of the vines and the joy of tasting a piece of Leelanau. You might taste the slope of the hillside in the rich flavors that develop only with constant sunlight exposure or the minerality in our soil that yeild complexity often missed in Michigan wines. These are just a few examples of things we take into account during each growing season. Our fermentation, barrel selection, aging method and release date for each wine changes each year. Each year, you'll experience the Blustone terroir and true varietal character in with every sip.
