Leelanau Peninsula

Michigan

Vignoles

Chardonnay

Blaufrankisch

Cabernet Franc

Pinot Noir

Merlot

Riesling

Pinot Grigio

Gruner Veltliner

Auxerrois

Gewürztraminer

Pinot Blanc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Syrah

Sauvignon Blanc

Visit Aurora Cellars, a full production boutique winery with old world charm nestled in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula. We’re proud to offer our award-winning wines from grapes grown throughout the peninsula along with epicurean small plates sourced locally to complement your wine tasting experience.

United States

Aurora Cellars

Drew Perry was born to be a winemaker. His philosophy and approach to winemaking is to never be stuck to one philosophy or approach as mother nature never provides the same growing conditions from year to year.  He believes that you should never try to mold a wine to what you want it to be, but instead you need to work with what you are given based on the site, the variety, and the vintage growing conditions.

Drew graduated from Michigan State University in 2006 with a degree in Viticulture as well as Oenology and then moved to Napa to honed his craft with a job at Pine Ridge as a Cellar Assistant for the year before moving back to Traverse City to become an Assistant Winemaker at Left Foot Charley, where he further developed his skills until 2014. Since joining Aurora Cellars in 2014, he has created iconic aromatic whites, distinctive cool climate red wines, and authentic sparkling wines from the Leelanau Peninsula. He also makes the wines for Good Harbor Vineyards and a variety of custom clients.

Drew loves making wines that express the unique qualities of each individual vineyard site on the Leelanau Peninsula as a whole.  He strives to create a wine that expresses a specific sense of place. His mission is the creation of wines that surprise and delight the senses.

Drew Perry

Taylor lived the city life in Chicago after growing up in Leland and graduating from the University of Michigan. She worked in wine sales distribution for the largest wine and spirits distributor in the world, honing her knowledge of wine and business while traveling to renowned wine regions of the world. She carried this extensive experience back home with her and continues to expand the reach of our wines through direct to consumers channels in 17 states (and growing!), boutique and chain grocery stores, and Midwest restaurants. She focuses her marketing efforts on building brands that convey a genuine story of the people and places behind the wines.

Taylor Simpson

Sam’s entrepreneurial spirit started with a roadside cherry stand at age 7 and a successful landscaping business in high school. He harvested his viticulture and enology knowledge by working on the family farm with his grandpa and dad every summer while studying business and finance at Michigan State. Ever the innovator, Sam continues to fill gaps in the Michigan wine industry. He created vineyard operating services, now the largest in the state supporting 300+ acres, and launched the only mobile wine bottling service in the midwest.

Sam Simpson

White

A tantalizing tropical bouquet tangos with a floral finish. 

Late Harvest Vignoles

This wine is crisp, refreshing, and creamy on the palate. A true delight for your palate.

Blanc de Blanc

Fermented and aged in new French Oak barrels for ten months, this high quality Chardonnay has a wonderful balance of fruit, oak, and a buttery mouth-feel. Pairing suggestions include grilled salmon, roasted chicken, lobster, and creamy pastas.

Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

Produced from estate grown Lemberger, this wine spent 18 months in combination of Bordeaux and Burgundian French Oak barrels to concentrate the fruit flavors of blueberry and the spicy pepper notes.

Blaufränkisch

Brut

Rosé

This sparkling Brut Rosé is full of candied cherries on both the nose and palate. The finish is dry but filled with delicious fruit. We recommend serving this sparkling wine with salmon, seared tuna, or pork tenderloin.

Brut Rosé

Hints of plum and blackberry followed by fresh herbs are found in this lovely example of Cabernet Franc. A rich but elegant wine, we recommend pairing this with roasted or grilled lamb, beef, or veal.

Explosive nose with white peach.  The palate if round with a lush texture but a crisp and refreshing finish.  

Dry Riesling

100% fresh sparkling Pinot Grigio. This wine is crisp, vibrant, and robust with aromas of a lightly spiced apple tart. Each sips allows you to celebrate the moment.

Leora

The palate has strong grapefruit flavors with a mineral complex to complement the aromatics, and an acid profile that will work with, but never overwhelm an intricate food pairing. 

Grüner Veltliner

This wine is bursting with citrus and peach aromatics.

A blend of both Blaufränkisch and Merlot, resulting in a dry, fruity, smooth wine.

Radiance

 This wine is bright and fresh to enjoy with ample sunshine.

Pinot Noir Rosé

Sweet

The mouth-feel is lush and the finish is bright.

Luminous

An elegant style Gewürztraminer with subtle notes of rose petal on the nose. This wine is slightly sweet with a little spice to tease the palate.



Medium Sweet Gewürztraminer

A light sweetness on the finish with balanced acidity creates an ideal wine to sip before a meal and compliments a wide a variety of lighter cuisine.

Medium Sweet Riesling

This wine has aromatics of pear and lime zest. It is crisp, delicate, and delightful.

This Pinot Noir is a rich juicy example of what the variety can produce.

Bright with citrus notes and minerality on the nose, this white wine is crisp, delicious, and sure to please your palate.

Michigan

Aurora Cellars

18 Wines from 15 Grape Varieties

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