Michigan

Leelanau Peninsula

Blaufrankisch

Rich dark fruit flavors with soft oak tannins. Balanced medium bodied, barrel aged for three years.

Gold at TEXSOM 2024 |Gold (90) at American Fine Wine Competition 2024 |Silver Medal International Eastern Wine Competition 2023 | Silver Medal - Michigan Governor's Cup Wine Competition 2023

United States

Bel Lago

Chardonnay

Leelanau Brillante

Auxerrois Brut

Leelanau Primavera

Dry Riesling

Semi-Dry Riesling

Select Harvest Riesling

Late Harvest Riesling

Auxerriois Moreno Vineyard

Pinot Noir

Late Harvest Gewurztraminer

Cherry Wine

Pinot Grigio

Auxerrois Reserve

Brut Sparkling Rosé

Cabernet Franc

Pinot Grigio & Chardonnay

Established in 1992, Bel Lago began serving wine on the edge of Lake Leelanau in 1999

Today, our northern Michigan winery is known for crafting flavorful and complex red, white and sparkling wines. 

We take pride in growing over 100+ varieties of grapes at our vineyards in nearby Cedar and scenic Northport near the shores of Lake Michigan. Varieties include local favorites Pinot Grigio, Blaufrankisch, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer and Riesling, in addition to rare varieties like Auxerrois, Siegerrebe.

With an emphasis on cultivation, we firmly believe in the adage that “wine is made in the vineyard” – and the results speak for themselves. Our attention to detail and focus on the grape sets our wine apart from other northern Michigan wineries. Stop in and taste for yourself!

Auxerrois

Gewürztraminer

Riesling

FOUNDER | SENIOR WINE MAKER | An educator at his core, Charlie loves discussing wine with anyone who’s interested and believes wholly that when it comes to pairing food and wine there are no rules. It’s a matter of personal taste. Charlie has a PhD in viticulture and oenology from Michigan State University and worked as an academic winemaker and research oenologist, traveling to wine regions around the world before starting Bel Lago Vineyards in 1992. Charlie believes good wine starts in the vineyard and has spent years painstakingly managing Bel Lago’s vineyard and working hand in hand, first with Tomas Moreno Senior, and now his son Tomas Moreno Junior who oversees all vineyard activity. Charlie has a passion for our region and its unique terroir and you can taste it in our wines.

Dr. Charlie Edson

VINEYARD MANAGER | Vineyard Manager Tomas Moreno Jr. grew up in our vines. His father Tomas Moreno Sr. worked closely with Charlie to establish our vineyards and build Bel Lago to what it is today. As Charlie tells it, Tomas Sr was even more stringent in the care of the vines and training of his crew that even he was and his tutelage is apparent in Tomas’s knowledge of viticulture and vineyard management. Tomas Sr worked until his death at the age of 82. At that time Tomas Jr. took the reins and has been overseeing all vineyard management and working closely with our winemaking team to ensure our grapes our picked at the height of ripeness. At Bel Lago “good wine starts in the vineyard” and it’s because of all the Moreno Family has contributed to our vineyards that this remains true. 

Tomas Moreno Jr

WINEMAKER | Kyle has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and spent many years writing for papers such as the Lansing City Pulse and Big Rapids Pioneer. Although Kyle’s love and appreciation for journalism will always remain, he sought a new challenge in 2013. Seeking to reconnect with his years of hospitality experience cooking in restaurants and experimenting with homebrewing, Kyle accepted an opportunity to work alongside his lifelong friend and winemaker, Blake Lougheed, at Bel Lago Vineyard and Winery. Since then, Kyle has worked his way up from a cellar assistant, to winemaker under the apprenticeship of Lougheed and Bel Lago Founder Charlie Edson. From picking to pressing, fermenting to bottling, Kyle performs and oversees every part of Bel Lago’s winemaking process.

Kyle Leppek

HEAD WINEMAKER | Blake holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and as soon as he starts talking about wine it’s evident that he is a scientist at heart. A private wine tour with Blake will leave you feeling  as though you just left the lecture hall after a great presentation - fascinated, entertained and smarter than you were before. He’s a wealth of information and can talk about wine all day long. Blake plays a pivotal role in our winemaking team. He contributes to our own wine production, oversees the production of wines for other companies, manages our bottling schedule and assists with the label design and approval process and much more. When he’s not making outstanding wine with our team at Bel Lago, he’s working on a new role : Dad to baby Judd.

Blake Lougheed

White

Fresh fruit flavors and toasted oak texture. Barrel fermented, sur-lie aged 11 months. This wine won Gold (90) at American Fine Wine Competition, Gold at San Francisco Wine Chronicle Competition and Silver at Finger Lakes Intl. Wine Competition. 

Sparkling

An artful blend of five varietals with peach and tropical fruit notes dominating the palate. This bubbly also makes a great peach mimosa.

Brut

This sparkling version of one of our favorite varietals balances temperate fruit, creamy structure, and aromatic esters.

White Blend

This pleasant wine is the ideal combination of acidity, juicy fruit flavor and balanced sweetness.

Elegant stone fruit flavors and textured minerality. Awards: Silver medal at the American Fine Wine Competition and Silver medal at Riesling Wine Competition, Beverage Testing Institute. 


A balanced combination of tropical flavors of papaya, nectarine and grapefruit compliment the minerality. This wine won Silver a Medal at TEXSOM 2024, Best of Class (93) at American Fine Wine Competition 2024
& a Silver Medal at the Michigan Governor’s Cup 2024.


Alluring tropical, apple and stone fruit flavors with a luscious, sweet finish

Aroma of guava and honeysuckle with robust flavors of tropical fruit and white peach. This wine won Silver at MI Governor’s Cup Wine Competition. 

Clean and crisp with notes of papaya, mango, guava and apricot balanced against a subtle minerality. 

Gold at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition & Gold at New York International Wine Competition

This medium bodied wine is a balance of vivid dark fruit and French Oak spice. | Gold Medal (90) at the American Fine Wine Competition 2024 | Gold Medal & Best of Class at the International Eastern Wine Competition 2023 | Silver Medal at TEXSOM 2024 | Silver Medal at MI Governor's Cup Wine Competition

Robust aromatics and rich structure are complimented by balanced sweetness.

Gold Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition 2024
|Silver Medal at the New York International Wine Competition

Red Blend

Cherry pie in a glass. A flavorful blend of Balaton and Montmorency cherries
that captures the essence of Northern Michigan.

Gold Medal at the Michigan Wine Collaborative 2021| Silver Medal (92) at the NY International Wine Competition 2021

Made in the Italian Pinot Grigio style. Aromas of peach, green apple, honey and lemon zest. Flavors of apricot and pineapple with balanced acidity. 

Rich, focused tropical fruit flavors. Beautiful texture, sur-lie aged in neutral French oak barrels | 2022 Vintage: Silver medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

Rosé

Sparkling Pinot Noir. Texture driven with hints of strawberry and peach.

Our small-batch reserve Cabernet Franc is aged in barrels for 34 months to create a refined yet versatile first-class red wine.

Gold medal at MI Governor’s Cup Wine Competition 2023| Silver medal at International Eastern Wine Competition 2023

Refreshing and crisp. Fruit forward yet balanced. This is a versatile food wine.
| 93 points & Silver Medal at the New York International Wine Competition 2021

Michigan

Bel Lago

2018

Blaufrankisch

Leelanau Peninsula

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