Leelanau road trip 2015

Charlevoix

NORTHPORT LELAND SUTTONS BAY Elk Rapids Traverse City

Leelanau

Frankfort

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Manton

Manistee

2015

Cadillac

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Baldwin Hart

• watch spirit distillation in the tasting room • free tastings • bottle sales • fresh unique cocktails A clean friendly place to live.

The New Whiting Hotel 152 1/2 Front St., Downtown Traverse City 231.947.6360

The Leelanau Vodka distilled from 100% Leelanau cherries.

Cherry Bounce flavored by 100% Leelanau cherries.

"In the adventurous spirit of this rugged but refined place, we carefully create these unique spirits, tinged with the clean air and brisk water found only here in Leelanau."

-Mark Moseler

Open 7 days/wk YEAR ROUND!

112 E. Philip Street (M-204) Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 231-256-2700

| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS • ROAD TRIP

The Leelanau Peninsula is one of Michigan’s many wonders.

With the 45th parallel running through the region, it’s designed for great wine.

How

SEPTEMBER 2015

| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS • ROAD TRIP

to select Many consumers stand in front of a grocery shelf full of wine bottles and wonder, “How do I choose?” The next thought that comes to mind, “Oooo, that label looks nice,” and they buy the wine. An attractive label is a great marketing technique, however, it has nothing to do with a wine.

The cool climate, rich soil and unique geography of a peninsula surrounded by the temperate waters of Lake Michigan create the perfect conditions for growing quality grapes, according to the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

SO, HOW DO YOU SELECT A WINE? First and foremost, don’t fall victim to advice that leads you to a wine that you know you won’t like. If you absolutely know you don’t like dark red full-bodied wine, don’t buy it.

Instead, figure out what you enjoy in a wine.

If you are buying wine to serve with a meal, select it based on the “weight” and texture of the meal you are serving. Basic rule is the heavier the meal, the bigger your wine needs to be to stand up to the food. In other words, red meats and foods with heavy sauces generally need big red wines such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec or syrah. Big reds and buttery California chardonnays also go well with sauces and pastas that are heavily buttered or creamy.

Fall is a great time to visit the area’s many wineries and so much more. Stop by and see for yourself.

Lighter meals take lighter and more subtle flavors of wines. Chicken or turkey will often be paired with white wines such as riesling or gewurtztraminer. If you wish to drink a red wine with a lighter meal, think about choosing a pinot noir or an Italian red such as a chianti.

The best way to remember a wine you like is to write things down about that wine. This way you can keep track of good wines you drink. By keeping track of these wines, you also have something to use when you want to try a new wine. Most wine shops have knowledgeable owners or employees who can take a description from one wine and make suggestions on other wines that a consumer also will like.

Don’t worry about vintage, at least not at the beginning. The rule of thumb is that good winemakers craft good wines even in bad years. So, find good wines and purchase no matter the vintage. When you get to know more about wine, then start thinking about vintage.

Try wines you don’t know. There are thousands and thousands of wines out there. Branch out from time to time.

Time was, most table wine in America came from New York and was available in three flavors – red, white and pink. Today, it’s a whole new world. www.whalebackinn.com

Since 1927 Serving the freshest Lake Michigan Whitefish, Perch, and Walleye, and great Prime Rib, Steaks and a great deal more.

Watch the Sun Rise Over Beautiful Lake Leelanau

Well Appointed Lake View Rooms

Cottage Suites • Free Standing Family Cottage

Come visit the Tavern or our Dining Room overlooking the Leland River.

Whirlpool & Fireplace Units Dock • Sundeck • Relaxing Porch • Play Area Open Year-Round • WiFi

Huge selection of the best Local Wines and other great wine from around the world

231.256.9090 • 800.942.5322

On Lake Leelanau, Just south of Leland on M22

102 River St., Leland • 231-256-9081 • www.bluebirdleland.com • blubirdleland@gmail.com

Open Every Day but Monday, Winter Hours begin early November.

free

W ine Tasting

A delightfully unique Cafe and Bistro in Suttons Bay, Michigan, European-style cafe where every entree is made from scratch, including the exquisite pastries. Regional cuisine made from the very finest ingredients available in Leelanau County and the surrounding region.

every friday 2-6

Suttons bay, 1 block north of downtown 231.271.2344 • marthasleelanautable.com

St. Ambrose Cellars Gateway to the Grand Traverse Wine Trail

Open Year Round • Locally Grown & Locally Owned 841 S. Pioneer Rd. Beulah, MI • 231.383.4262 stambrosecellars.com

Pies, French Pastries, Croissants, Quiche, Chicken or Beef Pot Pies

SEPTEMBER 2015

LEELANAU PIE & PASTRY A SLICE OF PIE PERFECTION Chef Gene 231-256-0115 41 N. Eagle Hwy Lake Leelanau

Biggest Wine Selection in West Michigan

Leelanau Cellars A Taste of Northern Michigan

FREE TASTINGS Open Year ‘Round • Patio Seating Panoramic Views Visit our waterfront tasting room overlooking beautiful Omena Bay and experience the aromas and flavor of award winning wines.

Celebrating 40 Years of Producing Quality Award Winning Wines Affordable To Everyone.

TALL SHIP WINES • SEASON WINES • FRUIT WINES FUN WINES • VARIETALS • DESSERT WINES

Your Culinary Store 3750 Polk Rd., Hart , MI 49420

Questions? Call our Wine Expert, Fred 231.873.2826

We’re located on the bay in the Village of Omena halfway between Suttons Bay and Northport 22 minutes north of Traverse City on M-22.

(231) 386-5201

www.LeelanauCellars.com

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our wines with you.

As always tastings are free.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Let’s take a When Michiganders hold up their hand to show people from other states where they live on the map, their pinky represents the Leelanau Peninsula.

Getting to the tip of the pinky from the knuckle (Mason County) can take anywhere from two hours to two days. Getting sidetracked along M-22 is pretty easy.

Towns like Kaleva, Onekama, Frankfort, all of the Glens, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can easily lead you astray.

Your beautiful scenic fall wine tasting journey along the Lake Michigan shoreline begins in Hart at Hansen’s Foods. This culinary/food store hosts one of the largest selections of wine in West Michigan. Your journey continues north through beautiful Pentwater and

Road Trip

Distilleries to try their Signature Vodkas made from Leelanau cherries.

Ludington making your next stop at Northern Natural in Kaleva for a sample of hard cider. From there we head to Douglas Valley Winery overlooking Lake Michigan for more wine tasting, then on to downtown Onekama for some shopping at some very unique shops like MacBeth and Company.

From Northport we begin our journey south to Omena for a breathtaking view of Traverse Bay while enjoying a glass of wine from Leelanau Wine Cellars and possibly dinner at Martha’s Leelanau Table in Suttons Bay.

Next on to Route 22 along the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline to Beulah for a little wine tasting at St. Ambrose. Your picturesque journey continues along the beautiful shoreline to Leelanau County.

Enjoy a meal at the Bluebird Restaurant in the village of Leland or watch the fish migrate upstream at the Cove Restaurant after you enjoy a unique shopping experience at some of the little shops on the water like the Fish hook.

Before heading to our most northern point for more wine tasting there are a couple of must visit locations to visit like Motovino Cellars for some great northern wines and unique antique shopping at Uniquities Luxurious Necessities.

Don’t forget dessert from Leelanau Pies or stopping by Northern Latitudes

| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS • ROAD TRIP

Your relaxing journey comes to an end at your choice of a beautiful view of the Bay at the Whaleback Inn, or spend the evening in downtown Traverse City at the New Whiting Hotel.

The area boasts many fine wineries that offer daily wine tastings — see the ads in this section. A complete list and map of the wineries on the peninsula can be found on the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association website at www.lpwines.com.

Whether you enjoy a nice glass of wine, or just a relaxing dinner with some shopping, enjoy this beautiful fall tour and take in the fall colors of beautiful Northwestern Michigan.

The Leelanau Peninsula We can’t think of a better time of year to head north than this current season. Pair the beautiful scenery of a fall color road trip with a tour of wineries and it can become a memorable event, one for the photo album.

The area is gorgeous. Just ask!

“Good Morning America” voters called the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that stretches up the Leelanau Peninsula “the most beautiful place in America” and USA Today listed Old Mission Peninsula as one of the “10 Beautiful Coastal Drives Across North America.”

One of the reasons? Water abounds, with Lake Michigan to the west and Glen Lake, Lake Leelanau and the Grand Traverse bays among the picturesque sights of this pleasant locale.

The proximity to “the big lake” makes for not only lovely views but

also an ideal climate for growing wine grapes. The peninsulas do, after all, sit along the 45th Parallel (think Bordeaux, France).

The nearby water tempers the early frosts and cool spring can help prevent premature budding. During the summer there’s a nice balance of rainfall and sunlight for premium grapegrowing. As a matter of fact, this “microclimate” helps the local vintners create award-winning Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, sparkling wines and ice wines.

It’s pretty along the way, too, wineries and stores selling Michigan-made wines popping up in Oceana, Mason, Manistee and Benzie counties.

In recent years some cool microbreweries offering everything from local

ales to porters in a unique atmosphere and now Michigan-made liquor and liqueurs are finding new fans.

While Michigan-made spirits and the natural beauty of this “third coast” are reason enough to take a trip, there’s much more to the area, including shopping, a foodie’s paradise and an eclectic art scene.

Take your time, stop to eat, stay the night, and return home with the memories you’ve made along the way.

Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail Discover Leelanau Peninsula, where cool-climate wines pair perfectly with local cuisine. The peninsula is home to 25 wineries located within diverse microclimates uniquely suited for a variety of wine grapes. Among the internationally acclaimed varieties are Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. Experience, firsthand, the authentic taste of the peninsula in local wines that continue to achieve national and international accolades with each passing vintage.

Three Mini-Trails SLEEPING BEAR LOOP, NORTHERN LOOP, GRAND TRAVERSE BAY LOOP The trail is divided into three mini-trails for easy touring: the Sleeping Bear Loop, the Northern Loop and the Grand Traverse Bay Loop. Each tasting room along the trail offers its own unique experience, from pure elegance with unparalleled views to cozy nooks loaded with charm. As you sip wines and chat with the laidback, hardworking winemakers that produce them, you’re sure to find many reasons to love the trail.

For more information, visit www.lpwines.com or www.wineriesofoldmission.com THE TASTE OF LEELANAU IN EVERY BOTTLE BOTTLE.

Featuring Wine Tasting.

Wine by the bottle or by the glass.

Premium Hard Cider produced with local organic apples Growlers & refills, bottles or by the glass.

7220 Chief Rd., Kaleva, MI 49645 • 231-889-0064 Summer Hours: Tues.-Sat. 12:30 to 6

12 of our 14 wines are 100% Leelanau – grown and bottled here (the other two are 100% Michigan fruit!)

Foodies rejoice! Idyll Farms Cheeses, Carr’s, Bello Rustica Crostini, Citerrio & Columbus Salamis & Proscuitto, Marcona Almonds, Zoe Organic & Frantoia Olive Oils, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.

Plus picnic baskets, wine totes, glasses and goblets, wine and cheese accessories and much more.

Or visit us at: 324 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684

107 W. Nagonaba, Northport | 12-6 pm daily | 231.342.6818 | motovinocellars.com

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110 W. River St. • Leland, MI • 231.256.9501 OPEN 7 DAYS • MAY - OCTOBER

231-386-9809