Michigan Wine Month marches on, and today, we’re covering one of my very favorite wineries in the state – Black Star Farms.
Black Star is a must-stop on every wine-tasting trip I take up north. They have tasting rooms on both the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, as well as in Traverse City. They make a delicious variety of reds, whites, sparkling, and dessert wines – but there’s more to my loyalty than just the wine. It’s the feeling of family that’s evoked when you enter their tasting room.
Led by their tasting room manager, Chris, the Black Star Farms staff is what all great wineries should be – inclusive. There’s no wine-snobbery going on here – they will take you through the gamut of their wines, explaining each one in terms everyone can understand. There’s no judgment if you don’t like something, or taste a certain flavor note – they go out of their way to make sure you enjoy the experience.
And the wine – oh, the wine. Lee Lutes is a genius winemaker. He pulls extraordinary flavor out of his grapes. Some of my favorites are:
- Leorie Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc
- Vintners Select (Red Blend)
- Arcturos Barrel-Aged Chardonnay
- Arcturos Dry Riesling
- BeDazzledwine club
It doesn’t stop there – Black Star also produces a whole line of spirits, including Pear and Its Spirit, which has a pear inside the bottle, and Spirit of Apricot, a rich and flavorful apricot brandy.
Did we mention they also have a creamery on site? Because they do – and the cheese is delicious!
But wait – there’s more! Black Star has a charming inn that you can stay in for your vacation. It’s located on their Suttons Bay property, and has breathtaking views of the vineyard. It’s just a few steps (or a short stumble, depending on how much wine you drink) from the tasting room.
Be sure to stop in and visit the Black Star Farms team the next time you’re in the area – I promise you won’t be disappointed.
And if you can’t wait, then you can order their wines online, or sign up for their wine club . My favorite day each quarter is the day my BSF wine club shipment shows up at my door – what’s better than having great Michigan wine magically appear on your doorstep?
