NFL Center Kyle Cook, Formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, Partners with Winemaker Matt Gregory as Co-Owners of Chateau de Leelanau

May 28, 2014 (Suttons Bay, MI)— NFL Center Kyle Cook recently became co-owner of Chateau de Leelanau Vineyard & Winery of Suttons Bay with Owner Matt Gregory. Cook is a Michigan native who played high school football for Dakota High School in Macomb and college football at Michigan State University before heading into the NFL in 2007. Since then, Cook has played center for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gregory, who originally purchased the winery in 2009 with family business partners, has been operating the winery ever since. Cook recently bought out the previous investors, creating a partnership with Gregory.

“I’m excited to have Kyle as a partner in the winery,” shares Gregory. “He’s easy to work with, and our enthusiasm, drive and determination is well-matched.”

Cook and Gregory met after Cook and his wife become frequent customers of Chateau de Leelanau. The duo became instant friends, and Cook’s increasing interest in the wine business eventually led to the partnership. Cook is currently taking an active role in the operations of the winery, though his planned retirement from football is still undetermined.

“At 31, I’m approaching retirement from the NFL,” shares Cook. “I’m excited for the opportunity for a second career that I’m equally passionate about.”

Gregory and Cook have several plans for the future of the winery and tasting room. The partners are increasing their line of recently added ciders and are adding new events including Classic Car Night and Saturday BBQs. A fairly new outdoor seating area has recently been graced with a massive and colorful vineyard mural, hand-painted by Artist Stephanie Schlatter along the outside tasting room wall.

In addition to winemaking, partners also share a background as athletes, as Gregory had an early career playing hockey. These histories likely play a role in the friends’ “teammate” approach to the winery. Though Gregory and Cook take the wine business very seriously, their competitive and fun nature is expressed throughout the tasting room. Incidentally, Gregory is also one of the stars of Wine Warriors, a fun new reality television series currently in production.

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Chateau de Leelanau Vineyard and Winery is located in Suttons Bay, Michigan and offers a variety of wines and hard cider made from fruit grown on farms on beautiful Leelanau Peninsula. Learn more at www.chateaudeleelanau.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact:
Matt Gregory
Chateau de Leelanau Vineyard & Winery
(231) 271-8888
matt@chateaudeleelenau.com