Leelanau County vintners stood tall at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition over the past week.
Leelanau Cellars received 23 awards in the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the most in the winery’s 52-year history and the most in the state of Michigan this year.
“Our continued success in this competition reflects the investments we’ve made in people and quality control,” said Bob Jacobson, president of Leelanau Cellars. “That focus allows us to produce consistent, high-quality wines across our lineup, from new releases to longtime favorites.”
The winery’s “Farm Fresh Cranberry Moscato’”earned Best of Class in the fruit wine category, while Cherries Galore, the official wine of the CherryT Ball Drop in Traverse City, was one of five wines to earn Double Gold honors.
Other double gold honorees include: Cherries Galore Chocolate Cherry Dessert, 2024 Late Harvest Pinot Grigio, 2023 late harvest riesling, and Farm Fresh Raspberry Bubbly Moscato.
Michigan wineries performed well in this year’s competition, with 106 awards presented statewide. There were 5,500 entries submitted this year to the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is one of the most respected and highly-publicized wine competitions in the United States.
Bel Lago earned three medals, including two silver, with a 2024 riesling semi-dry taking gold.
“A lot of the Michigan white wines perform well out west, and we make some bright fruitforward wines in that state and California wines to be more aromatic ... it shows up in the wine,” Bel Lago winemaker Blake Lougheed said.
Bel Lago, French Valley, and Dune Bird may be under the umbrella of Harmony Estate Wineries, but their different typographies produce a wide range of wines.
Each winery sent three wines to be judged, and each received an award. Dune Bird won three medals with one double gold, one gold, and one silver.
French Valley brought home three medals, with one gold and two silvers.
“Each wine has their own identity,” Lougheed said. “Stylistically, we are trying to make different wines, and each have their own different vineyard and distinct characteristics where they are grown.”
Aurora Cellars won six medals with a 2024 Sauvignon Blanc winning a Best of class, a 2022 Leelanau Gruner Veltliner earning gold, a 2023 Pinot Blanc winning gold, and three more earning bronze. Aurora also brought home nearly six other silver medals across several wines.
“(The Leelanau Peninsula) is showcasing so well and the wines are really high quality,” Aurora Cellars co-owner Taylor Simpson said. “This year shows the diversity of varieties that are bringing home some quality awards. And it’s not just one style or one grape variety.”
Good Harbor Vineyards earned five medals with four golds and a bronze. The 2023 Chardonnay, Blanc de Blanc, 2023 Albarino, and Blanc de Noirs were all the gold winners.
Amoritas Vineyards took home four medals, including one gold for a 2022 Chardonnay and three silver medals.
Bluestone earned over 10 medals at the competition, with 12, including two gold, six silver, and four bronze. The vineyard’s 2024 rosé and 2024 chardonnay brought home gold. Gold’s also included a dry riesling or late harvest Riesling.
Gilchrist Farm Winery won three awards, with two earning a double gold and one silver. The 2024 Albarino and 2024 Gruner Veltliner were honored. Rove Estate earned four awards, with one Best of Class, one gold, and two silver. The Best of Class was a 2023 Gewurztraminer, and the gold was a 2023 Sauvignon Blanc.
Shady Lane Cellars brought home six, with two double golds, one gold, and three silver. The double gold was a 2024 Gruner Veltliner and a 2022 Sparkling Riesling. The gold winner was the 2021 Blaufrankisch.
Verterra earned nine medals with three golds, five silver, and a bronze. The golds were 2024 Dry Riesling, 2024 Pinot Gris, and the 2023 Chaos Sparkling Wine.
