There’s no better way to set the mood for Valentines Day than with a bottle of Leelanau wine.
“When I think about Valentine’s Day, I think of three things: seafood, steak, and chocolate,” Boathouse vineyards wine maker Emmy Neighbors said. “For the seafood course, Peninsula Provisions is my go-to source for the perfect portion of caviar. I’d pair the caviar with our brand-new 2024 Boathouse Bubbly Riesling, because there’s nothing better than starting a meal with bubbles. From there, I’d move into our new Syrah, a wine that works beautifully with both the steak and the chocolate dessert. I also love how wine can change the food, and how the food in turn changes the wine. That kind of evolution makes for a really fun and memorable dining experience.”
Brengman Family Wines in Elmwood Township may be losing their base for skiing this week with winter warm ups, but the wine will still be flowing.
Brengman Family Wines owner Robert Brengman admits the best way to break in the holiday is with a magenta rose, cab sauvignon, merlot, or cab franc.
“We have the best red vintages. Full body red or more like a magenta special wine for Valentines Day,” Brengman said.
The kitchen will be serving up a three-course meal with or without wine for a Valentines Day weekend special from $40 to $55.
Courses: First Course – Sofrito Cream Mussels: Plump mussels in a silky, aromatic sofrito cream, bright with garlic, herbs, and a hint of citrus. Wine – 2022 Plagiarize.
Second Course: Chicken Provençal, Crispy Confit Potatoes: Bone-in chicken braised with garlic, herbs, tomatoes, and olives atop golden, crisp confit potatoes. Wine – 2023 Cabernet Franc.
Third Course: Grandma’s Dutch Apple Pie. Spiced baked apples with a golden oat crumble and creamy ice cream, a cozy, intimate conclusion to your journey. Wine – 2023 theGüDsht Red Laurentide Winery in Lake Leelanau goes all in on red wine for Valentines Day.
The local winery will be featuring five gold medal wines in honor of the Winter Olympics throughout the month of February.
“I like red wine and dinner so i think a really great wine is key to a low stress Valentine’s day,” Laurentide owner Susan Braymer said.
“We are offering a compimentary glass of red wine on Valentine’s Day.”
Laurentide completed its first football season as a University of Michigan Athletics sponsor. Still, the local winery has drink available at Wolverine contests including at Yost Arena and the Chrislyer Center.
Michigan by the Bottle opens in Lake Orion Leelanau wine representatives have now expanded to Lake Orion with a Michigan by the Bottle (MBTB), a Michigan exclusive tasting room.
“Michigan by the Bottle exists to celebrate and support Michigan wine by bringing wineries together under one roof,” Simpson said. “Our goal has always been to create welcoming spaces where guests can connect withthestoriesbehind the wines and experience Michigan’s wine community in an approachable way.”
The Lake Orion tasting room joins existing MBTB locations in Shelby Township, Royal Oak, and Auburn Hills. Michigan by the Bottle was built on a simple idea: make Michigan wine accessible, welcoming, and fun to explore. Rather than focusing on a single winery, each MBTB location brings together rotating selections from 15 boutique wineries across the state, allowing guests to experience Michigan’s diverse wine regions in one relaxed setting. The Lake Orion location will host regular tasting experiences, winery-led events, educational classes, and experiential programming designed to highlight the people and stories behind Michigan winemakers and vineyards. MBTB aims to make wine feel less intimidating and more inviting.
“Michigan by the Bottle is proud to become part of Lake Orion’s vibrant downtown district and looks forward to collaborating with local businesses, organizations, and residents as part of the community’s continued growth,” MTB said in a press release.
MBTB creates welcoming tasting-room experiences where guests can discover local wines, connect with the stories behind them, and experience Michigan’s wine community in a relaxed, approachable way. With multiple Metro Detroit locations, Michigan by the Bottle is dedicated exclusively to showcasing wines made in Michigan.
Mystery Vines Wine Hunt headline March
March 1–31 Tickets: $10 per person Back by popular demand, Mystery Vines Wine Hunt invites guests to put their palates to the test in a fun, interactive blind tasting experience. At participating wineries, guests will enjoy a 2-ounce pour of a mystery wine and attempt to guess what they’re tasting.
Is it a crisp white? A bold red? Something unexpected?
Guests who guess correctly have the chance to win a Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail gift. This low-cost event is perfect for wine enthusiasts and casual sippers.
Leelanau Wine & Cheese is partnering for a similar event March 13–15.
