Some events are merely remembered. Others become stories guests tell for years after the last toast.
Leelanau’s newest venue is built for the second kind.
Hidden beneath Good Harbor Vineyards, The Cellar is an intimate private event space unlike anything else in the region — not a replica of a winery, but the winery itself. Guests descend past the tasting room into the vineyard’s actual production facility, where soaring concrete fermentation vessels rise toward the ceiling and six dramatic chandeliers cast a warm glow across the room. Industrial architecture, romantic lighting, and curated lounge seating combine into a space that is available year-round.
For the Simpson family, who also owns and operates Aurora Cellars, that year-round availability is the whole point.
“We love the fact that it’s a year-round addition to our company. I often do events over there, and that’s all we have — our season runs May to October, and then come mid-October we’re kind of like, ‘okay, now what?’ This is so different and so interesting that I really think it’s gonna take off.” said Missy Check, marketing director at Simpson Family Estates. The space itself was years in the making.
“We started this last August — the design — and we’ve just been slowly chipping away at it. We made the initial investment in the concrete... we knew we were gonna go big into concrete, and we were also moving all production into the building, so we thought, this is perfect — we can store and use this space for the concrete. Then we were like, ‘man, this really is gonna be stunning,’” Simpson said.
The result is a working production cellar transformed, not disguised, into a gathering space. Guests arrive through what was once a delivery entrance, now framed for events, with room for cocktail tables to spill outdoors when weather allows. Two bathrooms and a parking lot currently under construction round out the practical details, while the concrete vessels — each one holding four barrels of wine — line the walls as both décor and working equipment.
“There’s nobody else who has 60 concrete vessels who’s really gone all in. The cool thing about them is they last pretty much forever, so there’s a sustainability and environmental preservation angle too, which is great,” Simpson said.
Because the tanks aren’t used daily the way a traditional production line runs, Good Harbor can host events in the gaps around the winemaking calendar, with production and hospitality sharing the same room and a shared schedule to keep them out of each other’s way.
Good Harbor can host rehearsal dinners, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, holiday parties, and corporate gatherings, with an intimate capacity in the range of roughly 60 guests.
Check has been watching closely.
“What I’m finding is that micro weddings are becoming a huge trend. Sixty people, 50 people, small and intimate, a little less expensive and much more personal. I’ve been seeing more and more requests for it. This is ideal for that.”
The venue is already booking. Its first event, a corporate retreat for a law firm from Chicago, was scheduled for this past Saturday, following an earlier nonprofit fundraiser supporting Alzheimer’s care.
“We’re up and running. We’ve kind of slowly started into it, getting our feet wet, but we want to do this every weekend, even during the week. We’ve got the staff, the tables, chairs, cocktail tables, linens. They bring in their vendors and a caterer, we supply the wine and the space, and they’re good to go.” Check says.
Looking ahead, the Simpsons plan to lean further into what makes the space unique, including upscale winemaker tastings where guests pull barrel samples straight from the concrete vessels.
Leelanau Listening Room Launches
A new midweek tradition is coming to Leelanau this summer with the launch of the Leelanau Listening Room, an intimate live music venue located inside Leelanau Cuban Fusion Restaurant in Lake Leelanau.
Beginning Wednesday, August 12, the Listening Room will present performances every Wednesday evening featuring alternating appearances by BIG FUN Unplugged and The Jeff Haas Trio, two ensembles known for their creativity, musical exploration, and entertaining live performances.
Created in partnership with Leelanau Cuban Fusion Restaurant, the series pairs exceptional live music with a warm, welcoming dining experience featuring globally inspired cuisine, including Cuban and Asian fusion influences.
Located within the restaurant, the Leelanau Listening Room is envisioned as more than a concert venue, it is a gathering place where guests can slow down, share a meal, and experience music in an intimate setting designed for attentive listening and connection.
“The Leelanau Listening Room celebrates the simple pleasure of gathering together, sharing food, leaning in, and connecting through live music.”
Each Wednesday evening will follow a relaxed concert and dinner format: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – First Set 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. – Second Set The series aims to create a unique cultural destination in Leelanau County, bringing together local residents and visitors for evenings centered around artistry, community, and memorable shared experiences.
