At TASTES in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons there's a little bit of the Alpine heaven being offered. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings you can reserve a cozy barrel table for 2-6 guests and enjoy the Matterhorn Grill dinner.
Your meal consists of ham, sausages, vegetables and bread that you'll grill right at your table. Meanwhile, you're melting luscious Leelanau Cheese Raclette right under the grill. When it's ready, you'll pour the cheese over the grilled fare. It's delicious. A choice of three flights of wine comes with your meal, and Caren and Kevin are ready to help you choose which one you'll most enjoy.
We open for tasting at noon, Tuesday through Sunday. If just reading about the dinner has whetted your appetite, please call for a reservation at 231-944-1349 as seating is limited. (Sometimes you can talk Kevin into a Tuesday or Wednesday night dinner, too, or a private party.)
Have you stopped by Hearth & Vine at the farm this summer? We're serving up wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches and some cool salads. Baked goods and bread come from our partners at 9 Bean Rows. And everything is as local as possible…as close as our hoop-house and gardens…and winery. Wine is available by the glass or bottle, and we can make paring recommendations if you'd like.
Hearth & Vine is open Thursday through Monday. We open at 11 a.m. and stay until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, closing with the Tasting Room on the other days, but we're closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Take a break in your tasting tour of the Leelanau Peninsula, or just come on by because you're hungry. Ellie, Kristen, Paul and Noah will take good care of you.
Join us at the farm for a casual FAMILY FARM DINNER on the patio at the Hearth and Vine Café on Sunday, July 25 from 6-9pm Featuring foods from our farm and our neighboring farms Just give us a call for info or to let us know you’ll be stopping by! 231.944.1297
We are excited to be a part of the upcoming Grow Benzie summer picnic on their farmstead in Benzonia. The picnic will feature gourmet summer fare prepared by chefs Hosea Rosenberg and Dave Query. Hosea is a chef at Jax Fish House in Boulder, CO as well as the season 5 winner of Top Chef. Dave is the owner of 7 Colorado restaurants under the umbrella name of Big Red F Restaurant Group. Alongside their fabulous creations we will be serving a selection of our wines including, Arcturos Pinot Gris, Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay and our Red House Red.
Grow Benzie is a community farmstead dedicated to enriching the lives of Benzie County residents by fostering self reliance through education in agriculture, nutrition, job training and life skills. Their site is a demonstration and training center for sustainable gardening and is a symbol of hope from both our past and our future. Their focus is on Growing Healthy Children and Communities, bringing people back to their “roots” of self sufficiency and taking care of each other.
What an honor to support this organization and share our wines with the community involved in this project!
For more information please contact the Grow Benzie office at growbenzie@gmail.com.
Cherry harvest has begun and the National Cherry Festival is underway…this calls for a nice chilled glass of good ol' cherry wine. It is surprisingly refreshing and it pairs well with a multitude of summer inspired recipes. We love it with BBQ ribs, coleslaw and corn on the cob. It is also lovely when mixed with a bubbly and makes a crisp cherry sparkling cocktail. Yet another use is in salad dressings and marinades…really the possibilities are endless.
In honor of the annual Cherry Festival we are offering a great discount on our Cherry Wine. Already on sale for $8.50 we are offering an additional 20% savings on this delightful wine making it a mere $6.80 a bottle.
Use this coupon to receive your discount. Don't delay as the coupon expires July 31st!
The line up for the 2010 Riesling Rendezvous includes a full team from Northern Michigan. Participating wineries include, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Black Star Farms, Chateau Grand Traverse, Left Foot Charley, Peninsula Cellars, and 2 Lads. The wineries are also a co-sponsor of the event along with wine marketing boards of Germany, Alsace & Austria.
Riesling Rendezvousis an event that brings together leading experts and producers to explore the versatility of Rieslings from around the world. Northern Michigan winemakers will have unprecedented opportunities to showcase their wines among the world’s great producers, influential media, trade professionals and interested consumers.
Equipped with award winning Rieslings and a new logo representing the hand as the “State of the Riesling” Northern Michigan winemakers will rendezvous with a purpose to highlight their success with this noble grape variety. As a co-sponsor of the event the wineries will be providing wine for one of the lunch programs, serving the region’s wine to more than 250 participants.
When asked about the event, Sean O’Keefe, winemaker at Chateau Grand Traverse elaborates that “a number of Northern Michigan winemakers have been working for many years to create what they believe to be a true regional style. We are excited to be participating in this event, and look forward to presenting our wines alongside the classic Rieslings of Germany, Austria and Alsace. This is a fabulous opportunity for us to show that not only “can” we grow Riesling in Northern Michigan, but that we can do so at the highest international level.”
The event will be held on July 11, 12 and 13th and is hosted by North America's premier Riesling producer, Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state and Ernst Loosen of Germany's renowned Dr. Loosen estate.
Information about Northern Michigan wineries participating is below:
Bowers Harbor Vineyards is a family run winery surrounded by epic views of Lake Michigan’s historic Bowers harbor. Our cool climate region produces dynamically expressive varietal wines.
Black Star Farms is a unique agricultural entity that features three tasting rooms, two winery production facilities, a distillery, B&B Inn, and equestrian facility. The winery is proud to represent the viticultural diversity of the Northwest Michigan region.
Chateau Grand Traverse has moved into its second generation of family winemaking – and has grown to be one of the largest Riesling producers in the Eastern United States. Riesling is the winery’s passion, and it has been a tireless promoter of the variety as the Old Mission Peninsula’s signature grape.
Left Foot Charley is a winery located in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The winery works with 14 local growers exclusively to provide the highest quality fruit for their varietal and blended wines.
Peninsula Cellars is a family run winery located on the Old Mission Peninsula. Their philosophy toward wine making is minimalistic, allowing the regional expression of the fruit to come through.
2 Lads Winery is a 10,500 square foot facility located on 58 acres on the Old Mission Peninsula. They specialize in cool climate red and sparkling wines.
In addition, the wines of Bel Lago and Chateau Chantal will be represented by Linda Jones, of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, as it is acting as co-sponsor for the Michigan portion of the event.
We are at it again on Twitter…this time we are participating in a tasting with Supermarket Sommelier Bill Ging from the Oakland Press. This is a fun and educational event that you can do without even leaving your house.
Winemaker Lee Lutes has chosen to feature three of our wines including, 2008/09 Arcturos Pinot Gris (depending on availability either is fine), 2007 Arcturos Pinot Noir, and the Sirius Pear Dessert Wine. Lee will be leading the discussion and welcoming comments and reviews about all of the wines. The idea behind these "twastings" is to make wine purchasing and tasting less daunting as well as more accessible for the average consumer. Participants are encouraged to look, smell, taste and then decide — just like they would if they were in one of our tasting rooms. Ging also writes a weekly column in the Oakland Press that corresponds with the scheduled Twitter tastings.
Want to participate? Pick up one, two, or all three of the featured wines at a local store (some suggestions are below) or order them on-line in time for the tasting next Thursday, June 24th. Log on at 7 p.m. to the Supermarket Sommelier Twitter site and the Black Star Farms Twitter site to sip, tweet and follow the conversation. Use hashtag #ttbsf.
Here is a list of stores and the featured wine(s) they stock in the Oakland County area:
Colasanti – all three wine, the Pinot Gris, the Pinot Noir and the Sirius Pear
Farmington Liquor – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Grapes & Hops Market – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Holiday Food Center – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Oxford Wine & Beverage – Pinot Noir & Sirius Pear
P-Fino – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Plum Market – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Rudy's Market – both the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Noir
Here is a great photo video compiled by photographer, Laura Teeple. The photos were all taken during the Marigold Cork and Fork event in March at the Hearth & Vine. There are plans for another Cork and Fork event in September at TASTES of Black Star Farms. More details will follow…
Thanks Laura and the Marigold crew for the photos and the good time!
Memorial Day is coming right up, and it signals the start of everyone's summer. Hearth & Vine will be rolling out its new menu and expanded hours this weekend. We'll be open from noon-9 this Friday and Saturday and noon-5 on Sunday and Monday.
Beginning next week, and continuing through the fall, we'll be open at Hearth & Vine Thursday, Firday and Saturday from noon-9, Sunday noon-5, and Monday from noon-6. As last year, we'll be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
After serving gourmet dinners this winter and spring, but remembering the number of folks who wanted something simple for dinner last summer, Paul and Ellie have decided on offering wood-fired summer fare including pizza, bruschetti, salads, and soups on their all-day summer menu. It will be similar to last year's with a few twists and the extended hours.
The market side has also undergone a transformation with local foods and new local crafts galore. There will be plenty of 9 Bean Rows bread and croissants, and tarts and cookies will always be available for snacking.
If you're coming by the farm to wine taste or only to admire the views or pet the farm animals, be sure to stop in at Hearth & Vine for lunch, dinner or just a snack. We look forward to seeing you.
There's room at the Inn this weekend, June 4th – 6th, and we are accepting single night stays on Friday and Saturday or 10% off on both nights. So, if you haven't made your plans as yet, it's not too late. Call 231.944.1251 for a weekend wine country experience. Jill and Kellie are looking forward to seeing you.
