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.

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.

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!

Thanks Laura and the Marigold crew for the photos and the good time!

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.

Pure Michigan is previewing their 2010 ad campaign this week.  Part of Fresh was filmed at Black Star Farms.  Can you spot us?

If you're having trouble finding us, look below for a peek at just how much goes into making a 30 second ad.

1. Traverse City is number one on Livability.com Foodie Finds: 10 Surprising Food Cities. 

"Known as the Cherry Capital of the World, the Lake Michigan resort town of Traverse City does a pretty good job with other foods too. With plenty of award-winning restaurants, wineries, farmers markets and dairies, Traverse City has been called “a new foodie haven” by The Huffington Post"…read more.

2.  The area was recently named one of the Best Midwest Food Towns by Midwest Living.

"If Disney World had a Foodland, it might look a little like Traverse City, Michigan (population: 142,000). Too-cute-to-be-true storefronts line downtown's Front Street"…read more.

3.  We have world class award winning wines with Riesling being the most popular variety in the region.

"This complex and cold-hardy German varietal, the stuff of youthful hangovers and wine-geek reverence, has put Michigan winemaking on the map and runs the spectrum from racy and dry to thick and sweet"…read more.

4.   If you are a Michigander or a Midwestner that has never tried our wines you may be pleasantly surprised like former Midwesterner Andrew Putz, Editor in Chief of Boston Magazine.

"The more I heard friends gush about the wine country near Traverse City, Michigan, the more curious I became. So I began to investigate. I'd always thought Michigan too cold to grow grapes, but I learned that this part of the state lies near the 45th parallel, just like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace"…read more.

5. We have chocolate, cherries and plenty of wine – all of which can be sampled in one form or another at our wine trail events throughout the year. You can find a complete listing of events on either the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail or the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trial websites.

There are also art galleries, brew pubs and miles of beaches…What more do you need? For more information about the Traverse City area including lodging and special offers visit the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At last, a bottle of wine has found its place on the family dinner table! Join us for our 1st Cork and a Fork with Marigold Productions! We'll taste wines and enjoy hors d'oeuevres at the Hearth and Vine on March 29th from 6pm – 8pm.  Chef Johnathon Dayton and Chef Paul Carlson will show us how to cook a family meal of beef short ribs cooked en daube.  Guests will leave with a pre-packaged main course, a bottle of wine and a fabulous recipe! For more information click here.