Northern Michigan's Willow Vineyard

If you’ve never been to Leelanau peninsula and toured the fine wineries of Northern Michigan, you’ve not experienced the full beauty of this great state. One of Studio-underground’s latest clients, Willow Vineyard, is a remarkable little winery / vineyard in Suttons Bay, Michigan that sits on a hill overlooking the tropical-blue water of Grand Traverse Bay (in the summer of course.)  This little slice of Michigan is truly amazing and should be experienced by everyone who lives anywhere near it. To compound the already visually stimulating experience, Willow is home to two of the nicest vintners in Michigan, Jo and John Crampton, who serve you Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Pinot Gris from the tasting room to enjoy as you soak in the whole experience. It’s basically heaven to any wine-enthusiast.

Inside the tasting room Jo and John play an eclectic mix of music and bartend while their guests sample the different wines. Outside, the vines stretch over the hills and carry your eyes across the vast landscape. The bay is awesome, plain and simple. The water is stunning at anytime during the day and, believe it or not, the view only gets more marvelous as clouds start to settle in over the panoramic. The surrounding architecture is beautiful. A picturesque little house sits atop the laboratory where the wine is made, and buildings seem to fold right into the hillside and can even be spotted well into the vines themselves. The whole thing is somewhat whimsical and awe-inspiring.

Willow Vineyard is part of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association, which includes plenty of fine wineries for you to explore while in the area, including Madonna’s father’s winery, Ciccone Vineyard and Winery. Also, it’s only minutes from downtown Traverse City, where Michael Moore’s theatre resides. The place is really steeping in the culture of Michigan. If you ever get a chance to explore Northern Michigan, definitely put this place in your GPS.