The History of Northern Michigan Wine 

The Rise of the Traverse Wine Coast
 

Northern Michigan’s wine history is deeply tied to its distinctive terroir, sculpted by glaciers during the Pleistocene epoch. As these glaciers advanced and receded, they carved out a landscape of rolling hills, glacial moraines, and mineral-rich soils—primarily sand, clay, loam, and gravel—that provide excellent drainage and moderate vine vigor. This diverse geology, coupled with site-specific microclimates created by elevation and slope orientation, provides ideal conditions for cultivating cool-climate vitis vinifera varieties such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Franc.

Located at the northern tip of Michigan’s famed “fruit belt,” the Traverse Wine Coast enjoys a prime position along the 45th parallel—a latitude shared with renowned regions such as Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley, Piedmont, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The region is uniquely moderated by Lake Michigan, which delays bud break in spring and extends the growing season into fall, allowing this potentially too cold of a climate to flourish with grapes as well as other agricultural produce. This moderating influence promotes full phenolic ripeness while preserving the natural acidity that defines the fresh, aromatic, and structured Northern Michigan wines.

The roots of Michigan wine stretch back to 1702 when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac planted the region’s first vineyard at Fort Detroit. By 1868, Joseph Sterling had established the first commercial winery in Monroe County. By the late 1800s, Michigan ranked third in U.S. wine production, behind California and New York. However, the industry collapsed under Michigan’s statewide alcohol ban in 1918 and Prohibition in 1920. It wasn’t until the 1970s that a serious revival began in the north. In 1970, Bernie Rink planted hybrid varieties on the Leelanau Peninsula, establishing Boskydel Vineyard—the region’s first modern commercial vineyard. Four years later, Ed O’Keefe Jr. planted Michigan’s first large-scale vinifera vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula, founding Chateau Grand Traverse and proving Riesling’s potential in Michigan’s cool climate.

The 1980s saw rapid expansion, with the creation of new wineries and AVA designations: Leelanau Peninsula (1982) and Old Mission Peninsula (1987). These AVAs located in the Traverse Wine Coast, along with Fennville (1981), Lake Michigan Shore (1983), and Tip of the Mitt (2016), gave the state of Michigan five federally recognized wine regions.

Today, the Traverse Wine Coast is at the heart of the statewide wine industry and produces 60% of the grapes grown in Michigan and is home to over 40 wineries. Michigan ranks 7th in U.S. wine production, producing over 4 million gallons of wine annually from more than 50 grape varieties. The state’s wine industry contributes $6.33 billion to the economy, generates over $400 million in tax revenue, and welcomes over 615,000 wine tourists annually. 

Thanks to pioneering winemakers, the region’s unique glacial soils, and the enduring influence of Lake Michigan, Northern Michigan has grown into the capital of cool-climate winemaking in the United States—an exciting and evolving region with limitless potential."