Best Wineries In Southeast Michigan

Who says you have to overnight in Traverse City or take a day trip to Paw Paw to enjoy made-in-Michigan wines? These wineries, arranged alphabetically, are all within a 90 minute drive of downtown Detroit and offer locally-produced varietals and blends in unique settings, each with an atmosphere and ambience all its own.

Blue Water Winery and Vineyard

7131 Holverson Road, off M-25
Carsonville, Mich. 48419
(888) 609-4222
www.bluewaterwinery.com

The first winery in Michigan's Thumb. Owners Connie Currie and Steve Velloff moved from Chicago in 2004 and purchased the 1886-era Holverson Farm in Sanilac County, converting 16 acres into vineyards. They say they love their new life in Michigan. Tasting room open Thur-Sun, noon-5pm.

Cherry Creek Winery

11000 Silver Lake Highway
Brooklyn, Mich. 49230
(517) 592-4663
www.cherrycreekwine.com

Nestled in the picturesque Irish Hills, close to Michigan International Speedway, Cherry Creek is a family-owned winery. The tasting room is an 1870-vintage one-room schoolhouse, complete with a knotty pine bar. It's open daily, year round. Featuring dessert and fruit wines. Don't miss the Cranberry Passion!

Lone Oak Vineyard Estate

8400 Ann Arbor Road
Grass Lake, Mich. 49240
(517) 522-8167
www.loneoakvineyards.com

Bills itself as southeast Michigan's oldest and largest vineyard. Lone Oak specializes in European varietals, produced on a 25-acre site. A dozen wines to sample in the tasting room. Dinner and live music Saturday nights, reservations recommended.

Pentamere Winery

131 E. Chicago Blvd. (M-50)
Tecumseh, Mich. 49286
(517) 423-9000
www.pentamerewinery.com

A celebration of the Great Lakes, Pentamere offers wines with charming names like Sovereign of the Lakes, Walk-in-the-Water, and Le Griffon, named after a French ship that sank in the Great Lakes. Featuring a full line of Gilbert chocolates, made in nearby Jackson. Pentamere Wine Jellies come in five flavors, at $6.00 a jar. They're terrific on toast, waffles, or in a pb&j.The tasting room, a century-old building, is closed Mondays.

Sand Hill Crane Vineyards

4724 Waltz Road
Jackson, Mich. 49201
(517) 764-0679
www.sandhillcranevineyards.com

This one's off the beaten path, but worth it. Features an extensive selection of estate-bottled red, white, blush, dessert and fruit wines. Check out Crimson and Clover, a raspberry mead (honey wine). The tasting room is open year round, seven days a week. No charge for samples!