Shady Lane Cellars opens a Vineyard Tour Aug. 21
July 21, 2025 (Suttons Bay, MI) — For Michigan Winemakers like Kasey Wierzba, one question just keeps popping up.
“We often ask: ‘Is this a tourist region that happens to make wines or a wine region that happens to be a great place to vacation?’” she said.
Shady Lane Cellars executive winemaker and general manager may finally get a definitive answer this August. That’s when Michigan wines take the spotlight in the inaugural 5-day Traverse City Food & Wine event, organized by Traverse City Tourism.
From Aug. 20-24, 2025, Traverse City Food & Wine will celebrate the region’s farm-to-table scene with an array of culinary and wine tasting events. Trevor Tkach, president and CEO of Traverse City Tourism, said the event includes opportunities for more than 100 different wines to be savored and tested. Many of the wines featured have been recognized with prestigious national awards.
“The wineries all have a story to tell.” said Tkach said. “Traverse City Food & Wine gives them a platform to tell their story.”
For Wierzba, this kind of attention couldn’t happen soon enough.
“Wines from our region are taking a front seat,” she said. “We’re putting wines on a stage so we can really show the best from our producers. We are making good quality wines in styles that show the region and terroir.”
Traverse City Food & Wine offers a chance to taste local produce, sip Michigan wines and other craft beverages and experience the beauty of the region overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay.
The event will bring plenty of celebrity appearances and noted chefs along with it. Food Network’s own Tyler Florence is set to headline. Culinary experts from across the country – as well as Michigan’s own James Beard Nominees Sarah Welch, Omar Anani and Ji Hye Kim – are featured.
Tkach considers the region a national hotspot for both culinary and wine experiences.
“When you combine a dynamic farm-to-table culture, a unique micro-climate created by Lake Michigan, and top-notch creative talents from chefs and winemakers, this becomes a food and beverage scene that must be experienced,” he said. “The addition of Traverse City Food & Wine is a direct extension of that experience.”
The signature event, The Grand Tasting, is set for 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, with VIP options including earlier entry. The main stage will be hosted by Actress Amy Smart and Television Personality Carter Oosterhouse, who own Bonobo Winery and founded the national nonprofit Carter’s Kids.
Tour the Vineyard at Shady Lane Cellars Aug. 21
During the days leading up to The Grand Tasting, Traverse City Food & Wine will include a wide array of experiences throughout the region. For example, from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, the team at Shady Lane Cellars will host a vineyard and winery tour. Wierzba felt it was important to bring attendees closer to the origins of the wine grown and produced there.
“The Vineyard Tour will put people front-and-center to see where these wines come from,” she said. You don’t always get to see the fruit up-close.”
The timing couldn’t be better as the region will be on the cusp of the ripening season just before Harvest, she added.
Guests will stroll through the vineyard to gain an inside look at Shady Lane Cellars’ sustainable winemaking processes, tools and the equipment used daily. They will be treated to rare access at the winery, historic farm house and century-old stone Tasting Room, then complete the experience by sipping six wine samples – perfectly paired with cheese and charcuterie.
Tickets for Shady Lane Cellars Vineyard Tour are limited. Reserve a spot for $56 at https://tickets.traversecityfoodandwine.com/events/2025/walking-vineyard–winery-tour#buy. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
ABOUT SHADY LANE CELLARS
Shady Lane Cellars produces one of the largest percentages of estate-grown wine in its region. Offering hilltop views of the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan, the winery and its staff create a comfortable approach to wine. The winery was founded in 1999. Since 2017 all Shady Lane Cellars wines are 100 percent estate-grown. In 2020, Shady Lane Cellars’ vineyard earned Sustainability in Practice – or SIP Certified – status. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
