Two K Farms Named Winery of the Year
June 24, 2026 — The 2026 Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge has announced this year’s top award winners, recognizing outstanding wines, ciders, and specialty entries from across the Great Lakes region.
The competition’s highest winery honor, Winery of the Year, was awarded to Two K Farms of Suttons Bay, MI, whose strong showing included a Best in Class Double Gold win for its Pinot Deux 2025 in the Sparkling Wines category and Honeycrisp Ice 2023 in the Cider category.
The Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge celebrates excellence across a wide range of wine styles, from classic reds and whites to native and hybrid wines, fruit wines, dessert wines, rosé, sparkling wine, and cider. This year’s results reflected the growing quality, creativity, and diversity of winemaking throughout the region.
Best in Class Double Gold winners for the 2026 Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge are:
Blush and Rosé Wines
Dancing Dragonfly Winery — Boogaloo 2024
Late Harvest and Dessert Wines
Dancing Dragonfly Winery — Hula Ice Wine 2021
Native American and Hybrid Wines
Laughing Otter Winery — Marquette 2021
White Wines
Laurello Vineyards — Late Harvest
Red Wines — Tie
Laurello Vineyards — Meritage 2023
Mackinaw Trail Winery — Estate Grown Blaufränkisch 2024
Fruit Wines, Vermouth and Other Wine Types
River Bend Winery & Distillery — Black Diamond
Sparkling Wines
Two K Farms — Pinot Deux 2025
Cider
Two K Farms — Honeycrisp Ice 2023
“These winners represent the depth and momentum of the Great Lakes wine region,” said organizers of the Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge. “From expressive hybrid wines and elegant reds to ice wines, sparkling wines, fruit wines, and cider, this year’s top entries demonstrate the exceptional range and talent of producers across the region.”
The Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge was created to recognize and promote excellence in regional winemaking while providing producers with meaningful awards they can use to promote their wines to consumers, retailers, and the broader wine community.
Award-winning wineries are encouraged to share their results with customers, distributors, media outlets, and industry partners.
About the Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge
The Great Lakes Winemaker Challenge by Libation is an independent wine competition honoring outstanding wines, ciders, and specialty entries from producers across the Great Lakes region. The competition recognizes excellence across major wine categories and highlights the producers helping shape the future of regional winemaking.
