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The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's Taste this Passion is this weekend, Feb 5 & 6. The LPVA reports that ticket sales have been great, but there are still tickets available for this fun event that combines Wine, Chocolate, and Fun! The weatherman is calling for partly cloudy skies and warmer temps, so get out of the house this weekend and support our local Vintners. Tickets are available online at lpwines.com/taste.

For those of us that can't get enough of Leelanau Peninsula wine, be sure to attend the Winter Wine and Art Fest, which will be featuring not only Leelanau wine, but Old mission wineries, as well. Again, tickets are still available for this event and are available online.

Black Star Farms announces the opening of Hearth & Vine serving dinner to the public Wednesday through Sunday evenings.

Suttons Bay, MI February 1, 2010 - - A new star is born. Black Star Farms, already well known for its award-winning wines and cheeses, is now serving dinner in Hearth & Vine, a vineyard café, at the Suttons Bay farm featuring wood-fired fare in a rustic yet elegant atmosphere, The weekly menu draws on ingredients produced on the farm, including pork and lamb, fresh eggs, 9 Bean Rows hoop house vegetables and hearth baked breads, and of course, Leelanau Cheese Co. cheeses and Black Star Farms wines. It’s truly a celebration of agriculture.

Hearth and Vine is now open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. Seating is limited and reservations are appreciated. For reservations, please call 231.944.1297

From late spring through fall, Hearth & Vine is open daily serving delicious wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches as well as soups and salads. Black Star Farms wine is available by the glass or bottle along with soft drinks, coffee and tea. Lunch and snacks can be enjoyed out on the terrace or indoors in the cozy cafe.

On the market side we’re all about local. Black Star Farms farm-fresh eggs and fruits and vegetables from our and neighboring farms are offered seasonally. Pastries, cookies and 9 Bean Rows hearth-baked breads, Black Star Farms maple syrup, verjus and kettle cooked jams and preserves, and the best of other locally produced items are also available.

Black Star Farms is a unique agricultural entity that features two winery production facilities, their adjacent tasting rooms, a distillery, Inn, café, and equestrian facility. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary and are proud to represent the viticultural diversity of Northwest Michigan and its proximity to the 45th parallel that runs through so many of the great wine regions of the world.

Photo: KAScott_20090627_6186 by Ken Scott

The owner of Chateau de Leelanau Vineyard and Winery, Dr. Roberta Kurtz, is pleased to announce that she is selling her winery business to Cherry Bay Orchards and a group of second generation fruit growers. This transaction marks the first winery sale in Leelanau County. The parties’ initial acquaintance began when Dr Kurtz purchased an adjoining farm to Cherry Bay. It further developed over several years as Cherry Bay cared for the cherry orchards on that land. Dr. Kurtz stated, “Selling Chateau de Leelanau to my fruit growing neighbors gives me a lot of satisfaction. After 20 years and a tremendous amount of sweat equity, selling the winery operation has been a difficult decision, but family needs and professional commitments have made it necessary.”

Second generation fruit growers, Matt Gregory, Mark Miezio, Roger Veliquette, and Andrew Gregory are looking forward to expanding on the traditions of the award winning Chateau de Leelanau Vineyard and Winery. The new owners are expressing grateful appreciation to Dr. Kurtz for extending them the opportunity to develop the winery further. “Taking the helm of one of northern Michigan’s oldest wineries offers us many challenges,” said Andrew Gregory “and the fact that we can build on traditions as well as bring new ideas to fruition is exciting.”

The new owners expressed their enthusiasm for being part of something that helps to achieve community goals focused on sustainability and growth. “The positive economic contribution that viticulture and wine making add to the tourist and agricultural industry is definitely noticeable in the Traverse area” according to Roger Veliquette “and we want to be part of that.”

The winery staff will continue to welcome the public, Thursdays through Saturdays, at its tasting room located at the corner of Hilltop Road and M22 in Leelanau County. Wines made from Riesling, Chardonnay, Bianca, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Regent are available to sample and purchase. Transferring of ownership will be completed upon appropriate licensing of the new owners.

The perfect rendezvous involving sex and films is occurring January 28th for those who have a passion for fine films! The First Annual "Lunar Affair" is a benefit for Active Women Now, a local nonprofit that supports women's charities, through fun creative events.

The eclectic selection of movies, fine food catered by Grandview Catering, and Larry Mawby's Sparkling Wine "Sex" as well as raffle prizes and a silent auction will take place at the City Opera House, 106 E. Front St.,Thursday. Jan 28.

There will be a champagne reception featuring Mawby's "sex" and fine food between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; the films will be shown from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $28. The $28 includes one raffle ticket, and the wine toast and refreshments as well as the films.

"We looked for a unique set of films that people won't see in mainstream theaters," said Kaye Krapohl, one of the organizers behind the Lunar Affair. She and co-chair Julie Goodwin, owner of Posh partnered on bringing these films to downtown Traverse City. "These films are about celebrating diversity within our own community and the world. They are created by women, but the content transcends women only issues, hence the name Lunar Affair." she said.

Read more at about the Lunar Affair at MyNorth.com. Or visit the the Lunar Affair site. For more information on the films and the traveling festival, visit LUNAFEST.

For a teaser of the LUNAFEST films, watch this video:

LUNAFEST 09/10 Films from Mara Sohn on Vimeo.

The selection of short films includes:

• "A Summer Rain," A young Israeli immigrant struggles with her transition to American life.
• "Plastic,” A young woman redefines her self-image moments before a first date.
• "Roz (and Joshua),” Separated from her son, Roz lives for the time when they will reunite permanently.
• "Monday Before Thanksgiving," Through a chance encounter, a single woman learns that the life she lives is exactly what she wants.
• "DIY: Emancipation 101," A playful animation about women and bicycling.
• "The Kinda Sutra," How are babies made?
• "A Vida Politica," A Brazilian hairstylist explains how beauty can be a form of activism.
• "Anjali," When Anjali becomes witness to her father's betrayal, she must decide if she will share her secret and risk devastating her family.
• "Omelette," A mother battles with the challenges of inflation.
• "The McCombie Way," Words of wisdom from a mystic in the middle of the Mojave Desert.

"The movies are all different, but have one thing in common: unique storytelling." Krapohl said.

Tickets are available through the City Opera House box office at www.cityoperhouse.org.
For more information you can also visit www.lunaraffair.org.

The Winter Wine and Vine Experience takes place next Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the Old Art Building in Leland from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

A Winter Wine & Vine Experience will be speaking of the unique characters of a selection of local wines and how they are judged for personal taste and for serving at your table. With each of the local wines, a complementary appetizer suggested by each wine maker will be served. The setting will be an exciting scene with an art exhibit and many unusual table decorations. Tickets are $35 and are available at the Old Art Building - 231-256-2131. All proceeds benefit the Leelanau Community Cultural Center programs.

Dan Matthis, of French Road Cellars, is helping the local wine industry by opening Michigan's first custom-crush winery.  The national Wine Industry magazine, Wines & Vines reports:

“I’ve had this idea in my head for a long time,” Doug Matthies told Wines & Vines recently. “There are between two and five start-up wineries in northern Michigan every year, and most produce less than 5,000 gallons. It’s expensive to hire people to work up here—you have to bring people in, pay moving expenses and good salaries. And the necessary winemaking equipment takes a pretty significant investment. I want to help the smaller guys who want to get into the wine industry, and help out the industry by bringing in new people with quality products.”

During the harvest in 2009, the facility produced approximately 5,000 cases of wine. Doug designed the winery, which is 6,000 square feet. Doug works closely with Shawn Walters of One World Winery Consulting. Read more about French Road Cellars and One World Winery Consulting at the Wines & Vines site.

Photo compliments of Wines & Vines.

From the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association:

Love is in the air as you celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day at the "Taste the Passion" weekend February 6 & 7, 2010. This special weekend celebrates wine, chocolate and love in anticipation of Valentine's Day! The combination of winter's beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life always makes for wonderful weekend.

The weekend starts on Saturday as participants head to their first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass. Then the fun begins with special pours and tasty chocolate treats offered at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday. However, because one cannot survive on chocolate alone (tempting as it may sound), savory dishes will be served at a number of tasting rooms.

Tickets

Tickets for "Taste the Passion" are just $30 each and available online. As with all LPVA events, attendance is limited to give participants an opportunity to become better acquainted with our wine and wineries.

In addition to regular ticket sales, participating lodging partners offered a limited number of special accommodation packages that included a ticket to the trail event.

Special Weekend Events

To add to the weekend's festivities, several of the wineries will hold special events and activities exclusively for "Taste the Passion" ticket holders to celebrate the beauty and fun to be had in this winter wonderland.

Join us at the Homestead - Friday February 5th

On Friday night (Feb 5) at Mountain Flowers Lodge from 6-8pm, the Homestead Resort and Glen Arbor Artists will be hosting "Art from Michigan's Wine Coast." Art will be on display and for sale from local artists.

The price is $20 at the door, which includes 2 glasses of wine and small plates (additional wine available for $4/glass or 3 for $10). $5 from every ticket will be donated to the Glen Arbor Artists scholarship and free after-school art program for students.

February 14th 2010 3:00pm-8:00pm at The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

We are taking submissions until January 31st from artists interested in showcasing their work at the Traverse City Wine and Art Festival February 14th 2010 Winter Wine Wonderland event. We hope to showcase all forms of media. Details are as follows:

Artists are asked to submit up to 5 pieces of work to showcase at the event.
Each artist should submit digital pictures of the work that you would like to showcase at the event to Laura@absolutemichigan.com
You must bring your own way to display the work. If you would like a tabletop spot you must let us know when you submit your work.
Each artist selected to showcase at the event will receive one entry to the festival. (Your entry does not include wine or dessert tasting tickets.)

This is a showcase event. We seek to showcase you and your work. We encourage you to handout cards and be there to talk about your work. You are welcome to try to sell your work at the event. The transaction will be entirely between you and the purchaser no commission will be taken.

This event will be showcasing Northern Michigan through wine, art, chocolate and music. The New Third Coast accompanied by a variety of local musicians will sing “Love Songs” throughout the day.

You can find more information about the event at http://traversecitywinefestival.com.

If you have questions please contact Laura Herd

Laura@absolutemichigan.com or 231-633-3133.

In Sustainable Thanksgiving, Jacob Wheeler, editor of the Glen Arbor Sun, asks us to say "thanks" to the local farmers by celebrating with a local turkey, veggies, and more. He says:

Let’s start with the bird. The Hubbell Farm on Galla Rd. north of Cedar and just north of Bel Lago Winery offers pasture-raised turkey, pork and chicken. Dan and Barb custom raise these livestock on an “as ordered” basis. Call them at 231-228-6390 or visit them online at HubbellFarm.net; as of early November they had at least 15 left to sell.

Be sure to head over the the Glen Arbor Sun to read the rest of the article and read more suggestions on where to get delicious local products for your Thanksgiving.

Remember to pair your Thanksgiving feast with some of Leelanau's award winning wines. The LPVA site is currently featuring an article from the Detroit Free Press, that asks Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi about selecting Michigan wines to go with a Thanksgiving dinner.

To accompany your feast, stop by Stone House Bread in Leland for a loaf of their artisan bread. Then finish off your meal with Grocer's Daughters Chocolate and a cup of Light of Day Organics tea.

Your tummy will be thankful for the delicious local food, and your neighbors will be thankful to you for supporting their efforts.

With Thanksgiving just a couple short weeks away, thankfulness is on everyone's minds. Those of us lucky enough to live in Leelanau and the surrounding areas are very grateful for everything this area has to offer us. MyNorth.com has a wonderful article highlighting many of these treasures that some of us may take for granted. Old Misson and Leelanau wines are gaining in popularity, and a big boost to the northern Michigan tourism and economy. MyNorth.com gives ideas on how to plan your own weekend in wine country.

They also highlight the many small businesses, that also have a conscience, such as Higher Ground Trading Company.

Give and you shall receive. It sounds like a woolly-headed notion, or something reserved for church, but Traverse attracts entrepreneurs who prove benevolence and principled ways help, not hinder, success. A favorite example: Higher Grounds Trading Company, a fair-trade coffee roaster and café based at Grand Traverse Commons.

Co-Owner Chris Treter did his master’s thesis on developing a fair trade organic coffee business connected to the growers in Chiapus, Mexico. Fair trade basically means cutting out the middleman so more money goes to the growers. And it means fresher, better coffee beans for Higher Grounds customers.

Founded in 2001, Higher Grounds’ formula of good heart and great coffee is still ramping up revenues at 30 percent a year. In the meantime, the company is raising funds to provide fresh water for Chiapus communities and is forming a new nonprofit to build a school for a community of Ethiopian growers. “Consumers want to believe in a product they are purchasing and vote with their dollars. Consumerism is a true form of democracy,” Treter says.

The rest of the article continues with the popularity of northern Michiganders desires to eat fresh, pointing out how popular the local farmer's markets can be, our obsession with water, and even how the four letter word, snow, is not only important to us, but an integral part of life in northern Michigan.

Be sure to read the full article here.

Photo: LPVA's Willow Vineyard, DSC_6236 by KARUNAPHOTO