Your Next Wine Country Getaway Should Be to Michigan

There’s something to be said for spending a few days in a place to understand its wines. In Southwest Michigan, it’s not just the local viticultural landscape that’s changing, but also the cultural one: the bucolic region is turning into an under-the-radar wine weekend getaway for city dwellers.

Of course, Michigan isn’t new to the wine tourism game. After all, its Old Peninsula wine country has long been a local destination for vacationers, honeymooners and Pinot Noir appreciators. But over the past decade, the Lake Michigan Shore AVA specifically has been capturing the attention of Chicagoans getting wise to the wine country hiding in their own backyards.

“This region sees a heavy influx of people experiencing the beach towns—and for the longest time, that’s all people were doing,” says Jamele Favorite, marketing manager and director of Modales Wines in Fennville, a smaller AVA tucked within the larger Lake Michigan Shore AVA. “But now, people in the industry are taking Michigan wine more seriously. She adds, “Southwest Michigan wine country is Michigan’s best-kept secret.”

Like many New World wine hotspots, South Michigan producers have been embracing a playful approach to winemaking where anything goes—as long as it’s good.

“Wine has been made in the region since the 1970s, but we are currently seeing a new wave of winemakers starting to push the boundaries of what can be done in Michigan to produce some truly world-class wines,” says Sidney Finan, who co-owns Stranger Wine Company, a regenerative agriculture and terroir-driven winery in Buchanan, along with her husband, Maxx Eichberg. “It’s an often slept-on region, but a particularly exciting place for wine lovers to visit, as you can feel the tides turning towards higher quality growing and production.”

Whatever your preferences, there’s a strong chance you can find it here—and be pleasantly surprised, no less. Classic varietals like Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Blaufränkisch and Merlot remain Michigan winery stalwarts, but winemakers are also playing around with Marsanne, Kerner, Roussanne, Viognier and Traminette, using methods like skin-contact fermentation and carbonic maceration.

“I think the growers and makers aren’t afraid of trying new things,” says Favorite. “The region as a whole is so untapped that there is room to experiment a little. The wines down south are showing different expressions, which makes for a fun Michigan wine experience as a whole.”

Chains are mostly non-existent and the rolling landscape is wildly beautiful, appealing to travelers who want to disconnect and reconnect with other humans without having to fly across the world. There’s a lot of local pride here, as there is throughout the Midwest, which translates to better quality produce and agriculture from celebrated farmers—including wine and cannabis.

Here, we break down the best spots in Southwest Michigan wine country to visit and where to stay nearby, according to locals in the know.

Where to Stop in Three Oaks

Journeyman Distillery: This craft spirit producer with something for everyone—Mission fig rye, bilberry black gin, absinthe, small-batch tequila. It also has a menu of local American favorites and Detroit-style pizzas.