Aurora Cellars

Aurora Cellars is a small, independent winery in Lake Leelanau on the Leelanau Peninsula, making Northern Michigan wine with a clear cool-climate point of view. Head winemaker Drew Perry leads a program built around estate-grown fruit and minimal-intervention winemaking, with an emphasis on varieties that make sense here rather than grapes that merely sound familiar. The strongest signals from the cellar are Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Blaufränkisch, Gewürztraminer, and sparkling Brut Rosé — a lineup that leans into the region’s long winters, late harvests, and short growing season instead of trying to disguise them.

There is real substance behind that approach. Aurora’s 2022 Grüner Veltliner was named Best of Class at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc earned 93 points from Somm Journal and Best of Class at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and the 2021 Blaufränkisch picked up 95 points from Somm Journal. Visiting feels more retreat than party stop: Adirondack chairs on the lawn, patio seating overlooking the vines, and a self-guided vineyard walk with videos hosted by the winemaker. Tastings stay straightforward, with five one-ounce samples for $15 or larger three- and five-pour flight options, making Aurora Cellars a good fit for travelers who want a quieter Leelanau stop with serious interest in what Northern Michigan grows well.