Black Star Farms

Black Star Farms is one of the bigger names on Northern Michigan’s Traverse Wine Coast, but it still has a clear point of view: cool-climate wines, especially Riesling, made by a team that has been shaping this region for decades. Founder Kerm Campbell launched the winery in 1998 after planting vines on Old Mission Peninsula and then buying the Suttons Bay property that became the estate. Head winemaker Lee Lutes has been there from the beginning. The range is broad—Riesling in dry, semi-dry, and late-harvest styles, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend under the Leorie Vineyard label—plus sparkling wines and European-style fruit brandies.

The bottle that best explains why Black Star Farms matters is Riesling. Its 2017 Arcturos Dry Riesling won Best in Show at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, beating 567 entries from six major Riesling-producing countries. That is not a small local medal; it is the kind of result that puts Northwest Michigan in the conversation.

Visiting here is more estate experience than quick tasting stop. Black Star Farms runs two tasting rooms—one at the 160-acre Suttons Bay estate on the Leelanau Peninsula and another on Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City. The Suttons Bay property adds the full package: an adults-oriented inn, a distillery, three miles of trails, horse stables, a centennial barn, and guided estate tours that end with wine and spirits tasting. Walk-ins are welcome in the tasting rooms, and the setup works well for travelers who want one place that can carry an afternoon or an entire weekend.