Lake Michigan Vintners

Lake Michigan Vintners is one of the more unusual stops in Southwest Michigan because it functions as both a working winery and a training ground for the region’s next generation of winemakers. Based at the Welch Center for Wine & Viticulture on the Lake Michigan College campus in Benton Harbor, it opened in 2015 as the Midwest’s first commercial teaching winery. That academic setting could feel stiff elsewhere; here, it gives the place a clear point. The winery is built around hands-on production, student involvement, and a practical belief that the Lake Michigan Shore American Viticultural Area deserves serious attention.

The wines stay rooted in Southwest Michigan fruit, sourced from growers across the Lake Michigan Shore AVA including Hinkleman Farm, Lemon Creek Fruit Farm, Outcross Vineyards, and Michigan State University’s Southwest Michigan Research & Education Center. The current range covers a solid cross-section of what the region does well: a traditional-method 2022 Riesling Sekt, estate Riesling from student-managed vineyards at SWMREC, a Gewürztraminer-Riesling blend called Wavelength White, rosé, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a red blend built from Cabernet Franc, Marquette, and Merlot. Visiting feels more like dropping into a wine lab that also knows how to host guests. The tasting room opens on Fridays and Saturdays, with reservations required for deeper experiences like barrel tastings, guided tastings, and wine-and-cheese pairings.