Lemon Creek Winery

Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs, Michigan, is one of the more rooted stops in Southwest Michigan wine country. The Lemon family’s farm history here runs back to 1855, and the winery itself dates to 1984, when Helen and Robert Lemon and their sons launched the wine side of the business. It still feels like a working farm first and a tasting room second, with more than 300 acres of rolling vineyards and orchards around the property, about 170 acres planted to wine grapes, and a seasonal farm market that keeps the place connected to fruit growing in a very literal way.

In the glass, Lemon Creek covers a lot of ground without feeling scattered. The dry side is especially broad for Michigan, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and sparkling wines including Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noirs. There is also a deeper bench of sweet, fruit, late-harvest, and ice wines than most wineries attempt. One detail worth knowing: Lemon Creek planted Michigan’s first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon, which helps explain why Bordeaux varieties remain central here. Recent gold medals for Gewürztraminer and Carmenere add credibility, but the bigger draw is range.

Visiting is casual and first-come, first-served. Tastings are built around flights of five 2-ounce pours, with more choices in summer than winter, and larger groups are expected to use the outdoor seating area, where dogs are welcome. For travelers who want a winery visit that also feels unmistakably Southwest Michigan, the mix of estate vineyards, U-pick fruit, farm market traffic, and a long family history makes Lemon Creek worth the drive.