Nathaniel Rose Wine

Small-batch Michigan reds made with open-top fermentations and no fining or filtering in Suttons Bay

Best known for: Small-batch Michigan reds without fining or filtering

Nathaniel Rose Wine in Suttons Bay, Michigan, puts small-batch red wines at the center of its work, drawing fruit from small vineyard owners across multiple Michigan regions. Winemaker Nathaniel treats each vineyard and growing season as a separate creative proposition rather than aiming for a uniform house style. The emphasis is on wines with the structure to age, without sacrificing their appeal when young.

The hands-on approach extends well beyond sorting grapes. Fermentations take place in very small, open-top vessels, with the grape skins worked by hand. Grapes are hand-loaded into a basket press rather than moved through pumps. The reds undergo neither fining nor filtering; time in barrel and repeated racking—moving wine off the sediment that settles during aging—provide clarity instead. For travelers interested in how Michigan red wine takes shape, those production choices give this winery a specific point of interest.

The tasting room is at 1865 North West Bay Shore Drive in Suttons Bay. Regular tasting-room days run Thursday through Monday, opening at noon, with an extra hour until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Visits are also available by appointment.