We love to share history, stories, and insights from Gilchrist Farm Winery. Explore our journey through each season, discover behind-the-scenes moments, and learn more about our dedication to craft, community, and sustainable farming.
There’s a quiet magic that settles over the rows of grapevines here at Gilchrist Farm Winery once the harvest fades and snow begins to fall. In Northern Michigan, winter doesn’t mean hibernation — it simply means changing seasons of care, curiosity, and connection.
You Are What You Eat! Have you ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat”? In an event presented by Gilchrist Farm, Dr. Elizabeth Huntoon, co-owner of Gilchrist, will discuss the scientific and medical support for this idea and more in her upcoming lecture, “Food as Medicine, ”Invest In Your Health, One Bite At A Time...
This year we have over a dozen main and side dishes to add to your special day. You can even order a whole turkey from our friends at Anavery Fine Foods through our site. Last year we had a great response, and we were so honored to be part of your traditions. We have twice as many options this year! Justin and Jen are watching the orders roll in and we’re excited to begin the cheer of the holiday season. Don’t forget the wine!
Join us for a special evening celebrating the release of our first estate grown wine, October 14, 2024 First Fruits is a dry white field blend made using all of the white grape varieties grown at our vineyard estate in Lake Leelanau. It’s young and wild, just like our vines! Let's raise a glass together to toast to the "First Fruits". Enjoy delicious bites, live music, festivities, and mingle with your neighbors. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the flavors of our latest creation at our beautiful winery located in the heart of Leelanau County. We’re hosting this celebration on Monday, October 14th from 7 - 9pm.
From Noon - 5pm, we’re toasting the season with a special treat of reshly shucked oysters by our talented chefs! We’re also thrilled to collaborate with the incredible Boss Mouse Cheese, pairing their gourmet cheeses with our wines for an unforgettable tasting experience.
From classic comforts to elevated farm-to-table dishes, Gilchrist Farm launches a new menu with the help of award-winning chefs Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla. They’ve worked in kitchens across the U.S. and have launched some of Michigan’s favorite restaurants like Voyager in Ferndale or Bunny Bunny in Detroit’s Eastern Market. Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla felt the pull to return to Northern Michigan, and popping up at The Cooks’ House and Little Fleet in Traverse City in recent years made that desire grow.
Educator, author, and local historian, Michael Federspiel, will provide an illustrated journey through Hemingway's cherished Michigan memories; from tales of his family's journey across the great lakes via steamboat, to his early childhood explorations. Dive deep into the places he loved, his family's summer traditions, and the profound influence of Michigan on Hemingway's literary journey. Mike will be the first speaker in our 2024 Author’s and Poets series on the evening of July 23rd, 2024.
Along the serene shores of Lake Michigan, the Leelanau Peninsula offers lush vineyards and acclaimed wineries, providing a taste of Michigan's finest wines. Let's take a journey through the best loved wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula, with a special focus on the offerings of Gilchrist Farm Winery. The Leelanau Peninsula’s wine trail is the perfect starting place to learn about the abundant options for a day of wine tasting. Many transportation companies can enhance your trip with the safety and knowledge of a great driver. Let’s learn about a few of our favorite stops on the wine trail:
We are always amazed at the generosity of the people who support our mission of caring for the land and wanting to know where our food comes from. That generosity has been shown through neighbors, family and friends who we serve in person or ship our wine to. So many of you have posted on social media, left reviews and proudly wear our merch around town. We needed a way to say thank you for all your support, so when we developed our wine club we were thinking of you.
Through the benefits of our club, we hope you’ll find it easy to stop by for a snack and a pour on weekdays or when escaping work. We also want to be there for you when planning birthdays or when your family comes to visit. We hope you’ll join us to support our regenerative farming and made-from-scratch way of life.
We will be offering a special menu for you and your Valentine or Galentine! Our chefs are cooking up, not one but two dinner specials and a new dessert, all of which complement the winter menu! Cozy up for a night out or an afternoon filled with the food of love! February 25th we will be participating in Traverse City Restaurant Week. For this week we will be offering a three course meal for $45(pp before taxes). This is a great opportunity to sample a fantastic offering of what our dynamic and talented chefs can create.
Happy New Year! The kitchen crew has been working hard to develop a new and exciting menu to kick off 2024. We are thrilled to launch our new menu, starting on January 3rd at 4 pm for dinner service! If you’ve visited us before, you may notice a handful of changes when you visit us next! Don’t fret, we have made updates and improvements to ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible.
We’re taking the time this holiday season to reflect and recharge. As we reflect, we are incredibly grateful for the journey that we have traveled since our doors opened in September. The entire crew has poured their heart and soul into the space, the menu, and the service to the customers, each other, and the community. We are filled with gratitude for our guests and our small crew. In the spirit of the season, we are taking a short break to allow our staff and families to rest, unwind, and recharge with their loved ones. To all of our guests who have come from near and far to visit us during our first few months, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. In the coming weeks, we have several special updates and announcements that we are thrilled the share. Stay tuned for more info and come see us in January for an all-new menu with expanded dinner offerings!
My name is Laurel Huntoon, and I love plants. I love growing them, cooking them, and eating them. I am passionate about regenerative agriculture and healing with food. I've been living in Suttons Bay for five years now and love being a part of this sweet and friendly community. I am glad to share my passion with them and anybody that comes to the tasting room. My favorite food to eat and cook are peppers, both hot and sweet. I love how much flavor they add to so many dishes, how versatile they are and how many varieties there are. I have about 15 different varieties that I use in my own kitchen and they all have their own purpose and flavor.
Ramp is a native plant desired by top chefs and might be growing in your yard! These wild leeks carpet the forested areas of Gilchrist Farm's vineyard.