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.

A Family Operation

Harvesting is an early springtime event the entire family and staff enjoys. Everyone first learns how to sustainably harvest, then we venture into the woods with baskets and sheers to snip off the large leaves that spring from the forest floor.  We normally only harvest a couple leaves from each cluster to ensure the plant will grow back and spread naturally.

Sustainable Practices and Uses

This wild garlic has three distinct parts consisting of a bulb, stem and leaf. The entire plant is edible raw or cooked and is so versatile that it can be used in any dish. We munch on its garlicky goodness while enjoying the fresh spring air at the farm. 

Chefs Jennifer and Justin have been harvesting throughout the season and working to make the ramp last through methods like drying and freezing.

Dishes Using Ramps

Some of our current dishes featuring ramps include Whitefish Dip, Roasted Mushroom Tartine (with ramp vinaigrette), soft scramble, and pasta dough!

Make Your Own Dish

Elizabeth Huntoon

An easy dish you can make at home is ramp pesto! Just substitute fresh ramp for basil in your recipe. Blend the ramp leaves with olive oil, parmesan and pine nuts and pour over your favorite pasta. Every year we blend the ramp and oil together, then freeze it to use all year long. You can also pick up our ramp salt in our market to use at home!

Learn More

Click here to watch a video of owner Elizabeth Huntoon explaining the heart behind our sustainable harvesting of ramps!

Visit Us

Gilchrist Farm is on a mission to grow and serve the best of what northern Michigan has to offer through sustainable farming and warm hospitality.

Join our 4K+ followers on Instagram @GilchristFarmWinery. 

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Gilchrist Farm is sustainably harvesting spring’s best crop.

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,” taking place on the evening of Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025.

Invest In Your Health, One Bite At A Time

Elizabeth Huntoon, M.D., M.S., is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, and Medical Acupuncture. She brings experience from the Mayo Clinic and a background in research, education, nutrition, and clinical care. Most of us operate on the currency of the dollar, however, food is the currency our cells rely on. Come and learn how to make appropriate and healthy “investments” by understanding the science behind the concept of “Food as Medicine.”

Reserve Your Seat

Small bites prepared by our chefs are included with admission! A cash bar will also be available, offering wine, coffee, and tea. Doors open at 6pm, with the lecture and conversation beginning at 6:30pm. Tickets are available through MyNorth.com Don’t miss this opportunity to eat, learn, and thrive! 

Keep Up With The Fun:

Follow us on  Instagram to keep up with all the excitement leading up to Food As Medicine and beyond!

Gilchrist Farm Suttons Bay, Michigan

Traverse City Restaurant Week is a Northern Michigan staple and we’re joining the fun, February 26th to March 2nd, 2025

Hyper-Local Dishes to Highlight Northern Michigan Farms

Reserve a spot with us for anytime from February 26th to March 2nd for a special four-course menu. Each course builds on one another and features hyper-local farm to table ingredients, championing the farms and businesses that make Northern Michigan special. As always, everything is made from scratch. Below are some of the bold, locally inspired dishes you can expect.

Pork Chops from Traverse City based Anavery Fine Foods
Hush Puppies with house-made Triple Cream and Truffle
Picnic Chicken with spiced Comeback sauce
BlueCrab Toast with locally sourced brown butter and dill

Dinner With Wine Pairings

This event is priced at $50 per person, with an optional wine pairing available upon arrival. All you need is a reservation!  

Reserve A Spot With Us

Reservations for Restaurant Week can be made at GilchristFarmWinery.com under the reservations tab! 

Keep Up With The Fun

Be sure to follow our Instagram (@GilchristFarmWinery) to keep up with everything going on at Gilchrist! We will be dropping our full Restaurant Week menu and delicious food photos there!

This year we have over a dozen main and side dishes to add to your special day.

Highlights include:

Brûléed Buttermilk Pie
Honeynut Squash and Truffle Soup
Creamed Collard Greens
Buttermilk Biscuits
Slow Roasted Onion Dip and Caviar
Cranberry and Citrus Chutney
Roasted Mushroom Stuffing
Award-Winning Turkey Gravy
...and many more!

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

We have wines that will pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving day, whether you’re working in the kitchen or chanting Jared Goff into a high-def screen. You can order wine for pickup or shipping nationwide. You can shop for wine on the same page as Thanksgiving orders. If you’re looking for a gift, wine club memberships can be given to someone special in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Gilchrist Farm!

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, 2024 from 7-9pm. Your ticket purchase enters you in for a chance to take a bottle of First Fruits home with you. See you there!

The $30 ticket includes admission, delicious bites crafted by Jen & Justin, a glass of First Fruits and a chance to win a bottle. Additional wine and non-alcoholic options will be available to purchase. Doors open at 7pm. Jesse Jefferson is bringing his guitar for live music!

ABOUT THE WINE

This is our first estate grown wine which is a field blend of all the white grape varieties that we grow. It’s a dry white that is medium bodied, easy drinking but complex. You might be able to pick out some of the varieties but here is a list of grapes we used: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Albariño, Auxerrois. The grapes were harvested on October 11th, 2023. Only 115 cases were produced. Book your ticket for Monday, Oct 14th, 2024.

“This wine is young and wild, just like our vineyard” - Marc Huntoon (owner)

Come celebrate with us this Friday and Saturday, Sept 13 & 14th, 2024 at our end-of-summer event! 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.

Event Highlights

• Wine & Cheese Pairing with Boss Mouse Cheese

• End of Summer wine sale: 20% off bottles & 30% off cases of white and rose wine

• Fresh oysters prepared by our chefs, Jennifer & Justin

We’re clearing out some inventory to make room for our exciting new estate grown wine! Enjoy this huge discount on all of your favorites like our Pinot Grigio, Chardonnays, Riesling, and more!

We can’t wait to see you from noon-5pm and celebrate the end of summer together! The kitchen will be closed, except for wine, cheese and oysters. No ticket necessary! Sunday brunch, like usual, will be 11-3 on the 14th, 2024.

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.

Partnering with Gilchrist Farm in Suttons Bay, Jackson and Tootla are taking over creative control in the kitchen. Their goal is to help the team at Gilchrist assemble a menu that focuses on seasonal dishes, hyper-local sourcing and utilizing what is being grown at Gilchrist’s own farm off French Road. Their 15+ years of local partnerships and deep roots in the area will help take Gilchrist Farm’s menu to the next level with a new twist: farm-to-table comfort food.

“We’re focused on providing crazy good food that is approachable for our local community and visitors alike. This menu is fun, comfortable and what we feel is a true taste of Northern Michigan,” says George Brittain, who heads up Gilchrist Farm.

This menu features snacks like whitefish dip, corn ribs, smoked fish chowder and a variety of main dishes like a BLT, farmer’s cut steak and seared lake trout. Truly unique to Gilchrist Farm is a 100% Leelanau cheeseburger with ingredients only from Leelanau County and a salad that is made up completely of what is being grown in-season at their farm.

This new menu will have staples that regular diners can find comfort in, while remaining inventive, fresh and local. Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla will be changing the more seasonal items on the menu quarterly, but you can expect to get things like the Leelanau burger or local Northern Michigan whitefish (or whitefish chowder) year-round.

“Gilchrist Farm started with a mission to connect people through wine, food, and family but most importantly the land. We are incredibly fortunate to be given the opportunity to carry on these traditions and continue to explore what ‘locally sourced’ can truly be. In our first few weeks we have met some of the most kind and sincere professionals, from the farms, to the kitchen to the dining room. It’s an amazing time to be ‘up north’ and we are excited to be in a place that feels like home working with people that feel like family. Party on.” - Justin Tootla

About Gilchrist Farm

On a mission to grow and serve the best food and drink Northern Michigan has to offer, Gilchrist Farm is a farm, winery and restaurant focused on sustainable farming and warm hospitality. The location downtown Suttons Bay features wine tastings, a full lunch and dinner menu and Sunday brunch. The farm, located on South French Road, is where the team at Gilchrist is practicing regenerative farming according to the soil food web to grow both fresh produce and grape vines. These pioneering efforts will yield memorable, complex and incredibly drinkable wines unique to Northern Michigan.

Lean into summertime in northern Michigan by immersing yourself in the short-stories and tales of Ernest Hemingway.

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.

The $15 ticket includes admission, delightful sweet treats, and coffee/tea. Glasses of wine will be available to purchase. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the discussion beginning at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the discussion beginning at 7 pm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Federspiel is an educator who retired from the Midland Public Schools (where he was a teacher and administrator) and Central Michigan University (where he was a member of the History Department). He also previously served as the Executive Director of the Little Traverse Historical Society in Petoskey and as the Michigan Hemingway Society’s president for over a decade. Wayne State University Press published his two books – Little Traverse Bay: Past and Present (2014) and Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan (2010). Federspiel's Hemingway book was recognized as a Notable Book by the State Library of Michigan.

“Ernest Hemingway spent every summer in northern Michigan from birth until he went off to World War I in 1918. He then returned again for the next two summers and was married at Horton Bay in 1921. He next moved to Paris and began writing short stories set in the Michigan he knew so well. His first novel – The Torrents of Spring – was set in Petoskey. This illustrated talk focuses on the Michigan places he experienced, his family’s summer activity, and the impact this state had on him both personally and professionally.” – Mike Federspiel

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.

Exploring the Leelanau Peninsula's Wineries

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:

Good Harbor Vineyards: Located in the heart of the peninsula, Good Harbor Vineyards is known for its award winning portfolio of wines for every taste. Guests can enjoy tastings of their acclaimed Harbor Red or Fishtown White and also find it available in most grocery stores throughout the state. Fun Fact: Gilchrist Farm Winery and Good Harbor share the same winemaker, Drew Perry.

Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery: Perched atop the highest point on the peninsula, Rove Estate offers a breathtaking setting for wine enthusiasts to enjoy views of their vineyard. From crisp whites to robust reds, their wines reflect the unique characteristics of the region, making each sip memorable. Visit during sunset for an unforgettable wine-tasting experience as the sky transforms into a canvas of colors.

Shady Lane Cellars: Tucked away amidst rolling hills and lush vineyards, Shady Lane Cellars is celebrated for its elegant blaufränkisch and welcoming tasting room. This is our top recommendation!

Leelanau Cellars: With a legacy spanning over four decades, Leelanau Cellars is a cornerstone of the peninsula's wine scene. Visitors are offered to explore their extensive portfolio of wines, while watching the waves at Omena Bay. Their fruit wines stand out as fun, accessible wine that can be purchased almost anywhere in the state.

Culinary Offerings at Gilchrist Farm Winery

Now, let's turn our attention to the wine and culinary experiences at Gilchrist Farm Winery.

Local Farm-to-Table: Gilchrist Farm is committed to the farm-to-table ethos, sourcing fresh seasonal ingredients from their fields and local farms to create dishes that celebrate the flavors of the Leelanau Peninsula. From heirloom tomatoes to pasture-raised meats, each ingredient is thoughtfully selected to ensure a sustainable and flavorful culinary experience. The back page of the menu lists the farms that supply ingredients used in each dish.

Seasonal Menus: Embracing the seasons, Gilchrist Farm's menus change with the harvest, offering guests a culinary journey through the flavors of the region. Whether it's a hearty stew in autumn or a vibrant salad in summer, each dish showcases the bounty of the land in its purest form.

Excellent Wine: Each wine is crafted to enhance the true flavors of Leelanau with special respect for the varieties that thrive in this area. The wine maker, Drew Perry, has created wonderful expressions of the land for connoisseurs as well as casual drinkers. Easy drinking and complexity and are both contained in each bottle.

Commitment to Sustainability: Guided by a deep respect for the land, Gilchrist Farm is dedicated to regenerative farming for both their market garden and vineyard. This approach goes beyond organic and focuses on soil health, biodiversity, and environmental conservation. By nurturing the land and embracing the rhythms of nature, the farm creates a culinary experience that is mindful of its impact on the planet. Fun Fact: As far as we know, this is the only winery in Michigan to using regenerative farming techniques.

As you journey through the Leelanau Peninsula, be sure to savor the culinary offerings at Gilchrist Farm Winery and the other wonderful wineries of the region. From vineyard to table, each dish tells a story of passion, tradition, and the bounty of the land. Raise a glass to the spirit of exploration and discovery as you experience the culinary joys of Michigan's wine country. Cheers to the Leelanau Peninsula – where every meal is a celebration of the senses and a tribute to the beauty of nature.

Plan your trip today and explore the best of Michigan’s wine country!

A free glass of wine every time you come in is just one of the benefits we give to wine club members.

We wanted a fresh take on clubs for you wine lovers; something that made you part of our farm-to-table lifestyle. In Leelanau, we live by the seasons, taking each in turn and celebrating the small signs in nature that get us excited for the next one.

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.

WINE CLUB BENEFITS 

Complimentary Pours: When you visit, you and a guest can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine. It's as simple as informing your server that you’re a wine club member and providing your name. 

Discounts: Enjoy 15% off beverages, bottles of wine, and branded merchandise in the tasting room and online. For in-person purchases, let your server know you’re a wine club member and provide them with your name. 

Birthday Dessert and Bubbly: Join us during your birthday month and delight in a complimentary birthday dessert and a glass of bubbly. To take advantage of this benefit, let your server know that you’re a wine club member, and that it’s your birthday month! 

Early Access: Be among the first to purchase our limited edition, estate grown wines, get first dibs on holiday reservations, and get early access to ticketed events (plus 10% off!). No matter what we’re dreaming up, you’ll be the first to know (via email)!

Peak Season Reservations: Though we don’t accept reservations during the busy summer months, wine club members are the special exception. To reserve a table, simply give us a call and let us know that you’re a wine club member.