Sugarland Cellars in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

15 October 202022 September 2024

It was a beautiful day to enjoy wine during our vacation to Gatlinburg, so my sister and I decided to make the short drive to Sugarland Cellars. Located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, this winery is easy to find on the main strip of town.

Surrounded by beautiful oak wine barrels and strategically placed wine tasting counters, we couldn’t wait to try some of the sweet wines that the winery has to offer.

Kassaundra was our wine expert, helping us decide which wines to sample and she suggested the 12 sample flight. Staring with the dry wines, we sampled the Greenbrier, a blend of Riesling and DeBlanc grapes, available for $19 per bottle.

The Hellbender was our second dry wine, a blend of of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. This was one of my favorite wines selling at $21 for a bottle. I picked one up to enjoy later.

The LeConte, named for one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ highest peaks is a Chambourcin, most common in the cooler climates. This wine is available for $18 per bottle.

Made from the Muscat grapes, the Martha Jane Rose is one of two semi-sweet options for $18 per bottle and the other is the Baskins Creek Blanc.

Three sweet wines wrap up our tasting with the Cherry-Kee made from local cherries, the Wiley Oakley from local blueberries and concord grapes and the Mountain Laurel from the muscadine grape, most commonly grown in this area sold at $18 per bottle.

We added a couple of additional bottles of the Cherry-Kee and Wiley Oakley wines so that we could sip them while enjoying the Smoky Mountain view from our rental’s spacious balcony.

Have you visited Sugarland Cellars winery in Gatlinburg? Did you visit their wine production location as well? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

Many thanks for reading about my wine tasting in Gatlinburg and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to Do and Where to Go:

Sugarland Cellars Winery
634 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865 325 1110

Treating Ourselves in Traverse City

23 April 201921 September 2024

Traverse City’s charm is in its shops, restaurants and scenic shoreline. We picked up the local publication, “Northern Express” for the most recent events and up-to-date information. With so many options, we decided first to eat lunch and Grand Traverse Pie Company was our unanimous vote.

Michigan is known for its cherries, so it would only make sense to stop by the Grand Traverse Pie Company for a slice of cherry pie. We were surprised to find over 50 flavors of pie in addition to a few other dessert options.

GT Pie Company’s menu was extensive to include dishes from breakfast to dinner. With a so many great options, we each placed our orders for soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Among the eight of us, we decided on the Grand Traverse Chicken Salad, Cherrywood BLT, Chicken Focaccia and Lighthouse Turkey Cheddar Sandwich. The meals were fresh and delicious served with either coleslaw or blueberry applesauce.

Leaving room for dessert, we decided to order their signature Cherry Pie (perfect….not too sweet and not too tart), Blueberry Pie (with a crumble on top), ABC Pie (apple, blueberry and cherry) and Peanut Butter Cups.

Our meals and dessert were amazing so we found ourselves stopping by a couple more times during our vacation, even if it was only to pick up a pie or two.

Another great reason to add Grand Traverse Pie Company to your list of restaurants to visit is that they partner with local farmers for the fruit that goes into their delicious pies. They are also involved in several projects that give back to their community, which makes them pretty amazing. Check out their website to learn more about the charities they sponsor.

Another company that supports local farmers is Cherry Republic. This great store perfectly represents Michigan’s designation as the Cherry Capital of the US. With its humble beginnings to its claim of being the “most exclusive retailer of cherry food creations”, Cherry Republic was a mandatory stop on our tour of downtown Traverse City.

But to be honest, what we couldn’t resist were all of the samples that were available throughout the store . From cherry salsa to cherry chews, cherry wine and cherry sodas, we were in cherry heaven. We left with quite a few souvenirs and gifts to take back home.

The staff were extremely helpful with any questions and suggestions on what to purchase. We left with several products and enjoyed lunch at their wonderful café. I loaded up on the salsa and cider, perfect gifts for friends and family back home. Of course we had to make a second stop because we ran out of chips and cherry salsa midway through the week.

Cherry Republic is a wonderful success story with its start as a t-shirt business in 1989. Branching out to four locations in Michigan, the store sells over 200 types of cherry products. You can read more about the company on their website and revel in their accomplishments, which includes a flourishing catalog and online business as well. Visit their website to place an order or request a catalog.

According to its website, most of Cherry Republic’s produce comes from its own backyard, the Leelanau peninsula. And if that wasn’t enough, the company has established programs that have given back over $600,000 to charitable causes in northern Michigan.

After having lunch at Grand Traverse Pie Company and trying samples at Cherry Republic, we needed some time to walk off the calories. It was such a beautiful day and there were several shops that we found interesting. Downtown Grand Traverse is such a quaint, friendly town and we stopped by the Visitor’s Center for a map and suggestions on what to see while we were here.

One of my favorite places to visit was Nest. Described as a home interiors and furnishings boutique, we enjoyed all of the designs and merchandise on display. The décor is said to be “Up North Chic” and “Modern Cottage” and I loved all of the unique home goods and decorations.

Not only are the products fabulous, but the building in itself is artistic and appealing. The original brick walls display the fabulous artwork and the refurbished 1800’s tin ceiling was absolutely stunning.

What we love about Nest is that they have an online store. With so many great products, this is the perfect way to shop from home and search for updated items for your home. Just visit their website.

Michigan’s Traverse City is a great way to see the local flavors of Michigan as well as to taste them. If you have already visited this beautiful part of Michigan and want to bring back some of those fabulous memories, shop the online stores of Grand Traverse Pie Company, Cherry Republic and Nest. You can also check out “Traverse City in a Box” for additional selections as well.

If you have visited Traverse City or Grand Traverse, Michigan, what were some of your most memorable moments? Did you try some of the state’s local offerings? I would love to hear what you would suggest the next time we visit Michigan if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my adventures in Traverse City, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 West Front STreet
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 922 7437

Cherry Republic
154 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 932 9205

Nest of Grand Traverse
218 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 946 0232

Where to Eat:

amical
929 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 941 8888

It was time for lunch and I wanted something light to tie me over for dinner. The French Onion soup with Jumbo Lump Crab Meat was a perfect combination. The crabcakes were served with a sweet chili aioli sauce which had a little heat so I needed a nice local Pinot Grigio from Good Harbor Winery in Leland, Michigan.

What to Eat:

Bell’s Oberon beer
Blueberries
Boston Cooler – ginger ale and vanilla ice cream float
Cherries
Chipati – salad made of lettuce, mushrooms, cheese and peppers stuffed in a pita
Cider and Doughnuts
Cudhigi – spicy Italian sandwich
Deep Dish Pizza
Detroit Street Brick – aged goat’s milk cheese and green peppercorns
Double Baked Rye Bread
Faygo Pop
Hot Fudge Cream Puffs
Mackinac Island Fudge
Packzi (pronounced Punch-key) – Polish donut stuffed with jam
Pasty – hand made pies filled with meat
Whitefish

What to Read:

Blameless; A Novel, by Lisa Reardon
Two, Two Lily-White Boys, by Geoffrey Clark

Photo Guide to Traverse City:

Bijou by the Bay movie theater
Cherries
Cherry Bowl Drive In
Gallagher’s Farm Market Produce and Barn
Glen Haven Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Grand Traverse Pie Company
Lads Winery
North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Tall Ships along the Lake
Vineyards of Black Star Farms

Entering Grand Traverse Pie Company

Peanut Butter Cup Dessert, Grand Traverse Pie Company

One of the many delicious pies we ordered from Grand Traverse Pie Company! Is that the state of Michigan in the center?

Wining Down in Old Mission, Michigan

9 April 201921 September 2024

Did you know that Michigan is not only known for its production of cherries, but also its wine? I took the day to explore the Old Mission region of Michigan to visit their wineries and started my afternoon at Black Star Farms.

Black Star Farms has three tasting rooms located near Traverse City and two wine processing facilities. I browsed through the charming gift shop to wait for a space at the tasting bar in search of a wine to bring back home.

Sparkling Fruit Wine: Black Star Farms Hard Apple Cherry Cider: Bubbly with crisp apple & cherry; $12 per bottle
Fruit and Sweet Wine: 2013 Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling, Rich apricot, pear and honeysuckle notes $17.50 per bottle
Sweet Red Wine: Artisan – Fruit driven with very soft tannins; $13.50 per bottle
Dessert Wine: Sirius Raspberry Dessert Wine – excellent!!! $27.50 per bottle
Dry White Wine: 2013 Arcturos Pinot Noir Rose: Bright & fresh berry fruit notes; $13.50 per bottle
Dry Red Wine: 2012 Arcturos Pinot Noir, peppery; bright berry nose delicately touched with spicy oak; $25.00
2012 Vintners Select: Rich dark fruit flavors and a hint of cocoa and spice $25.00
2012 Arcturos Cabernet Franc: Raspberry & blackberry with herbal spicy oaks $28.50 per bottle

Recommended: Red House Red – fruit driven with layered flavors and hints of oak; $14.50 per bottle

A Premium Flight included 5 wines from the regular list, 1 from the Reserve List and a complimentary wine glass. There were quite a few wine selections from which to choose. A Reserve Tasting included 2 selections of their more expensive wines for $5. For $5, Black Star Farms offered a sample of their dessert wine. I decided on trying their Ice Wine Sample Tasting for $5, which included the 2013 A Capella Ice Wine. The grapes for this wine were frozen on the vine and then picked and immediately pressed. This process results in an extremely concentrated dessert wine exploding with the flavors of ripe fruit, exotic flowers and subtle spices. It could be purchased for $92.50 per bottle.

Before continuing on to my next winery, I realized it would be best if I ordered something to eat at Black Star Farms’ Hearth & Vine Cafe and decided on the Arugula Pizza. While I would have preferred to have ordered the Cured Meats and Aged Cheese Board, the serving size would have been more than enough food for at least two guests.

Driving further north on the Old Mission Wine Trail, I found another highly recommended winery, the Chateau Chantal. Charming wine barrels posed at the entrance and fabulous views of the vineyard from the tasting room added to the experience of tasting some of the best wines Michigan has to offer.

I was greeted by the Sommelier (pronounced So-Mo-Yare), who recommended a few wines after learning that I love the dry reds and fruity locals. For only $3 I had the option to choose five wines or for the same price I could have opted for the pre-designed flight. The wines I chose included: Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc, Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider (new), Cherry Wine, Last Harvest Riesling and Nice Red.

At the time of my tasting, there were twenty-four wines as well as six brandies and dessert wines. My first choice was the Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2012 retailing at $26 per bottle. It was described as “rich with red berry flavors and is robust but not aggressive”. My next selection was a new product listed as a semi dry wine, the Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider. It was created from Michigan Golden Delicious and Gala apples. It was such a light tasting wine and not as dry as I had expected. I bought a bottle to enjoy that evening which cost me only $12.

Wine Sample number three was Cherry Wine, which was appropriate as Michigan is the Cherry Capitol of the Nation. I had to buy a bottle of this to enjoy at a later date, especially for hanging out by the pool on a hot day. This wine was another great buy for only $10. The winery suggests having this wine with pork, chicken, beef, salads and sunny days.

Before ending my tasting with the Nice Red, I selected the Late Harvest Riesling ($16). I was drawn to this wine by the description it was given…it is “sweet, but it has something a lot of sweet wines don’t have – acidity to give it backbone and structure. The nose is lively lime, honeysuckle & Gala apples. The palate is light-bodied but the fruit & acidity are lively & the sugar & alcohol give a little viscosity to it”. They suggest drinking this wine with spicy Asian dishes and fruited desserts.

My last wine was the Nice Red ($10), which was served chilled. It is a “fruity, semi-sweet wine made from a blend of the first red grapes.” It was an excellent selection to round out my tasting and I learned that it could be served with most any type of food…I had to buy a bottle. Three fabulous wines for just a little over $30.

I was sad to leave Chateau Chantal, but I had made plans for lunch. Just as customary with most wineries, the venue can be rented out for special occasions and events. In addition there is a bed and breakfast on the grounds, perfect for a long weekend stay.

What do you think of the wineries in Michigan? I would love to hear your recommendations or to hear about your experience at Black Star Farms or Chateau Chantal. Please leave a message below in the comments section. Many thanks for reading about my visit to some of the amazing wineries in Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Black Star Farms
360 McKinley Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone: 231 944 1270

Hours of operation are seasonal, so check out the website to confirm when the winery is open.

Visit the Heart and Vine cafe for simple meals which are absolutely delicious!

Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone: 231 223 4110

Hours of operation are seasonal, visit the website to confirm when the winery is open.

The Vineyard at Black Star Farms

The Wine Press at Chateau Chantal