West Michigan Leelanau Peninsua Gains Notoriety for Its Wines

Leelanau Peninsula, MI -- Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula have been producing wines since the 1960s and have consistently impressed consumers with the quality of grapes that grow in the region. Recently, however, the region has gained excelled notoriety both nationally and internationally and has seen an influx in the number of award winning wines in prestigious competitions.

Last month, the region was awarded five out of eight of the Best of Class awards at the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition held in East Lansing.

The winners included:

Sparkling: MAWBY/L Mawby Tradition

Dry White: Boathouse Vineyards 2013 "Dry Dock" Riesling

Semi-dry White: Boathouse Vineyards 2014 Semi-Sweet Riesling

Dessert: 45 North Vineyard & Winery 2013 Riesling Ice Wine (double gold)

Fruit: Chateau de Leelanau Cherry Wine (double gold)

Altogether, the region took home 11 double gold, 23 gold, 55 silver and 35 bronze medals for a total of 124 medals.

Earlier this year, Touring & Tasting magazine named the Traverse City wine region as one of three "wine regions to watch for the next 20 years" and, in a recent article in CNN, Michigan was named in one of the "top 10 up-and-coming wine regions in the world" with Leelanau Peninsula mentioned specifically. In addition, editorial content of the region is consistently popping up in prestigious magazines, such as Delta Sky and Midwest Living, and other media.

There is also an increasing number of top awards achieved by Leelanau Peninsula wineries in prestigious wine competitions including Pacific Rim, Finger Lakes Wine Competition, International Eastern Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, Tasters Guild International Wine Competition, Jefferson Cup Invitational and more.

For those who have not tasted Leelanau Peninsula wines in a while, it's a great time to explore the wines being grown in the region.

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association (LPVA) is a member-driven, winery association founded in 1998. The mission of the LPVA is to help spread the word about all the good things happening along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. The region's cool-climate wines pair well with food and have been winning an increasing number of national and international awards each and every year. The Leelanua Peninsula Wine Trail offers world-class wine touring experiences that are garnering national attention.

Since 1917, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has worked to market the very best of West Michigan to travelers. Covering the entire west side of Michigan from the Indiana border to Mackinac Island, WMTA presents information on the best attractions, lodging, events, and activities in West Michigan. For more information on this non-profit organization, visit WMTA.org.