The Spring Sip & Savor has proven to be an extremely fun event. Part of the fun comes with the pajama contest! This year the fun has been increased by also having a hat contest. Check out the prizes that the wineries are offering! Keep in mind, there is also a grand prize, which is determined by popular vote of Sip & Savor ticket holders.

The grand prize includes two nights lodging at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor during any season of the year (subject to availability), dinner for two with appetizers and desert at La Becasse in Maple City, Sunday brunch for two at the Bluebird in Leland, a wood fire pizza from Hearth & Vine Cafe at Black Star Farms, perfect for lunch or light meal out on the trail.

We’ll also draw one vote at random from all those who voted for the Grand Prize winner and that lucky person will receive a pair of tickets to either the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival (Aug 21, 2010) or the Harvest Stompede Wine Trail Event (Sep 18 & 19, 2010)!

To get your taste buds excited, we have included the savory foods that the wineries are serving and any special pours that they are pairing with these selections.

Willow Vineyards will be offering a Wilted Radicchio, Endive, and Asparagus Salad served with their 2009 Baci Rose. They will be awarding a Willow Vineyard T-shirt to the Best Jungle Pajamas.

L. Mawby will be serving “not your normal” doughnut holes with their J’adore, a demi-sec sparkling wine. To the most adorable couple, they will be giving away a pair of Acorn brand pink saggy slippers for her and vineyard vines boxer shorts for him, as well as, a bottle of J’adore. L. Mawby also promises “immense amounts of fun to be had by all.”

Good Neighbor Organics will be serving Pork Loin and Mini Quiche. They will be offering a prize for the Best Night Cap.

Silver Leaf will be serving Fruit Kabobs with Pinot Gris, and will be giving the best wine themed PJs and hat Silver Leaf T-shirts.

Bel Lago will look for the “Most Eye Opening” costume or hat, and our partner, Higher Grounds, will provide a gift basket of Fair Trade coffees for the winner.  They will be serving Up North Pureed Potato Soup with Pleva Spicy Sausage with their award winning 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling.

Gill’s Pier will be serving Whitewater – A semi-sweet white table wine. Vignoles, Riesling, and Auxerrois grapes create a voluptuous wine for those who are daring enough to enjoy its sensuality. The palate is caressed with touches of honey, melon and pineapple. The sweet citrus finish is like a summer romance! Featured Food Pairing- Trish’s Dishes of Northport, Michigan will be preparing savory Quiche for the event weekend. Lizzi Lambert, owner of Haystacks, will be donating a $50.00 gift card to Haystacks for the Ugliest Flannel. For the Fancy Hat Contest we decided on the “Spirit of Leelanau” to encourage ticket holders to come up with a hat that best represents a personal creative interpretation of what Leelanau Peninsula means to them. Lizzie also will be donating gift cards for attendees the day of the event. We did this last year and our Sip & Savor ticket holders loved the added gift to the event and Haystacks saw benefits in sales that weekend as well. This has become a great community business partnership.

Sippin’ in Slippers…..what could be better? Good Harbor will pouring our summer sipper, Manitou 2007, a delightful blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Gris and pairing it with Carlson’s local whitefish pate. The winner with the most original and creative pair of slippers will receive one of our newly designed and framed posters.

Ciccone Vineyards says “Cover your bloomin’ arse! Ciccone Vineyards will be judging you on your best OLD FASHION PAJAMAS! You know bloomers, petticoats, or even those old fashion red trapdoor pajamas! We are going back in time in our Tasting Room so come and join us for a good old fashion party!” The prize will be a Ciccone Signature Wine and Food Basket. It will be filled with goodies ( award winning wine and some yummy food) and even a few surprises to be found in the basket.

Black Star Farms will be serving goat cheese and caramelized onion mini tarts with a balsamic reduction paried with their New Vintage 2009 Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay. They will be giving a $50 diniing certificate for the best bed head and hat.

Leelanau Cellars will be serving Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Pita, paired with their 2009 Baco Noir Rose.

Cherry Republic will be serving a Mexican Casserole with Sangria. The will be giving a Cherry Republic Gift Certificate for the Most “Carmen Miranda” Colorful PJ’s.

Chateau de Leelanau will be serving a Cream Puff with their 2005 Select Harvest Riesling.

Circa will be celebrating Kentucky Derby week with a Sip and Savor party out on the lawn, under the tent. We will be featuring Derby Day foods prepared by chef Phil Murray of “Phil’s On Front” and live music by the Windy Ridge Boys. Our prize, for the Most Elegant Derby Bonnet, will be provided by the area’s premier chapeau shop – Diversions!