The 2012 Spring Sip & Savor Wine Tour takes place the weekend of May 5 & 6, 2012. Below is a list of the food & wine pairings and also details on the prizes for the “Sip-o de Mayo Hat Contest” which features a prize given by every winery and a fabulous Grand Prize package for the overall winner.
The winery prizes below are awarded by the staff of each winery, but the Grand Prize is awarded by the vote of participants in the Sip & Savor tour. The winner of this will receive two nights lodging at The Homestead in Glen Arbor during any season of the year (subject to availability), dinner for two with appetizers and dessert at La Becasse in Maple City (reservation required), Sunday brunch for two at the Bluebird in Leland, a wood-fired pizza from the Hearth & Vine Cafe at Black Star Farms and a pair of tickets to any LPVA Weekend tour or the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival! We’ll also draw one vote at random from all those who voted and that lucky person will receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 Sip & Savor!
Bel Lago will be serving their 2010 Bel Lago Pinot Grigio with a Spring Minestrone Soup, a hearty chicken stock base with chick peas, orzo and fresh asparagus, spring peas, spinach, kale, new potatoes, diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts and a few ramps finished with pesto and garnished with grated Parmesan. Their hat contest will be for “Best Use of Cork” with a prize of a Higher Grounds Fair Trade Coffee Gift Basket.
Black Star Farms will offer a Taco bar and will be pairing the tacos with their Hard Apple Cider. They are looking for the “Fanciest Hat” and the prize will be a $25 gift certificate good at the Hearth and Vine Café, Arcturos Dining Room, or Tastes of Black Star Farms.
Brengeman Brothers featured wine will be their Pinot Noir Rose, paired withPolenta triangles topped with roasted garlic bruschetta. A prize of cheese from their new Creamery will be given for the “Best Vineyard Sun-Shade.”
Chateau Fontaine will dish up Chicken Enchiladas with green sauce served with their 2010 Chardonnay. Their prize of a $25 gift certificate to Chateau Fontaine will be awarded for “Best Kentucky Derby hat.”
Chateau de Leelanau will be serving Pulled Pork Tacos paired with their Solem Farm Red. Their hat contest is the “Biggest Hat” with the prize of a Chateau de Leelanau T-shirt and a pair of socks from WineSippinSocks.com.
Cherry Republic will prepare Chicken and Bean Enchiladas matched with their own cherry Sangria with fruit and their House ginger ale. The hat contest is a prize of a bottle of their Sangria and a few different varieties of their Salsas and Chips for the most Authentic Mexican hat.
Ciccone will be serving a Taco Salad paired with a Sangria featuring their house Dolcetto. They are looking for a “Fabulous Floral” hat and will award a Ciccone wine basket with Tuscan Bistro gift certificate.
Forty-Five North is presenting Pound Cake topped with Strawberry Honey Butter and paired with their newly released 2011 Rose of Cabernet Franc or Sparkling Strawberry Wine. Their contest seeks the “Most Divine Hat” for which they will award a $25 gift card to Forty-Five North.
Gills Pier will be serving Gazpacho Shooters paired with their ‘Just Unleashed’ Red. They are celebrating the 2012 Kentucky Derby and awarding a prize of a $50 gift certificate from Diversions hat store for the best “Derby Fashionista.”
Good Harbor will showcase their Trillium with a Mexican Corn Chowder. Their hat contest will be “Best Sombrero” with a 2012 Leland Wine & Food Festival poster for the winner!
Good Neighbor Organic will pair a cold Spring Chicken & Spinach Pasta Salad with their semi-sweet cider and their organic white wine. They are looking for the “Most Organic Hat, Prize: bottle of Apple Ice Wine
L. Mawby will be serving local Xylo Bistro’s Ceviche in scoop corn chips (there will be a non-shellfish alternative available) and pairing it with their ‘Wet’ Sparkling Wine. They are looking for the best hat for wearing in “Wet” weather.
Leelanau Cellars will feature their Baco Noir Rose with Quesadillas. Contest and a prize for the “Tallest Hat” Prize: A print by artist Charles Murphy of local “Tall Ship” vessels…
Longview Winery presents their Pinot Gris with with a Roasted Salmon Chowder. Their hat contest will be “Most Eye-Catching” with a prize of a Connoisseur corkscrew for the winner.
Silver Leaf is pairing their Purple Passion served as a Sangria with a classic Spanish tapas, Patatas Brava, spicy and hot potatoes with a Brava sauce to match, along with another classic, Chorizo Brazed in Red Wine. Their prize of a Silver Leaf gift certificate will be given for “La chica en un sombrero más guapo” (the woman in the most beautiful hat).
Verterra offers Spicy Pork Enchiladas with red and green sweet bell peppers paired with their Pinot Gris/Grigio. The “Most Colorful Hat” as judged by the tasting room staff will win two bottles of wine.
Willow will be serving Mexican Strawberry Crunch With Strawberry Fondue, paired with their Baci Rose. They are awarding a Willow Gift certificate with T- Shirt for the best “Animal Print Hat”!
Shady Lane & Tandem will be posted soon.
Photo credit: Ciccone Vineyards Food & Wine Pairing by explortise
I would like to know if we would be able to test/sample other wines at these wineries participating in the Sip & Savor wine tour? We like dry reds and I see mostly whites and rose type wines. Thank you.
Definitely!!
Day 1 was amazing. Getting ready to head out for day 2 how will we be notified of the winners? Anyone looking for future lodging I would recommend whaleback in!
We are posting winners to our website and Facebook on May 15th!!