Click the photos for a bigger view and if you have any of the winners below to share, email them to us at info@lpwines.com. Thanks to everyone who participated in Sip & Savor.

Our Grand Prize is awarded by the vote of participants in the Sip & Savor tour, and the winner 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!!

The winner is (drum roll please) Fred Hamilton of Bay City, MI. Congratulations Fred – enjoy your prize and save a glass of Fred’s Private Reserve for us! Fred writes:

“Surprised was not the word for it when we found out that “Fred’s Private Reserve” was the Grand Prize Winner, we were elated and excited, There were a lot of great hats out there and we never expected to win, we just got in for the fun and it was FUN!!! Just wish there were more prizes to go around to some of the other people who worked hard on their hats.

Thanks to lpwines and all the people who voted for us.”

We also drew one random entry from all those who voted and that lucky person is John G of South Lyon, MI. Congratulations John, you will receive a pair of tickets to the 2013 Sip & Savor!

Individual Winery Winners (more will be added as we know them)

Bel Lago featured “Best Use of Cork” with a prize of a Higher Grounds Fair Trade Coffee Gift Basket, and the winner was our Grand Prize Winner.

Chateau de Leelanau was looking for the “Biggest Hat” and Jan-al Robinson (our Sip & Savor overall winner from 2009) will receive the prize of a Chateau de Leelanau T-shirt and a pair of socks from WineSippinSocks.com.

Chateau Fontaine  awarded a $25 gift certificate to Chateau Fontaine for the “Best Kentucky Derby hat” to Cynthia C, pictured left in her Bluebird hat.

Forty-Five North was seeking the “Most Divine Hat and the prize of a $25 gift card to Forty-Five North was won by a member of the Holly A party.

Good Harbor was looking for the “Best Sombrero” and Brad J will take home a 2012 Leland Wine & Food Festival poster.

Good Neighbor Organic was looking for the “Most Organic Hat” and Shannon H will receive a bottle of their Organic Apple Ice Wine.

L. Mawby served their ‘Wet’ Sparkling Wine and picked WINNER’S hat as the best hat for wearing in “Wet” weather.

Longview Winery was looking for the “Most Eye-Catching” hat with a prize of a Connoisseur corkscrew, and their eye was caught by our Grand Prize winner!

Silver Leaf selected a member of the Kevin D party as “La chica en un sombrero más guapo” (the woman in the most beautiful hat).

Verterra sought the “Most Colorful Hat” with a prize of two bottles of wine, and their tasting room staff selected a perennial Sip & Savor power, former Grand Prize winner Jan-Al Robinson!

Willow will award a Willow Gift certificate with T- Shirt to Anthony W for the best “Animal Print Hat.”

Enjoy this slideshow and please share your photos in our Leelanau Wine Flickr group or on our Facebook page!

Never ones to turn down an opportunity to head north and drink fantastic Michigan wine, Audrey and I gladly accepted.

In an effort to introduce even more people to the great wine Michigan has to offer, we decided to invite some friends who had never gone wine tasting in Michigan to join us. It’s always fun to introduce new people to Michigan wine, and see their eyes light up when they realize how good it is.

Read on for their favorite wines, tasting rooms, new tasting rooms and a full photo gallery!

Also be sure to check Accommodations & Lodging and Bed & Breakfasts in our Leelanau Touring Guide!

Best Western Four Seasons
Relax in a single queen or king deluxe room at the Best Western with your own personal 2-1/2 person rated jetted tub, non-smoking only, complete with microwave, mini-refrigerator, DVD player, iron/ironing board, coffee/tea maker, and hair dryer.  Included is our 24 hour 11 ft. deep indoor heated pool, complimentary hot breakfast with free room service.  This two night (Friday & Saturday) package with two tickets to this fun event is just $390 plus tax.  Call 888-499-3060 to reserve.

Cambria Suites
The Cambria Suites of Traverse City will tempt you at this year’s Harvest Stompede event on September 7th and 8th.  They will be offering a two night package for $438.00 which will include (2) two couples tickets per room. Call (231) 778-9000 to make your reservation!

Comfort Inn
The Comfort Inn Harvest Stompede package includes lodging on Friday and Saturday nights, tickets for (2) to the wine trail event, and a delicious hot breakfast each morning. The package price is $370 + tax for a room with 2 queen beds, or $398 + tax for a King jacuzzi room. Add Sunday night for only $60!

Econo Lodge of Traverse City
The newly renovated Econo Lodge of Traverse City offers Harvest Stompede participants a rate of $218.00 + tax for a two night stay for two adults, plus two Harvest Stompede tickets and a special gift at check in. Guests have their choice of rooms with one king bed or two queen beds. Rooms with spa tubs are available on a first come first served basis.  Add a night to your stay for just $49.95 + tax.  To receive this rate, reservations must be made directly by calling 231-943-3040.  Additional event tickets are available for sale for more than two adults per room. We are located on the southwest side of Traverse City at Chums Corners.  Guests who cancel their package after one week before the event may be responsible for the cost of the wine tour tickets.

Leelanau Boat Club
Come stay with Nature’s Rentals for the Harvest Stompede wine tour this Fall. Memorable packages include 2 nights lodging, 2 tickets to the Harvest Stompede wine event and a $10.00 Cherry Republic gift certificate. The perfect place to relax whether you choose to compete in the race or the wine tour or both! Packages start at $350.00 plus tax.

Nature’s Rentals
Come stay with Nature’s Rentals for the Harvest Stompede wine tour this Fall. Memorable packages include 2 nights lodging, 2 tickets to the Harvest Stompede wine event and a $10.00 Cherry Republic gift certificate. The perfect place to relax whether you choose to compete in the race or the wine tour or both! Packages start at $350.00 plus tax.

Visit Up North Vacation Rentals
Visit Up North Vacation Rentals can help you find a great home or condo for during the Harvest Stompede. Different options available, subject to availability:

1 bedroom/1 bathroom condo, 2 nights, 2 people max, 2 Stompede tickets, 1 bottle of local wine, total cost $280.
2 bedroom/1 bathroom cottage, 2 nights, 4 people max, 4 Stompede tickets, 1 bottle of local wine, total cost $470.
3 bedroom/2 bathroom home, 2 nights, 6 people max, 4 Stompede tickets, 2 bottles of local wine, total cost $500.

Traverse Bay Inn
Enjoy this great FALL Leelanau Peninsula Wine Event and treat your selves to great accommodations at the Traverse Bay Inn.  Third Night FREE when staying two nights, can’t stay the third night?  Just plan on a leisurely morning and a late check out on your departure day.  Just $348.00 + taxes for a King Jacuzzi Suite, first come first serve, when they are gone Fireplace or Queen Suites will be available.  Package Includes: Two Nights Lodging for two PLUS the Third Night FREE if you like.  Complimentary bottle of our Private Label Champagne and two souvenir glasses along with a couples Harvest Stompede ticket! Only available by calling 800-968-2646 or 231-938-2646.

Vintage Earth Beach House
As summer slowly turns toward fall, Vintage Earth Beach House invites you to enjoy the beauty that welcomes you to the sandy shores of Leelanau County.  Join us for your private waterfront group lodging, right in the heart of the wine tour and Harvest Stompede events. Wine tour event tickets are included.  The Beach House accommodates your group of up to fifteen participants, prices starting at $89 per person, per night.  Call 231-866-1877 to reserve!

Cherry Tree Inn & Suites
Enjoy the top-rated on-water hotel with our Harvest Stompede Festival package, which includes a two-night stay in any of our 18 room types, one couple’s ticket to the event, a box of locally-made chocolate truffles, and all the 5-star amenities the Cherry Tree Inn & Suites offers, including our brand new bay-side heated outdoor pool and spa. Stomp away and enjoy a Traverse City stay at the best – Cherry Tree Inn & Suites. Packages start at $352 for the two-night package. Call (877) 778-8999 to reserve today!

Photo: Harvest Stompede by lpwines

That’s just one of the quotes from a great video on the panel at our annual Media Weekend. The video was produced by Michigan by the Bottle.

For Small Plates, our 8 participating wineries will offer a full glass of wine with a well-presented and substantial tapas dish in their tasting rooms. You can purchase tickets to any or all of the three seatings (roughly 6-7, 7-8 and 8-9). Our tickets are limited and this event has sold out

Many of our wineries work with chefs to prepare and serve the pairing, and the event is designed to be a high-class food offering, catering to culinary aficionados.

Read all about Small Plates and the pairings right here!

The photo is by Kathleen Swinehart and you can see a click for a slideshow from Small Plates 2011!

We are incredibly proud of our member wineries who entered wines at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition this week!  This year’s event broke a lot of records: 3200+ wines were entered, 22 countries represented, including all 50 United States and 6 Canadian Provinces!

Out of the four Best of Show categories, the Leelanau Peninsula wineries stole the show, winning two of the four!  Major congrats to Chateau Fontaine for winning the prestigious John Rose Award for Best Riesling with their 2011 Dry White Riesling and Black Star Farms for taking home the Crystal Grape Award for Best Ice Wine with their 2008 A Capella Ice Wine.

 By the end of the competition, a total of 18 medals were awarded to Leelanau Peninsula wineries, including four Gold Medals, seven Silver Medals, and five Bronze Medals. 

Here are the detailed results:

Best Ice Wine       Black Star Farms     A Capella Ice Wine      2008

Best Riesling       Chateau Fontaine     Dry White Riesling      2011

GOLD      Black Star Farms       Arcturos Riesling       2010

GOLD      Black Star Farms       Arcturos Cabernet Franc       2010

GOLD      Blustone Vineyards       Pinot Grigio     2011

GOLD      Verterra Winery      Pinot Noir  Rose        2011

SILVER      Black Star Farms       Arcturos Dry Riesling       2010

SILVER      Blustone Vineyards       Pinot Noir       2010

SILVER      Blustone Vineyards       Winemaker’s Red        2010

SILVER      Verterra Winery       Chaos White Cuvee       2011

SILVER      Verterra Winery       Gewurztraminer-Medium Sweet       2011

SILVER      Verterra Winery       Pinot Grigio       2011

SILVER      Verterra Winery       Reserve Red       2010

BRONZE     Silver Leaf Vineyard & Winery       Chafia Cherry       2011

BRONZE     Verterra Winery       Gewurztramner       2011

BRONZE     Verterra Winery       Pinot Blanc      2011

BRONZE     Verterra Winery       Reserve Chardonnay       2010

BRONZE     Verterra Winery       Un-Oaked Chardonnay       2011

See the 2012 competition results in their entirety here: http://www.fliwc.com/results/2012results.asp

IEWC chief judge Linda Murphy commented “The quality of wines from the East and Midwest has increased tremendously in the last decade, as has the number of wineries producing them.”

Leelanau wineries performed well:

Chateau Fontaine won Best of Class and a Double Gold medal for their 2011 Pinot Blanc. They also won gold for their 2011 Dry Riesling.

Leelanau Cellars received a Best of Class and a gold medal for their 2010 Late Harvest Riesling.

The LPVA’s Black Star Farms also took home a double gold for their 2010 Arcturos Riesling, made with grapes from the Old Mission AVA.