Taste the Local Difference, Crystal Mountain Resort and the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association are teaming up to celebrate local food, wine and arts this summer and fall in our Get Local Giveaway. We’ll give away a pair of tickets to THREE great events celebrating local wine, food & culture! All you have to to enter is to have your email address on each of the three partners listed below: Taste the Local Difference, Crystal Mountain and the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association!

Northwest Michigan has a rich and vital harvest that sets our restaurant tables and fills our glasses. In 2010, we celebrate this harvest with a growing series of events that feature local food & beverages.

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival ~ Saturday, August 20th

A landmark celebration of the wine, food and culture of Michigan’s wine coast, featuring wines from the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City & Benzie County along with a selection of regional restaurants serving food & desserts. There’s also music and performance featuring Claudia Schmidt, Shout Sister Shout and Steppin’ In It along with regional art for show and sale and a fantastic “Fashion Is Art” contest!

More about the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival!

Taste of Michigan ~ Saturday, September 4th

Join us at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa as we celebrate the flavors of Pure Michigan. Taste Michigan wines, sample Michigan craft beers, and savor local foods and signature products from throughout the state – all while you enjoy live entertainment from The Bilhman Brothers and the company of family and friends.

More about the Taste of Michigan!

Harvest Stompede ~ Saturday & Sunday, September 10th & 11th

This popular wine wine touring weekend features a race through Leelanau’s vineyards followed by a wine tour among the 19 LPVA member wineries featuring wines and culinary delights featuring Leelanau ingredients! You can enjoy great pairings at each of the wineries and also enjoy our wine trail at harvest time!

More about the Harvest Stompede!

Partners in the 2011 Get Local Giveaway

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association is committed to providing world-class wine touring experiences on the Leelanau Peninsula in concert with other businesses and organizations in the region. Our cool-climate, Michigan wines go beautifully with food and have been gathering national and international recognition that grows every year.

Taste the Local Difference is a project of the Michigan Land Use Institute’s Food and Farming Program, which works to grow jobs, save farmland, and build healthier communities with food that’s thousands of miles fresher. The handy, glove-compartment-sized Taste the Local Difference food guides are at tourist visitor centers, stores of all sorts, libraries, farmers markets, and other popular spots throughout eight northern Michigan counties.

Crystal Mountain Resort is a family-owned year-round resort featuring championship golf, downhill slopes, and superb lodging units, dining and conference facilities. Crystal is committed to local cuisine and providing an authentic experience of our region.