Elvis is alive and well and ready to celebrate the holidays with us! Buy tickets for the Toast the Season event and head to Gill’s Pier to visit with the King himself! November 7th & 8th and 14th & 15th. If tickets sell out, Elvis will still be sipping wine and singing songs so drop by anyway!

Family

Gill’s Pier winery was founded in 2002 by Kris and Ryan Sterkenburg. The Sterkenburg’s relocated from Milwaukee Wisconsin with a dream to grow grapes and start a family-owned boutique winery.

Kris runs the tasting room and is in charge of the daily functions of the business, Ryan is the vineyard manager, and the whole family works in the vineyard including the children, Samantha and Jacob.

History

The 4-acre vineyard was planted in the spring of 2002 with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. In 2010, the vineyard will be planted with another two acres of Riesling, Regent & Dornfelder.

The elegant tasting room (you have to see what can be done with a pole barn!) was opened to the public in 2003. The tasting room is open May until October daily and Saturdays in the winter.

Bryan Ulbrich is Gill’s Pier’s award winning winemaker with 10 years+ of experience making Michigan wines. Our wines continue to achieve top awards in state, national and international competitions.