Over the last week, my husband and I traveled around southern Michigan exploring several of the wineries and breweries in the area. We spent several days at the end of September/early October visiting many of the wineries of the area and wanted to review and talk about each one we visited to help others plan their future trip! Take in mind, this was during the COVID19 pandemic, so some things were different for the wineries in order to take necessary safety precautions.
Fenn Valley Winery
Fenn Valley Winery was the first winery we visited. Fenn Valley is located close to where we stayed in the Saugatuck/Douglas area of Michigan. The day we visited, it was raining so we didn't get to check out much of their large outdoor area unfortunately. Fenn Valley definitely was the most affordable winery we visited. We got 7 tastings for $10 and a huge charcuterie plate for $15. The wines at Fenn Valley were more on the sweet side, so if you prefer sweeter wines Fenn Valley would be a great place to check out! They also had wine slushees (which we didn't end up trying because the day we visited it was cold out).
Modales WineryModales Winery was the next stop on our trip. It is very close to Virtue Cider but they were closed due to rain that day. However, Modales has an amazing covered and heated outdoor patio that was perfect for the rainy day. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and are on a large amount of property. We sampled 5 wines at Modales and they also offered cider wines as well. My favorite was the blueberry cider, so crisp and refreshing and they give you nice big pours!
The next few days of our trip we spent in St. Joseph, MI. The St. Joseph area has a lot more wineries than Saugatuck, so we hit up several more when we were there. The first stop for us was Gravity winery. Gravity ended up being one of our favorites! The inside was a nice size and they had some really tasty wines. The outdoor patio is absolutely gorgeous and covered so on a rainy day you stay dry. The grounds that Gravity winery is located on is so spectacular with views of the vineyards and lake. Their prices were very reasonable and we ended up taking a bottle of our favorite blueberry wine home with us!
Red Top Winery is actually right next door to Gravity, so we decided to check it out as well. Red Top had a very unique mix of wines and ciders - including a blue wine! Most of the wineries were pretty sweet here, so if you enjoy sweet and fruity unique flavored wines (like Pina Colada and Watermelon) definitely check this place out. They had some cute outdoor chairs and tables we enjoyed sitting out on as well, but we wished the vineyard didn't have orange fencing blocking the views of the vines.
Next, we headed to Round Barn Winery. I had been to Round Barn in the past and loved the grounds and tasting room inside the barn. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the inside of the barn for tasting was closed so we ended up sitting outside. They weren't doing tastings but instead had either a dry or sweet flight to choose from with samples of 3 wines. We went Friday afternoon and it was pretty empty and we were able to relax at a table outside and had quick service. However, we went back on a Saturday and it was much more packed. There was a $5 cover charge per person to get in and we waited about 20 minutes before we were able to get a seat. There was a band on Saturday and a food truck which made it more fun and enjoyable. I recommend getting there early though if you plan on going on one of the busy weekend days. One other positive of Round Barn Winery is they are dog friendly! 
Our last stop on Friday was Dablon Vineyards. It is located on a hill and has beautiful scenery and an outdoor area. The inside has a cozy cabin-like feel. As far as wines go, this one was our favorite of the trip! Lots of great dry reds (my fave was the Cabernet/Merlot blend). We also happened to be there at Happy Hour - which went until 6pm - and wine glasses were 1/2 off! However, if you want to do a tasting, I suggest you set up a reservation in advance because they were all booked up by the time we got there.
Saturday was our last day there so we wanted to hit up a few more wineries. Our first stop that afternoon was Lemon Creek Winery. Lemon Creek is located on a huge property with a lake and apple orchard. They also have a cute little farm stand with pumpkins, apples and baked goods. Like some of the other wineries, they were also not doing tastings due to COVID, but did have an extensive lists of wine flights to choose from with 5 wines to try! We did the Dry Red Flight and absolutely loved the 2017 Malbec. The other great part of Lemon Creek winery - they have a cute dog who walks around the property and greets guests!
Tabor Hill Winery was another one of our favorites! They have an amazing outdoor area with shaded cabanas and tables for sitting. They also have an expansive property that we were allowed to explore and walk around on. There is a trail connecting Tabor Hill and Round Barn wineries that we walked back and forth on as well which was great on such a beautiful, crisp autumn day. They offered cocktails, wine and a wine flight. I tried the sweet wine flight and LOVED the Demi Red wine! Another great part of Tabor Hill is they have a delicious restaurant attached to their winery that has a full menu. Most wineries just offer snacks, but they have a full lunch and dinner menu we were able to enjoy which is great because there aren't many restaurants once you get out into wine country. This winery is also dog friendly!
Last and certainly not least, we stopped by Hickory Creek Winery before heading home! Hickory Creek had an adorable and quaint outdoor area complete with a bonfire and tire swing. Surrounded by cornfields, this winery definitely has a serene and peaceful feel to it and makes you feel like you are far away from the city feel. We tried the Hot Mulled Apple Cider Wine which was perfect for being outside on a cool fall day! Hickory Creek winery seemed less crowded and touristy than some of the other wineries which made it a must-try on our list. This winery is also dog friendly!
There were several more wineries we didn't have a chance to visit but hope to go back and see. We had an amazing time and truly enjoyed each winery for their own special and unique features. If you have any additional questions about our trip, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @elegantlyellery
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