Northwest Lower Michigan’s features stand out to visitors: majestic pines and hardwoods on sandy hills with beaches and fresh water all around. The region’s soils, terrain, and weather form an ideal fruit and wine-grape growing region. This rural beauty makes it a “must come back” for any nature, food, and wine lover—there is a burgeoning sustainable small-farming community here and each year more superb restaurants open as a stream of leading chefs flows into the area.

People, Places, Things

• Riesling wines—A number of award-winning Rieslings are produced by vineyards on the Old Mission or Leelanau peninsulas, exemplified most recently by Robert Parker’s praise of Left Foot Charley Winery.
• Dried tart cherries—Culinary staples in the Northern Michigan pantry. Available along with tart cherry concentrate in most grocery stores and farm markets.
• Cheeses—A wedge of Aged Raclette cheese from the Leelanau Cheese Company, made with local milk and each batch hand crafted with great care. Received Best of Show at the 2007 American Cheese Society.
• Fish—Lake Michigan whitefish or lake perch fillets are served broiled at any good local restaurant.
• Black sweet cherries—Locally grown, these cherries are freshly picked and washed and can be found at road stands and farms in July.