Ciccone Vineyard
and Winery is a
breathtaking place.

A family owned vineyard on the slopes of the Leelanau Peninsula, where the vines grow through clay and sandy loam soils to produce wines expressive of the site.

Our wines are estate bottled using techniques and dedication to assure exceptional quality.

Vineyard

Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan. USA

Planted in 1996, Ciccone Vineyard consists of 14 acres planted in Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Dolcetto, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat, Malbec, Foch and DeChaunac The vines are rooted in soil characteristic of the region, primarily clay and sandy loam. Most of our vineyards face west, benefiting from the long summer days.

Lake Michigan, to our west, and west Grand Traverse Bay to our east, moderate extreme hot and cold temperatures, and the hills produce a natural downdraft which circulates the air over the water and brings it back to the land. In the winter, the downdraft brings back snow which protects the vines from the cold. The lake effect is beneficial to the vineyard because it delays early blossoming, as well as first frost which minimizes damage to the blossoms.

Lake Michigan moderates extreme hot and cold temperatures.

The vineyard is handled through the change of each season with spring pruning to restrict yields, and summer de-leafing and crop thinning to assure maximum fruit ripening. Soil health is maintained by restricting yields, fertilizing, and maintaining native grasses between rows to maintain moisture and prevent erosion.

Hours

December - March,  Saturdays Only 12-5pm

April and May, Thursday - Sunday 12-5pm

June to October, Daily 12-6pm

November Thursday - Sunday 12-5pm

These days and hours are subject to change. Please call ahead.

A few guidelines to help your visit go smoother:

1. Ciccone Vineyards does charge a small fee for our Tasting Club. It is $5 for our Signature Logo Wine Tasting Glass and that will include our wine tasting flight. This usually consist of five different wine tastings. We have chosen four of the five tastings for you, and you may choose the last tasting in the flight. In general, our wines are fruit forward, but dry. We encourage you to taste, and you may be surprised to find you like a style of wine you normally wouldn't taste. You do get to keep your glass at the end of the flight, and when you return at anytime with your glass your tasting is free.

2. We have a decent size tasting room but when a full bar on a busy day can get a little overwhelming for our customers and for our staff. So please any groups over 10, we would love if you could call ahead to find the status of our tasting room. Also we understand family vacations have to be split between children's activities and adult activities - children are welcome but NO ONE UNDER 21 is allowed at the bar. However, the children are able to sit elsewhere in our Tasting Room with a book, crayons or their video games.

3. Our Tasting Room staff is educated in the wine, our history and property and in order to share that information with you, please refrain from using your cell phones during your flight.

The wines are made using traditional techniques under the direction of winemaker, Tony Ciccone, all the fruit is hand picked and sorted. Tony embraces the "European" style of wine, and most of Ciccone Vineyard wines are dry and off-dry. For the customers preferring late harvest Riesling, we hope to have this available in 2012, but the Ice Wine is currently unavailable. There are two dessert wines - one is made of Balaton cherry, and the other is a fortified port-style wine.

Marcale Alexander
- Wedding and Events Coordinator