Roost A-Frame - Leelanau Wine Trail Lodging

Wine Country Lodging

Leelanau Wine Trail Lodging

Your Home Base for Northern Michigan Wine Country

Planning a wine tasting trip to Northern Michigan? The Roost A-Frame sits on the southern edge of Leelanau wine country—with 6 wineries within 20-25 minutes and the rest of the peninsula easily accessible for day trips.

Spend your days exploring award-winning tasting rooms like Rove, Bel Lago, and Ciccone, then come home to a private hot tub, a crackling firepit, and the quiet of a wooded retreat. Combine wine tasting with Sleeping Bear Dunes (30 min away) for the ultimate Northern Michigan getaway.

📍 Your Location in Wine Country

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail features 20+ wineries spread across the peninsula. The A-Frame is positioned on the southern edge of wine country—several excellent wineries are within 20 minutes.

Closest Wineries

15-25 min drive

  • Rove Winery at Gallagher Estate ~15-20 min
  • Bel Lago Vineyard & Winery ~20 min
  • French Valley Vineyard ~20 min
  • Ciccone Vineyard & Winery ~20 min
  • Chateau Fontaine ~20 min
  • Shady Lane Cellars ~20-25 min

Suttons Bay & Northern Leelanau

35-45 min drive

  • Suttons Bay tasting rooms 45 min
  • 45 North Vineyard & Winery 40 min
  • Black Star Farms 40 min
  • Good Harbor Vineyards 35 min

Old Mission Peninsula

40-50 min drive

  • Chateau Grand Traverse 45 min
  • 2 Lads Winery 45 min
  • Peninsula Cellars 40 min

You're also just 25 min from downtown TC's wine bars.

Why Stay Here for Wine Tasting

🍷 On the edge of wine country — 6 wineries within 20-25 min
♨️ Private hot tub — Soak under the stars after tasting
🌲 Quiet wooded setting — Escape the tourist crowds
🧀 Full kitchen — Pair local cheese with your wine purchases
🔥 Firepit — Evening gatherings with a bottle from the day
💰 No resort fees — Book direct and save vs. winery B&Bs
🏖️ Combine with Sleeping Bear — 30 min to the Dunes

🗺️ Plan Your Wine Trail Trip

The A-Frame's location on the southern edge of Leelanau wine country makes it easy to tackle the wine trail in geographic loops—without backtracking or spending your whole day in the car.

Route 1: Southern Leelanau Loop

Best for: Afternoon trips, first-timers, or combining with Sleeping Bear Dunes
Drive time: 15-25 min to first stop
Wineries: 5-6

This is the closest loop to your cabin—perfect for an afternoon trip after a morning at the Dunes.

Winery Style Notes
Rove Estate Modern, food-forward Stunning hilltop views, wood-fired pizza, great rosé
Bel Lago Vineyard Estate wines, relaxed Tempranillo and Pinot Noir, vineyard views
French Valley Vineyard Small-batch, intimate Family-run, French-style wines
Ciccone Vineyard Italian varietals Yes, Madonna's family—try the Dolcetto
Chateau Fontaine Classic Michigan wines Beautiful grounds, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay
Shady Lane Cellars Cool-climate specialists Historic fieldstone tasting room, excellent Riesling

Suggested route: Start at Rove for the views and lunch, then work your way to Bel Lago → Ciccone → Chateau Fontaine → Shady Lane. Head back to the cabin or grab dinner in Lake Ann.

Pro tip: This loop pairs perfectly with a morning at Sleeping Bear Dunes—hit the Dune Climb or Esch Beach, then start your wine tour around 1-2pm.

Route 2: Suttons Bay & Northern Leelanau Loop

Best for: Full-day wine trips, walkable tasting
Drive time: 45 min to Suttons Bay
Wineries: 6-8

The heart of Leelanau wine country. Suttons Bay has multiple walkable tasting rooms plus great restaurants.

Winery Style Notes
45 North Vineyard Sparkling & still Named for the 45th parallel, excellent sparkling wines
Black Star Farms Full experience Cheese cave, tasting room, café, inn—plan extra time
Chateau de Leelanau Suttons Bay tasting room Walkable downtown, wines and hard ciders
L. Mawby / Mawby Sparkling Sparkling only Michigan's premier sparkling wine producer
Good Harbor Vineyards Northern Leelanau Great Riesling, scenic drive north
Leelanau Cellars Large selection One of the original Leelanau wineries

Suggested route: Drive to Suttons Bay first. Start at 45 North or Black Star Farms, then walk the downtown tasting rooms. Lunch at Martha's Leelanau Table. Afternoon: head north to Good Harbor or Leelanau Cellars, or south to L. Mawby for sparkling.

Pro tip: Make reservations for Black Star Farms cheese cave experience—it books up.

Route 3: Old Mission Peninsula

Best for: Variety, different terroir
Drive time: 40-50 min via Traverse City
Wineries: 6-8

A separate peninsula east of Traverse City with 11 wineries. Different soil, different climate, different wines—worth a day trip.

Winery Style Notes
Chateau Grand Traverse Large, established Michigan's first Riesling vinifera, great views
2 Lads Winery Cool-climate reds Sparkling wines and Pinot Noir specialists
Peninsula Cellars Rustic charm Tasting room in a 1896 one-room schoolhouse
Bowers Harbor Vineyards Broad selection Historic property, beautiful grounds
Bonobo Winery Modern, minimal Clean wines, great architecture
Mari Vineyards Italian influence Underground caves, Tuscan-inspired

Suggested route: Take M-72 to Traverse City, then head north on Center Road (M-37). Work your way up the peninsula, stopping at 2-3 wineries each direction. Lunch at Jolly Pumpkin (bay views) or Bonobo.

Pro tip: Old Mission Peninsula is narrower and more concentrated than Leelanau—you can easily hit 4-5 wineries without much driving.

📅 3-Day Wine Country Itinerary

Day 1

Sleeping Bear Dunes + Southern Leelanau

  • AM Dune Climb or Empire Bluff Trail (25-30 min from cabin)
  • Lunch Art's Tavern in Glen Arbor or pizza at Rove
  • PM Southern Leelanau loop (Rove → Bel Lago → Ciccone → Shady Lane)
  • Eve Hot tub at the cabin, open a bottle from the day
Day 2

Suttons Bay Full Day

  • Drive To Suttons Bay (45 min)
  • AM Black Star Farms (cheese cave + tasting), 45 North
  • Lunch Martha's Leelanau Table or Boone's in Suttons Bay
  • PM Downtown tasting rooms, then L. Mawby for sparkling
  • Eve Dinner in Traverse City or back at the cabin
Day 3

Old Mission or Relaxation

  • Option A Old Mission Peninsula wine tour (40-50 min)
  • Option B Kayaking, beach day, or nature preserve trails
  • PM Pick up bottles at your favorite winery from Days 1-2

🚐 Don't Want to Drive? Book a Wine Tour

Several companies offer guided wine tours with pickup in Traverse City (25 min from the cabin). They handle the driving, reservations, and route planning—you just show up and taste.

Wonderland Tours

4-6 hour custom tours, luxury SUVs, pickup from accommodations

Grand Traverse Tours

Mercedes shuttles, both peninsulas, private and join-in options

Magic Shuttle Bus

Group tours, party-friendly, 4-5 wineries per tour

Blue Lakes Private Wine Tours

Family-owned, groups 2-56, customizable

TC Wine Girl

Private VIP tours, personal chauffeur

Up North Tours

Comfortable vans, snacks included

Pricing: Most tours run $100-200/person for 4-5 hour experiences. Private tours for groups of 6+ often work out to $80-100/person.

Pro tip: Book tours that pick up in downtown Traverse City—it's just 25 min from the cabin, and you can grab dinner downtown after.

Full list of tour companies →

🎉 Wine Trail Events (Book Early—They Sell Out)

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail hosts several ticketed events throughout the year. These are popular with locals and visitors alike—tickets often sell out weeks in advance.

Event When What to Expect
Sips & Soups Late January Wine + soup pairings at each winery. $35/ticket includes tastings + $10 "Cork Cash"
Snow on the Vines February Winter wine event, cozy tasting rooms
Wine & Cheese March Wine paired with artisan cheeses
Spring Sip & Savor May Kick off the season with food pairings
Harvest Days All September Wine club benefits at all wineries—complimentary tastings, discounts
Hunt for the Reds of October October Red wine focus, fall colors
Toast the Season Early November Holiday food + wine pairings, wineries decorated with lights

Pro tip: Harvest Days (September) is the best value—one ticket gets you wine club member benefits at every winery all month long.

Check event dates and buy tickets →

📚 Wine Trail Resources

Resource Link What It's For
Interactive Wine Map lpwines.com/regional-wine-map Plan your route, see all 25 wineries
Official Wine Trail Site lpwines.com Winery profiles, hours, events
Events Calendar lpwines.com/upcoming-events Wine trail events and ticket sales
Wine Transportation lpwines.com/wine-transportation Tour companies, group transportation
Trip Planning lpwines.com/plan-your-trip Lodging, dining, things to do

🏡 The Cabin

Roost A-Frame exterior
Private hot tub Outdoor firepit

Roost A-Frame

A cozy A-frame cabin tucked in the woods near Lake Ann. Perfect for couples or a double date—sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms. Unwind in the private hot tub after a day of wine tasting, gather around the firepit with a bottle from your travels, and explore the 200-acre nature preserve right out the back door.

Amenities

  • Private Hot Tub
  • Outdoor Firepit
  • Full Kitchen
  • High-Speed WiFi
  • Smart TV
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • Nature Preserve Access
View Full Property Details

Book Your Wine Country Getaway

6 wineries within 20-25 minutes. Private hot tub. Firepit. Sleeping Bear Dunes 30 minutes away. The perfect Northern Michigan escape.

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Best price guaranteed when you book direct

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