Manitou Beach aims to become Michigan’s wine tasting hub

Manitou Beach Village is rolling out a walkable wine-and-shopping concept that links local boutiques with tasting rooms from Michigan wineries. The effort is meant to boost tourism, draw overnight stays, and position the lakeside village as a new destination in the Irish Hills.

Why it matters: - Manitou Beach Village is trying to turn a small lakeside community into a tourism draw built around wine tasting, shopping and dining. - The plan is meant to keep visitors in town longer, support local businesses and strengthen the Irish Hills region as a leisure destination. - The concept is designed to give Manitou Beach a distinct identity in Michigan’s tourism market.

What happened: - Manitou Beach Village launched an effort to become Michigan’s premier wine tasting destination. - The project pairs four wineries with four local boutiques in a walkable village setting. - The first three tasting rooms are now open, and a fourth is in the approval process. - Chateau Fontaine Winery partnered with Ang & Co. Boutique. - Brengman Brothers Winery opened its tasting room at Devils Lakeview Living. - Amoritas Winery opened inside and outside Manitou Beach Boathouse Art Gallery. - A tasting room featuring Cherry Creek Cellars is expected to open in the coming weeks. - Local entrepreneurs David Gajda and Jose Malagon developed the concept after visiting Santa Ynez, California.

The details: - The model is meant to let visitors shop, relax with a glass of wine and explore the village on foot. - Three of the participating wineries come from Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula wine region. - Cherry Creek Cellars represents Lenawee County’s wine industry. - The initiative has been nearly two years in the making. - Gajda said the goal was to create an experience where visitors could spend an afternoon or a full weekend moving between boutiques, tasting Michigan wines and dining in Manitou Beach. - Gajda also said the project is the first of its kind in Michigan. - Jose Malagon said Phase One is only the start and that future plans include more wineries, outdoor entertainment, special events and wine tours that begin and end in the village. - Doug and Laura Matthies, owners of Chateau Fontaine Winery, said Manitou Beach stood out for its energy, shops and welcoming atmosphere. - The wine tasting initiative builds on broader revitalization efforts in Manitou Beach Village that include historic renovations, new investment and expanded shopping and dining. - Gajda credited Jim and Linda Neill for introducing the wineries. - Gajda credited Rollin Township Supervisor Michael Clark and the Rollin Township Board for unanimous support. - Gajda credited Patrick Farver of Lenawee Now and Justin Gifford of Visit Lenawee for help during the Michigan Liquor Control Commission process.

Between the lines: - The strategy borrows from destination wine regions where tasting rooms, retail and hospitality work together to keep visitors circulating locally. - The boutique-winery pairing is a way to add traffic without replacing existing businesses. - Cindy Hubbell, CEO of the Irish Hills Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the new wine experience complements restaurants, boutiques, lodging and year-round events. - Hubbell also said Manitou Beach is an easy day trip for Detroit, Toledo and Ann Arbor, giving the village access to a population of more than 5 million.

What’s next: - Manitou Beach Village expects the Cherry Creek Cellars tasting room to open in the coming weeks. - Leaders plan to keep adding wineries and event programming as the village’s wine destination grows. - Visitors are being encouraged to make the village part of longer day trips and overnight stays.

The bottom line: - Manitou Beach is betting that a compact, walkable wine district can turn a local village into a regional getaway.