Home to 10,000 acres of grapes, Michigan’s wine region is largely contained within the 77-mile stretch of road between Saugatuck and New Buffalo. This means that most of the state’s fantastic wineries can be visited along an extended road trip following Lake Michigan’s southeastern shores.
Whether visiting all the main stops or just a few of your favourites, these are the best wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan, for your exploration of the Great Lakes State’s wine country.
A Quick Look At The 13 Best Vineyards And Wineries In New Buffalo, Michigan
The 13 Best Vineyards and Wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan
1. Lemon Creek Winery
Berrien Springs | Hotel: Tru by Hilton | Website
Located halfway between Bridgman and Berrien Springs, Lemon Creek Winery has become a staple in Michigan’s wine-making industry. First opened as a fruit farm in 1834 as a small family business. And while it is still owned by the same family, it is anything but small today, having converted into one of the state’s premier wineries in 1984.
Lemon Creek Winery invited visitors to drop by its tasting room for a sampling of several of its popular wines, with its specialty being Cabernet Sauvignon.
2. 12 Corners Vineyards
Benton Harbor | Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott | Website
Occupying 115 acres of sweeping vinifera and hybrid grape vineyards just outside of Benton Heights, 12 Corners Vineyards is another of the best wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan, and promises visitors the opportunity to explore the region’s historic wine-making industry while sampling the delicious flavours of its homegrown wines.
Offering a selection of dry wines, sweet and semi-sweet wines, and a collection of hard ciders, 12 Corners Vineyards offers something for every Palate, although its specialties lay within its Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Traminette.
While the vineyard is open to visitors, guests can also sample the vineyard’s wine at several tasting rooms around the province, including in South Haven, Grand Haven, and River Stone.
3. Round Barn Winery
Baroda | Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites | Website
Boasting an extensive vineyard in a beautiful countryside location near Baroda and a small but inviting tasting room just outside of New Buffalo, the Round Barn Winery offers a massive selection of varietals for a wide array of Palates.
And while its New Buffalo location is a great way to sample the diverse flavours, I highly recommend dropping by the vineyard itself, which promises a unique experience on a turn-of-the-century Amish round barn, complete with its own hiking trails and live music perfect for a relaxing day of wine tasting.
4. White Pine Winery
St. Joseph | Hotel: Tru by Hilton | Website
Located in downtown St Joseph, the White Pine Winery and Tasting Room is owned and operated by an award-winning winemaker and serves a diverse catalog of wine varieties produced from locally sourced grapes grown directly in the region.
Open for wine tasting throughout the year, White Pine Winery offers walk-in tastings or reserved tastings for larger groups, making it a great stop along with a further exploration of the wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan.
5. Dablon Winery
Baroda | Hotel: Comfort Suites | Website
One of the newest wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan, Dablon Winery is home to 44 acres of vineyards, first opened in 2009. Since then, it has grown into one of the most prominent southwest Michigan wineries, planting new wine grapes each year, with a special focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
In total, the vineyard produces 17 different varietals for more than 30 estate wines, which visitors can enjoy at the onsite tasting room.
6. St. Julian Winery
Kalamazoo | Hotel: New Buffalo Inn & Spa | Website
Originally established in Ontario, Canada, during prohibition in 1921, the family behind St Julian Winery has been creating some of the region’s best wines for over a century and officially moved their operation to their current location in Paw Paw, Michigan, in 1936.
Since then, St Julian Winery has been the most award-winning vineyard in Michigan and is a quintessential stop along any tour of the New Buffalo Wineries.
In total, this renowned winery boasts over 100 distinct products, including award-winning wines, spirits, and ciders, which can be sampled in numerous tasting rooms around the state, including Dundee, Union Pier Troy, Frankenmuth, and Rockford.
7. Hickory Creek Winery
Buchanan | Hotel: Candlewood Suites | Website
Specializing in European-style wines using only locally grown grapes, the Hickory Creek Winery is a unique stop along the best wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan, focusing on providing elevated flavours through its production methods focusing on small batches.
Operating out of a beautiful countryside property just outside of Buchanan. Hickory Creek Farms invites visitors to sample its delicious flavours along its outdoor patio or onsite tasting room.
8. Fen Valley Vineyards
Fennville | Hotel: Haworth Hotel at Hope College | Website
One of the most northern stops along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, Fen Valley Vineyards has just celebrated its 50th year of being one of Michigan’s top vineyards, first opening its operations in 1973.
Over this time, the winery has developed an extensive collection of wines catering to diverse Palates, including white wines, red wines, fruit wines, and local specialty wines, which can be sampled at its wine tasting room in downtown Saugatuck.
For the full experience, I suggest dropping by the vineyard in Fennville to tour the complex, which is open seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
9. Domaine Berrien Cellars
Berrien Springs | Hotel: SpringHill Suites | Website
Opened in 2001, Domaine Berrien Cellars is a small boutique winery situated between Baroda and Berrien Springs. Occupying 40 acres of beautiful countryside, the vineyard produces 21 different varieties of wine, handcrafted using the best grapes grown directly on the estate.
Guests are invited to sample the diverse flavours at the onsite tasting room or outdoor patio, which are open daily between 12 and 5 p.m.
10. Red Top Winery
Baroda | Hotel: Holiday Inn Express | Website
Located just south of Domaine Berrien Cellars, Red Top Winery is another essential stop along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail and is one of the top wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Combining a vibrant atmosphere with uniquely produced Michigan wines and ciders, Red Top Winery is a one-of-a-kind facility within the Lake Michigan Shore AVA. The unique quality of the complex’s wine comes in the way that the grapes are aged in barrels of bourbon, rum, tequila, and cognac, resulting in unique and mouthwatering flavours you can’t find anywhere else.
Guests are invited to sample the Red Top Winery’s wines and ciders within its tasting room, open between 12 and 6 p.m.
11. Chill Hill Winery
Baroda | Hotel: Mark III Inn & Suites | Website
Located in the heart of Michigan’s wine region, Chill Hill Winery is a tasting room in Baroda that engages grapes grown at its family 400-acre family farm, Arrowhead Vineyards, to produce 30 different varieties of wine and a rotating tap of felicitous hard ciders.
The winery is open Thursday through Sunday, from 12 to 6 p.m., and promises a vibrant setting for a fun stop along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail.
12. Tabor Hill Winery And Restaurant
Buchanan | Hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites | Website
Offering flight tastings, wine by the glass or bottle, craft beer, and hand-crafted cocktails, Tabor Hill Vineyards is one of the more exciting wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan, and an important stop along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail.
Accompanied by a full-service restaurant, Tabor Hill Winery promises a spacious outdoor setting with breathtaking views for enjoying a diverse selection of wines and cocktails, with its local specialty being its Traminette.
13. Gravity Vineyards And Winery
Baroda | Hotel: Staybridge Suites | Website
Set within a beautiful property just a short drive from Tabor Hill Winery, Gravity Vineyards is one of the best wineries in New Buffalo, Michigan. It features 15 different varieties of grapes to produce a delicious sampling of diverse flavours, including a particularly delectable Chocolate Cherry Dessert wine.
A must-stop destination for wine lovers, Gravity Vineyards and Winery is open seven days a week, from 12 to 5 p.m. during the winter months and until 6 p.m. in the summer.
