Threefold Vine Winery

Andy and Janice Green enjoy sampling wine. Furthermore, they have a diversified 470-acre farm with some 50 beef cattle. It's a little south of Garden village in the Garden Peninsula, known for its fertile limestone soils and relatively mild climate. So it seemed natural to try a number of vines and experiment on these shallow limestone soils to see which would flourish and taste good. That was in 2002.

Four years later there were seven acres in vines, producing enough grapes to make wine and open a tasting room in an under-used bean-processing barn near the farmhouse. "It's a hobby gone crazy," says Andy. Nobody's ever grown wine on a commercial scale in the U.P., so it's an exciting experiment. Of the 70 grape varieties, a half dozen are producing well, and another half dozen are robust, with possibilities. White wines are generally best suited to Michigan soils and climate, but the winery's reds have proven better suited to the Garden Peninsula. The Greens also make a variety of fruit wines, including one made from Whitefish Point cranberries.

As more vines mature, different wines are produced in this experimental phase, and quantities are limited. Wines run from $9 to $15 a bottle. So far the most popular have been the sweet Valentine Creek raspberry honey and the semi-sweet Camp 9 red wine.

The attractive gift shop features a few local products, too. Andy thinks there's a niche for unusual U.P. products sold direct from the farm, like his wine. The Greens' wines are also sold in a number of independent stores in the area. Seethreefoldvinewinery.com for farm photos, including the five Green children helping out. Another Garden winery with golf course is currently out of business.

(906) 644-7089. Hours: Nov.-April: call. May thru Oct. noon-5. If coming from a distance, call to confirm. (Children's events can take the Greens away.) Directions: from Garden Corners, take M-183 south through the village of Garden ľ of a mile to Road NN. See signs. Turn left. Winery is 7 miles north of Fayette State Park.

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GARDEN PENINSULA
POINTS OF INTEREST

Beach and trails at Fayette Historic State Park. A mile-long sand beach, beautiful and underused, with a 5-mile hiking trail to the campground and townsite. ... more

Fayette State Park. 5-mile trail system of several loops in this big 711-acre park connects beach, campground, & townsite, winding through a beech-maple hardwood forest. Beautiful, sandy swimming beach, 2,000' long, is backed by low dunes, with an adjacent picnic area. The trail through the townsite has got to be one of the most interesting easy trails anywhere. ... more

Garden Points of Interest. Scattered across the Garden Peninsula are villages and shops worth a casual visit ... more

Threefold Vine Winery. First vineyards for making wine on commercial scale in U.P., now 70 grape varieties, with winery's reds best suited to Garden Peninsula. Wines run $9-$15 a bottle. Most popular: sweet Valentine Creek raspberry honey & semi-sweet Camp 9 red wine. Aattractive gift shop with local products. ... more

Fayette Historic Townsite. The museum-like "ghost town" is the remains of a company town around a charcoal pig-iron smelter serving Union arms manufacturers during the Civil War. The town curves around pretty Snail Shell Harbor on Lake Michigan ... more

Garden Orchards. A general apple orchard especially known for its unusual Honey Gold apple, sweet and so sensitive workers have to wear gloves to handle it. ... more

Portage Bay Beach and Ninga Aki Pathway. Low sand dunes, mature pines, spring wildflowers, and a secluded, sandy beach make these two short loops wonderful walks. Signs tell about 15 important plants in traditional Ojibwa life. ... more

Marygrove Retreat Center and bookstore. Since its beginnings the Catholic Church has had a robust tradition of spiritual retreats – stepping away from the busyness of life. This one is open to anyone interested in taking time away from the bustle of modern life ... more

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