Toast the return of summer on Michigan's wine coast with the 2012 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival on Saturday, June 30. The festival features 27 area wineries paired with a diverse selection of artists, restaurants, and performers, featuring the fusion-rock blend of headliner Rusted Root.
“This is the one event that brings nearly all the wineries of our region together to celebrate the sights, sounds, and tastes of Northern Michigan,” says festival organizer Laura Herd.
“What really sets our festival apart is how we combine culinary and cultural artistry to stimulate and excite your palate, letting you enjoy the fantastic wines and ciders our region has to offer as you dance, dine, and watch extraordinary performers in the gorgeous and historic arboretum of the Grand Traverse Commons.”
Platinum recording artist Rusted Root will headline this year's festival. They are at work on a brand new album.
Bandleader Michael Glabicki says, “The direction for the new album is soul-moving songs that dance in fun, deep, and clever ways. We are so looking forward to playing Traverse City again, not only for the great energy of the audience and people there, but the awesome wine too.”
There will be more than 100 wines from Leelanau, Old Mission, and the surrounding area, and your ticket includes two full glass pours. Wine is all about pairing, and in addition to 20 fine artists representing a variety of media and styles, there will be an exciting selection of restaurants from the region offering delicious small plates for purchase all day long.
The culinary line-up this year includes Trattoria Stella, Chez Peres, Mana, Poppycocks, Siren Hall, Little Bohemia, Phil's on Front, OM Cafe, and Bourbons 72.
These restaurants are part of a food revolution that was recently touted in Bon Appetit by superstar chef Mario Batali who observed, “The food scene has really exploded in the region. It's very cool. The chefs involved in the scene celebrate what's here. They're not trying to be anything they're not. Now people are coming for gastronomic tourism.”
The Traverse City Wine and Art Festival is presented by Turtle Creek Hotel and Casinos, a Las Vegas style casino located near Traverse City. Entertainment includes Rusted Root, Orpheum Bell, Lauren Mann, and the Fairly Odd Folk, and the Naughty Neighbors, and is sponsored by Cherry Capital Subaru.
Up North Distributing presents the nearly 11,000-square-foot wine tent, and the festival’s rich Food Garden is sponsored by UpNorthLive.com. ArtCenter Traverse City will be presenting the art for show and sale, and Traverse Legal is underwriting the festival’s innovative ambience and atmosphere.
Festival wineries include: 2 Lads Winery, Bel Lago Vineyard and Winery, Black Star Farms, Blustone Vineyards, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brengman Brothers, Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery, Chateau Chantal, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Fontaine, Chateau Grand Traverse, Cherry Republic Winery, Ciccone Vineyard and Winery, Circa Estate Winery, Forty-Five North, Gill’s Pier Vineyard and Winery, Good Harbor Vineyards, Good Neighbor Organic, Leelanau Cellars, Left Foot Charley, M. Lawrence, Northern Natural Winery, Peninsula Cellars, Shady Lane Cellars, Silver Leaf Vineyard and Winery, Verterra Winery, and Willow Vineyard.
This year’s festival takes place from 3-10 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door available at http://traversecitywinefestival.com/.
