Calling Michigan Wine Lovers

First: Robin, I know this doesn't belong here, but this corner gets more traffic. Feel free to bump it down to the Offline forum..after a bit.

There is going to be a fabulous wine dinner in Traverse City on June 11, at Trattoria Stella's. It will feature at least seven courses and each course will be paired with two wines from the wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. All the winemakers attend and circulate among the diners to discuss their wines. I went last year and it was one of the most memorable dinners I have ever had. The food was incredible; the wines impressive. I plan to run up there this year, and wondered if there was interest in an offline?

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no affiliation with this restaurant whatsoever. I don't get a percentage of the gate, am not running a 50/50 raffle..you won't even find me at the coat check.

Feel free to PM me for more details or respond here (or down there, after RG moves it).
Cheers!
JuliaB

Love Traverse City, Old Mission and Leelanau. Never been to Trattoria Stella, this sounds great. Where is the restaurant?

Love Traverse City, Old Mission and Leelanau. Never been to Trattoria Stella, this sounds great. Where is the restaurant?

Paul,
It is on the old State Hospital grounds, right across from Left Foot Charley's wine room (a great stop as well). In fact, the restaurant is in the former Mental Institution. Look here: http://www.stellatc.com .

Love Traverse City, Old Mission and Leelanau. Never been to Trattoria Stella, this sounds great. Where is the restaurant?

Paul,
It is on the old State Hospital grounds, right across from Left Foot Charley's wine room (a great stop as well). In fact, the restaurant is in the former Mental Institution. Look here: http://www.stellatc.com .

Julia, let me jump in with a little more info.

This is the annual "Old Mission Peninsula" wine dinner. Acre for acre, they make some of Michigan's best wines. Just seven wineries, among them Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys, Estate and the new, very wonderful Two Lads.

Anyone in the area -- this is a special event.

Not that they're serving at the event, but I had a few from Shady Lanes this past weekend. I was nonplussed by the riesling and gewurztraminer, but their pinot noir was quite nice.

Joel,
Thanks for back up! Good to hear from you! Yes, this dinner is truly amazing. The food, wines, service..I could not find fault in anything last year. Will you be able to attend?
OW.? David Creighton?

Julia

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Paul,
It is on the old State Hospital grounds, right across from Left Foot Charley's wine room (a great stop as well). In fact, the restaurant is in the former Mental Institution......

My self-restraint is amazing!

Julia, Mike et al...

And what you may or may not know is that the restaurant actually resides in what used to be the morgue of the mental hospital.

Have a nice dinner, all.

Joel

Joel,
I heard it was the cells for the criminally insane. They are definitely cells, which one can see in the photo on their website. It creeped me out at first, but everything is so good there, it can be overlooked.

Cool place really!
Jb

Just so you know...OW and Beth are going, as am I. Anyone else?

JB

Julia,
We were just in Traverse City right before Memorial Day. I had gone up to Canada to visit brother Tom and the wife and I decided to swing by Traverse City on our way back to Ohio. In fact we were going to eat at Stella's but decided on a new place called the Cook's House as the local's were talking it up. We ended up with a couple cases of wine as the 07 vintage was quite good. We loved the views from several of the wineries on the peninsula's and the weather was beautiful while we were there. It sounds like fun but still quite a drive from Ohio...

Brother Bob..it's just a hop and a skip in a Miata! Do come!

JB

Brother Bob..it's just a hop and a skip in a Miata! Do come!

JB

The Miata is still doing well at 20 years old! Probably my must trouble free car ever. We would love to come but still have to work for a living... Luckily we are off on Friday but unfortunately not on Thursday. Enjoy your trip and say Hi to OW and Beth for me! We drove by Grand Rapids on the way home, I guess we should of stopped and said "Hey" to OW and Beth.

Yes! You should have. Tell me about the wineries you visited? What did you think of the Cook's House restaurant? I only go up to Traverse for three things: the wine, the food, and the view!


JB

Yes! You should have. Tell me about the wineries you visited? What did you think of the Cook's House restaurant? I only go up to Traverse for three things: the wine, the food, and the view!


JB

JB,
The wineries we enjoyed were Black Star, Peninsula Cellars, Willow, Shady Lane, Brys, Mawby, 2 Lads, and Raftshol (great $9 pinot). We did not make too many being we were only there two days but I think we got the highlights. The Cook's House was quite fun being intimate with only 18 seats and is a BYOB place. I think I woke the everyone up when I loosened the wire cage on he Mawby Blanc de Noir and it proceeded to explode (I think they are known for being a bit powerful). One of the Chef's even said, must be a Mawby! All in all a great time with very good food.

Isn't the view from Two Lads spectacular?? As is Willow's (but I could skip their wine). Love Mawby's stuff, and local winemakers credit him for helping the fledglings get their starts. I always hit Peninsula Cellars..am surprised you didn't go to Ch. Grand Traverse, Sean O'Keefe's place..1 mile or less down the road. Had you gone to Stella's (fabu!!) you would also have been able to swing into Left Foot Charley's winery. Brian Ulbrich, the wine maker, spoke at that riesling tasting John Trombley put on many MoCool's ago. He is getting kudos all over the place, and that wine is not to be missed.
See..you simply MUST come back!


JuliaB