By Emily Doran - Michigan Wine Country

French Valley Vineyard: “Julie [Lopata, the tasting room and special events manager,] and Robert [Walters, the facilities manager,] and all of the staff will make your tasting experience memorable. They have the best charcuterie boards and amazing salsa and guacamole, and their reds are also wonderful. They make you feel special every time you go.”

By Meakalia Previch-Liu - Leelanau Enterprise

On a frigid Tuesday morning withtemps reaching only as high as 14 degrees, both Bel Lago Venture employees and volunteers from the community were out in leelanau countv ice wine picking in the vineyards.

By Traverse City Record Eagle

Other White Single Varietals was a popular category for area wineries. Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery won double gold in the category for its Gewürztraminer Reserve and Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery also won double gold for its French Valley Traminette. Bel Lago added two silver medals in the category while Brys Estate and Blustone Vineyard and Winery each had one. Bel Lago and Brys Estate each won a double gold in the Riesling Off Dry category.

By Bill Froehlich - 9&10 News

For this week’s Brewvine, Bill Froehlich and chief photojournalist Jeremy Erickson take us to French Valley Vineyard in Leelanau County to see how they’ve turned their vast vineyard into a vibrant venue. “Well, every time you come here, it’s something is going to be different. We are constantly evolving. We’re still not done yet.”

By Lynda Twardowski Wheatley - Leelanau Ticker

“Wine more your thing? Hit up French Valley Vineyard’s Hallo-Wine Spooktacular 11am–6pm Saturday, Oct. 29 for food and drink specials, a costume contest, games, hayrides (noon, 2pm, 4pm by reservation: info@fvvineyard.com), and a dangerous yet delightful wine-drinking accompaniment: on-site pet adoptions, courtesy of Cherryland Humane Society, which will receive a portion of the Spooktacular’s proceeds.”

By Katie Dudlets - The Leelanau Ticker

Julie Lopata, Tasting room manager at French Valley Vineyard, Cedar Thousands of guests walked through French Valley last month, sampling award-winning, estate-grown wines and decadent charcuterie boards.

By Kandace Chapple - Leelanau Ticker

At French Valley, the 75-acre vineyard and newly renovated tasting room near Cedar is offering a Soup & Snowshoe (or Ski!) starting this Sunday, Jan. 23 (and every Sunday through the winter). They have just opened a gorgeous 2.5 miles of groomed trails for skiing or snowshoeing with a fully restored Amish built centennial barn as a backdrop. After, warm up with homemade soup for $5. These events are family and dog friendly.

By Leelanau Ticker

“Several area wineries were among the winners at the recent American Fine Wine competitions. They were led by Bel Lago Winery, Chateau Chantal, the Winery at Black Star Farms and Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery."

By By Emily Tyra - Leelanau Ticker

Leelanau Peninsula winemakers are cultivating more dining out opportunities across the county by serving their wines the way they were intended to be sipped: with a meal.

By By Emily Tyra - Leelanau Ticker

"Bel Lago and its sister winery French Valley Vineyard now offer “wine spritzers” served on tap, which senior winemaker Blake Lougheed developed in response to requests for lower calorie/alcohol “White Claw”-style drinks at the wineries.”

By Traverse City Record Eagle

"Mexican flavors are featured during weekly events at French Valley Vineyard. Tamale Thursdays continue this spring."

By Emily Tyra - Leelanau Ticker

The Barn at French Valley Vineyard in Cedar is uniquely positioned to immediately accommodate displaced COVID-19 couples, says Julie Lopata, tasting room manager at the winery, who coordinates weddings in the property’s renovated centennial Amish barn.

By Emily Tyra - Leelanau Ticker

Julie Lopata, Tasting Room and Venue Manager, French Valley Vineyard

Completion of our tasting room construction — fingers crossed — is set for mid-May. Once finished, the large warehouse style barn will have a charming rustic-industrial aesthetic. Additionally, we have been working on developing our own food/product menu and are really excited to show off all the work that has been done at our grand opening in the spring.

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