New winery has ‘great response’

Patti and Mark Carlson are from the Chicago area, but say their hearts have always been in Leelanau County.

 Patti and Mark: Carlson at Silver Leaf Vineyard and Winery.
In 2005, with their children grown and out of the house, they took a chance toward their dream of owning a vineyard and winery in Leelanau County. They moved north and established the Silver Leaf Vineyard and Winery in Suttons Bay Township.

“We took an old farm, about 30 acres, and have made it into a winery and vineyard,” said Mark Carlson of the operation, located on Silver Leaf Lane off Peshawbestown Road, about a half-mile north of Stallman Road.

Silver Leaf opened for business in September and the couple said they had a  fantastic fall. “We had a great response, lots of people came in and visited, tried our wines,” Patti Carlson said.

Some vines they have planted, clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from France, won’t be ready for harvesting until next year. Mark Carlson, winemaker for Silver Leaf, said most of their juice comes from local growers.

The Carlsons are producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Mark also makes a cherry wine using juice from local cherries. They are producing a Riesling ice wine, and in the future they are planting Pinot Gris, Riesling and other grape varieties to expand their wine selection. The couple have contracted with growers to purchase Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Gris juice for their 2009 vintage offering.
On their web site, the Carlsons shared their philosophy.

“Our passion is to produce exceptional wines through small batch fermentation and attention to detail with enthusiasm for rustic elegance,” they stated, adding Silver Leaf is not just about wine, but the overall experience. The couple converted an old machine shop building into their wine tasting room with the production facility, formerly the horse stables, downstairs.

“When we first came in here, the building had a lot of old machinery in it,” Patti Carlson said. They cleared out the top and bottom. The bar has wood paneling taken from the former tack room for enjoying the various wines offered at Silver Leaf. An open-air deck off the tasting room offers a view of the vineyard as well.
The couple also has art work from local artists on display and offers local food products from Cherry Bay Foods in Suttons Bay.