In early May, Leelanau Cellars welcomed a new chapter at its Pleasant Hill vineyard on the Leelanau Peninsula with the planting of 1.5 acres of Sauvignon Blanc.
The new vines replace the Baco Noir that previously grew at the site—a vineyard with a special place in Leelanau Cellars’ history. Those original vines provided the grapes for the winery’s final Baco Noir release, Baco Noir: The End 2022, marking the close of one chapter and making way for something new.
While it will take a few years before the Sauvignon Blanc vines are ready for their first harvest, there is plenty to look forward to. The Leelanau Cellars vineyard team anticipates a small yield in the vines’ third year, with the first fruit expected during the 2028 harvest. Full yields are anticipated beginning in year four.