Willow Vineyards was established in 1992. It was and continues to be a work of passion and love, created and designed by John and Jo Crampton. Located on a beautiful, wind-swept hillside in Suttons Bay, the panoramic views of West Traverse Bay add to the majesty of the vineyard.

Our winemaker, Chris Guest has over 30 years of experience making wine in Michigan. Before coming north to Leelanau County he co-founded and was the creator of the award-winning wines of The Seven Lakes Vineyard. His interest in making great wines began at a time when you could count the number of Michigan wineries on your fingers and have three left to grip a stemmed glass. Since then his expertise has been sought by many Traverse area allowing him to broaden his influence on Michigan viniculture by working as a wine making consultant for the last two decades.

Chris’ approach of letting terroir and the vintage dictate the wine’s personality has kept the specter of boring sameness from creeping into the spectacular examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that Willow wines represent. His successes have earned him a cult following among his peer-group of winemakers who may quietly measure their achievements with these classic varieties against the Willow Vineyard standard.

When not keeping tabs on the progress of the current vintage, he desires not to be found, standing–flyrod in hand, a pack supplied with sandwiches and Willow Pinot Noir hung on a nearby bough–in one of the area’s great trout rivers.

Willow Vineyard
10702 East Hilltop Rd.
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
231-271-4810

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