Shady Lane Cellars was named the best winery in Michigan in a recently published list by Mashed, an online food and beverage outlet.
In her “Best Winery in Every State” piece, reporter Kelsey Juntwait wrote of the Suttons Bay winery, “Shady Lane Cellars is a boutique winery in Northern Michigan that’s equally known for its hot mulled wine just as much as the cross-country ski trail that winds through its vineyard. With multiple gold medals from national competitions, Shady Lane is a Midwest must-visit.”
In a statement on the recognition, Shady Lane Cellars’ general manager and executive winemaker, Kasey Wierzba, said, “Regionality and creating an authentic experience are very high priorities here, and having that recognized feels fantastic.”
A Brief History of Shady Lane Cellars
Shady Lane Cellars was founded by Bill Stouten and Joe O’Donnell in 1988. The two friends and outdoorsmen planted their first vines — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — the following year. Over the course of about half a decade, Stouten and O’Donnell went on to plant 10,000 grapevines on their land.
In 1996, Shady Lane Cellars became an official bonded wine cellar by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. That year also saw the winery get licensed by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
Three years later, in 1999, Shady Lane Cellars took another significant step when it opened a tasting room. This facility was created by renovating an 80-year-old chicken coop on the property. The renovation project took two years to complete.
In 2013, Shady Lane Cellars was purchased by Richard Fortune, who would further invest in the winery and open its outdoor patio and bar. In 2025, the winery was purchased by Amanda Danielson and a group of investing partners. Danielson is also the founder, co-owner, and sommelier at Trattoria Stella, an Italian restaurant in Traverse City.
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