Leelanau County

Leelanau County

We have a problem. At Cherry Republic we have a great group of people. Our staff has diverse personalities and different expectations as to what makes their day go well, just like you. In the rare occasion something goes wrong with an order, or one of our foods, we know it will take unique individualized actions to correct the problem for you.

Getting its French title from proprietor Lucie Matthies' middle name and paying homage to the French immigrants who settled in the area, Chateau Fontaine was a deserted potato farm and cow pasture when Dan Matthies discovered the property in the 1970's with its favorable south-facing slopes for growing grapes.

We're off the beaten path, a winery and vineyard that began with the premise that Bernie Rink's five sons needed something to do to stay out of trouble. In 1965, Bernie, then a librarian at Northwestern Michigan College, planted a one-acre test plot of wine grapes in Leelanau County to determine if commercial wine could be made locally.

Dave and Jane were introduced to Leelanau County in the late 1980’s when they stayed at Fountain Point Resort in Lake Leelanau. They never missed a year with their family at Fountain Point until 2002 when they built a second home in Leland. In 2004 Dave retired and they moved up to their home in Leland full time.

Our story started 20 years ago visiting Leland as a family for the first time. The simplicity and beauty of the “tucked away” secret that is Leelanau has always been what we treasure most about the area.

Our distinctive Inn, nestled below a hillside of vineyards and overlooking barns and pastures, features luxurious guest rooms with an exceptional package of services and amenities. We are proud to be a Select Registry “Distinguished Inn of North America.”

Established in 1992, Bel Lago began serving wine on the edge of Lake Leelanau in 1999
Today, our northern Michigan winery is known for crafting flavorful and complex red, white and sparkling wines.

Pages