Black Star Farms has come out of the tasting room and onto the schooner. The Leelanau County winery is collaborating with the Schooner Manitou to offer wine-tasting sails around Grand Traverse Bay.
“The idea for these unique wine-tasting sails came about as a way to combine two of northern Michigan’s most cherished experiences: enjoying exquisite local wines and sailing on the stunning waters of West Grand Traverse Bay,” says Sarah Kosteva, Black Star Farms marketing manager. “We wanted to create a memorable and immersive experience.”
Sailing out of Traverse City, the Schooner Manitou is a replica of a craft similar to those that traveled the Great Lakes in the 1800s. Designed for passenger service, its hull was built in New Hampshire in 1983 and completed by Vermont carpenters on Lake Champlain.
Similar wine-tasting sails were offered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and proved popular then, Kosteva says. The Manitou offers two-hour cruises, departing from the Discovery Pier off Michigan Highway 22 near downtown Traverse City. Passengers participating in wine-tasting sails get a chance to sample a curated selection of five wines, with rieslings and pinots among the offerings. They also receive hands-on opportunities to take turns at the helm or help raise the sails.
While the wine-tasting sails are open to the public and scheduled—July 30, Aug. 6, and Aug. 13 are currently available—the events can be arranged privately for groups. The 114-foot Manitou can carry 58 passengers and offers partial as well as private charters. There are also 12 cabins below that can sleep up to 24 people for overnight excursions.
“These sails are a fantastic option for groups looking for an off-site activity as part of a meeting or event,” Kosteva says. “They’re a unique and memorable way to entertain clients, colleagues, or friends.”
Black Star Farms also offers a package to guests at its inn that includes wine-tasting sails on another vessel.