May 2013 MICHIGAN Traverse City 3 - Back to the Wine Trail

Next stop was Good Harbor Vineyards - Their taste was Buffalo Chicken Soup (not for me) and don't remember the wine. At this point they are all blending together and there is no photo of their winery on the website to help me remember. They do have some of the nicest label artwork though.  www.goodharbor.com


Gills Pier Vineyard - Last wine stop of the day was here. Nice and helpful folks (see photo of cutie).  Classy atmosphere in side. Peaceful pond out back, if you preferred to sip al fresco. Picked up a nice $35 bottle of 2010 Cab Franc/Merlot, which had won numerous awards.
www.gillspier.com

Even though it was only 3:30pm, we were all hungry for a meal. But heading to the small town of Suttons Bay, Bob made a sudden U-turn. We followed. Unbeknownst to us there was small distillery en route and Bob had spotted it.

Northern Latitudes makes multitudes of liquors, including Manitou Passage rum, Mackinac Island fudge liqueur, Ice Dunes vodka, Horseradish infused vodka (Mike had to have that), Jack Pine Gin, Deer Camp whiskey, and Limoncello di Leelanlau. We sipped and shopped. They also have a beautiful copper distillery similar to the one in Traverse City and lots of cocktail related gear to buy.



If you don't know, limoncello is a lemon-based liquor which originated on Sorrento, Italy. It is one of our fave summer sippers. While we were there, three ladies were paring the skins of lemons for the next batch (while drinking their own favorite cocktails). They said it takes about four cases of lemons to make a batch. They were having the best time and I just wanted to join in.

Alas, we had to be on our way. Stopped at North Country Grill (recommended at Northern Latitudes by the ladies). It was quite classy for an Up North eatery and man, oh, man, did they have a terrific menu. I think three out of the six of us ordered double lobster tails, baked potatoes, and salad.

This was the best lobster I've eaten since we had an Easter Lobster dinner in Cape Cod, Mass. about 30 years ago. I've always remembered

that meal (it was our first meal in life that cost over $100 for the two of us) and our best lobster meal ever. But from now on I'll be thinking of North Country, not Cape Cod. And I don't think we paid $100 this 30 years later. A great birthday meal for brother Bob and his wife Lorraine. I think Bob finally got a freebie dessert here.

After a very leisurely meal, we mosied down the road back to Traverse City, just a few miles. Mike and I decided to take a stroll around downtown to walk off some of the calories.

To top the evening off, we ran into a medical "resource" center. They had a nice variety of products including medibles, like infused lemonade and hummus, of all things.


The next day we all had breakie again together and then went our separate ways. The trip home was uneventful. Always glad to get home. Bella met us at the door. Best part of this day.