Shady Lane Cellars plans Merlot Blanc and dry Reserve Riesling for 2027
The Leelanau Peninsula winery is barrel-fermenting a lightly pink Merlot Blanc and preparing a late-harvest, dry Reserve Riesling from the 2026 harvest, with releases planned for spring and fall 2027 respectively.
Two wines from the 2026 harvest
As the 2026 harvest approached its end, Shady Lane Cellars had picked its final red grapes, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. General manager and executive winemaker Kasey Wierzba said the winery was preparing to harvest Late Harvest Riesling in mid-November and intended to produce a Reserve Riesling.1
The Reserve Riesling will be a late-harvest wine fermented dry, combining ripe flavors associated with late-picked fruit—honeycomb, tropical fruit and pome fruit—with little or no residual sweetness. Wierzba said its German stylistic equivalent would be Spätlese trocken. The wine is scheduled for release in fall 2027.1
The winery is also barrel-fermenting a Merlot Blanc. Wierzba described it as having a slight pink color, the freshness of a white wine and a richer texture comparable to barrel-fermented Chardonnay. She said an additional quantity of Merlot with bright acidity gave the team an opportunity to make a wine suited to the character of the vintage. Its release is planned for spring 2027.1
Mulled wine and cold-weather hospitality
For the colder season, Shady Lane Cellars is returning first-come, first-served igloos to its patio and serving warm mulled wine in the tasting room. The winery makes it with one bottle of Brio Red, half a bottle of water, a sachet of whole dried spices—including cinnamon, cloves, allspice berries and nutmeg—and brown sugar added to taste while the mixture warms.1
Tasting-room manager Zach Mikowski said mulled wine costs $12 a glass. A $25 gift pack contains Brio Red and a packet of mulling spices for preparation at home.1
November events and opening schedule
The Shady Lane Cellars Wine Club Pick Up Party was scheduled for November 12, offering members an initial taste of Reserve Blaufrankisch alongside Reserve Chardonnay, mulled wine and other pours. The winery offers three wine-club membership tiers, including as customizable holiday gifts.1
For the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail’s Toast of the Season on November 13–15, 2026, the winery planned to serve 2-ounce pours of Sparkling Riesling with a sample of spinach and artichoke dip. Its free Friday Night Live music series was also continuing weekly from 4 to 7 p.m.1
On Small Business Saturday, November 28, Rebecca John was scheduled to perform from 3 to 6 p.m., with no cover charge; the winery planned to remain open until 7 p.m. Regular hours were noon to 6 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closures were scheduled for Thanksgiving Day on November 26, Black Friday on November 27, and December 24, 2026 through January 1, 2027.1
Estate and certification
Founded in 1999 and located at 9580 E. Shady Lane near Suttons Bay, Shady Lane Cellars produces a high proportion of estate-grown wine on the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan. All of its wines have been made entirely from estate-grown fruit since 2017, and its vineyard gained Sustainability in Practice, or SIP Certified, status in 2020.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
