Leelanau Peninsula's Toast the Season Event Kicks Off the Holiday Season

GIVEAWAY ALERT! There’s two chances to win free tickets to this event this week. One is to make sure you’re on Leelanau.com’s email list tomorrow – we’ll be giving away a couple’s ticket to one lucky person just for being on the list. The other is to tune into our friends over at Michigan By the Bottle for their giveaway!

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column on Absolute Michigan by Leelanau native Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, authors of the award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries and The History of Michigan Wines. Learn more and get autographed copies of their books at www.michiganvine.com.

Don’t let the warm, sunny weather fool you! The brisk holiday season is fast approaching. And, one of the best ways to kick off the holidays is on Leelanau Peninsula during the Toast the Season celebration the first two weekends of November.

The spectacular northern Michigan tradition is a great excuse for a getaway before the hustle and bustle of the upcoming months. You’ll bump right into the holiday spirit when you’re handed a gift bag featuring local food & drink and an ornament upon your arrival. Then, enjoy the leisurely trek along the peninsula with a special wine pour, in your souvenir glass, paired with delicious food at 18 Leelanau wineries.

The timing of the event couldn’t be better for stocking up on wines for holiday gifts, Thanksgiving dinner and seasonal get-togethers with family and friends. Our tip: be sure to visit L. Mawby Vineyards to get your bubblies for New Year’s Eve, though as vintner Larry Mawby says, “You can enjoy bubbly any time, any day.”

Grab your significant other for a romantic getaway, or gather some friends for a mini-vacation. Two weekend options, November 6 and 7 or November 13 and 14, make getting there more feasible; and lodging packages by area B&Bs, resorts and hotels make planning super easy. Get tickets or more details about the event by visiting www.lpwines.com.