Harvest Stompede Wine Tour this weekend!

The 11th annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk and Wine Tour is a great way to experience the beauty of the Leelanau Wine Trail at harvest time, with local food pairings and wine from the exceptional 2011 vintage. The event takes place this weekend – September 8 & 9th, 2012 – and is considered one of the most scenic running & wine touring events in the Midwest.

“Harvest on the Leelanau Peninsula is an exciting time,” says Matt Gregory, of Chateau de Leelanau. “As vintners, we have literally waited all year for this moment. We have watched our grapes go from tiny green marbles to the perfectly ripe fruit that makes our region’s wine stand out from the rest. We want to share this excitement with you at this years Harvest Stompede. Stop by any one of our 20 Leelanau Peninsula wineries and see how the harvest is going – I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!”

The weekend’s festivities kick off at 9:00am on Saturday morning at Ciccone Vineyard with the Harvest Stompede race. Race registration is now closed but it’s a great event for spectators.

The Harvest Stompede Wine Tour starts at 11:00am following the race and continues on Sunday. It features a special wine pour and food pairing at each of 19 Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association member wineries. To highlight our region’s culinary excellence, each winery will be partnering with farmers and restaurants to feature local ingredients in their food pairings.

The event routinely sells out and advance tickets are highly recommended. Tickets are $40 and include commemorative glass and a special food and wine pairing at each tasting room. Food pairings, lodging packages and tickets are available right here.

Photo: 2011 LPVA Harvest Stompede & Wine Tour by KatSwinehart