Tabor Hill Tasting Room

Established in 1968, the original Tabor Hill vineyard was planted with 27 different grape varieties.  One year later, a wine cellar was placed deep in the side of a hill and the winery was constructed from the weathered lumber of an 1863 vintage barn.  Thus was Tabor Hill Winery born, nestled in the rolling hills, and overlooking the vineyards and the Lake Michigan dunes beyond.   We are proud to have been the first winery in the Midwest to plant European vinifera grape varieties.  Extensive experimentation over the years has allowed us to identify which of these so-called noble grapes are hardy enough to withstand Michigan’s roller coaster climate.   Today, with 55 acres of estate-grown grapes and 400 acres of local produce from our neighbor growers, we have expanded our original output of 2000 gallons of wine annually to more than 150,000 gallons. Tabor Hill's location provides the ideal conditions for making superb wine. The glacier that formed the Great Lakes also pushed up the hilly terrain on which our vineyard is planted. Grown on one of the highest vineyard sites in Michigan, our grapes benefit from perfect airflow and are protected from the late spring and early autumn freezes. Lake Michigan, approximately 7 miles from our vineyards, moderates air temperatures by as much as 10 degrees and keeps our vines insulated with lake-effect rains in summer and snow in winter. The sandy soil of the hills, meanwhile, allows the roots of our vines to breath, like those of the finest grape growing regions in the world. At the hands of our skilled winemaker Mike Merchant and his team, our quality production methods continue to win Tabor Hill many awards.  Our Classic Demi-Sec, an original offering of the winery, has been celebrated in the White House by many presidents and perennially is one of the top-selling wines of the Midwest. Our production facility, which began with two barns, now carries a complete line of the most modern wine-making equipment in the state. The once-crowded 1000-square-foot cellar, where our winemaking used to take place, has now grown to over 40,000 feet of state-of-the-art winemaking capability.  At Tabor Hill we're proud of our carefully planned growth and of our gold-medal achievements. We're confident you'll understand our pride when you sample our fine wines, sparkling wines and juices