Sarah was the best. Understanding one's palette is difficult, but she nailed it. We had a blast even buying some of the cider! Highly suggest the lemon. Crisp and just as delicious as a lemon bar. The ambiance is a typical wine tasting room. I would be wise about the time you go cause it fills up fast. read more

Verterra Winery - Enough said - Wineries Near Me - Leland, Michigan

I want to start out by saying that the woman who led our tasting, Sara, is fantastic! She was bubbly and friendly and fun to talk to. We walked in after having grabbed some sandwiches to-go from a spot up the street that doesn't have a dining area. Generally, places that don't offer food and wineries are welcoming of bringing in food with you. But I usually like to check ahead of time, just in case it is one of those few that doesn't allow it. I walked up to an open spot at the tasting bar and asked if it was alright for us to bring our food in, and it was not a problem at all. There are many MANY wineries from which to choose in the area. Verterra won out for us for two reasons: 1 - proximity to our hotel and 2 - proximity to food options. I was not disappointed with our experience, especially since it was made out of convenience. Since I was visiting with my family, including my mother, I don't know how much anything cost. My mom took care of the check for us...our tasting, our glasses, and the couple bottles we left with. But I honestly don't think it was terribly expensive, and a cursory glance at other reviews have me thinking it is $5 for five tastings. That is certainly fair for what I have seen across the midwest and beyond in the US. They have a great variety of wines to choose from, as well. I opted to begin with some drier wines, before making my way to my wheelhouse...my sweet spot, you might say....the sweet wines. My sister and I tasted different wines so we could maximize our sampling and share. The wines were all delightful. I am always a sucker for an ice wine and they have the cutest little tasting glasses for the ice wines. But I think I recall really liking the riesling and vignoles. I got a glass of the riesling to go with my lunch and a bottle of the vignoles to bring home with me. They also have a selection of their cider. You can even mix and match your own four-pack (so I got one of each to bring back home with me). I have tried them all now and as a cider-lover I gotta say...stick to the wine. But if you are NOT a wine drinker, it is nice to have a couple other options here. The glass I got went well with my sandwich, and we enjoyed sitting for a spell and eating and drinking at one of the small tables set back a bit from the tasting bar. The music playing was also pretty great. Like I said, there are a LOT of wineries in the area to choose from (more than 25 between Leland and Traverse City along one road!) You could absolutely do worse than Venterra. My visit just inspired a desire to visit MORE wineries in the area to get that good stuff! I enjoyed my visit here, and I think you will too! read more

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Small tasting room just on the other end of Fishtown. We actually had left but upon suggestion came back! So glad we did. Staff was knowledgeable about wine, about the area, and helped my friend pick out some wines. I of course got one of their reds- the Chaos- lovely and drinkable. Will definitely be back! read more

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Felt rushed. The award winning wines, that are heavily advertised, weren't available. There are so many other wineries to visit, that we won't be returning to this one. read more

One of my favorite wineries on Leelanau Peninsula! The place is pretty tiny, so if you're up on a busy weekend, expect it to be crowded. But they have lots of drink options and they're all pretty good! read more

Very Lovely experience with Great wines . Indoors but excellent Covid safety procedures.

My friends and I managed to stop in here right before Verterra closed (a majority of the wineries in the area close at 6 pm on Saturdays... weird) and I'm so glad we did! Tastings were $3 for 3 or $5 for 5. I tried most of their reds and enjoyed them all, but the Chaos Red was definitely my favorite. It was medium-bodied and very well balanced; not too acidic or dry but not sweet either. An easy drinking table wine! We ended up buying 3 bottles of it. (If you buy 3 bottles, you can get one tasting off.) My friends loved the Reserve Red and one of the rose. The woman pouring for us was super knowledgable and friendly and told us some fun facts about each wine, which is refreshing since I've been to wineries in the area where I've been told "That's above my pay grade, I just pour the wine." I didn't see any snack options at this winery, but there are a few restaurants nearby if you need to soak up some of the alcohol after your tasting. I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in Leland as it's the only winery in the immediate area. read more

A great new tasting room in downtown Leland from a somewhat new winery. The building is a neat building and the interior is just as fun. They have a large variety of wines. Along with fruit wines and multiple hard ciders. The tastings cost $5 for 5. However they take 1 tasting off if you buy 3 bottles. That's very fair in my opinion. I thought the wines were very good but my favorite was easily the dessert wine. Yum. The server lady was extremely helpful and friendly. She even told us about smoked fish sausage at Carson's Fishery that went great with their Riesling. As we were already going to Carlson's for some Whitefish patte and smoked fish we got the sausage also. Wow that was an excellent suggestions. The sausage and Riesling don't just go together well they go together perfectly. Thank You! Overall a 4 1/2 star winery. read more

The wine as ok but the old hag who cut us off after our second pour, thanks but no thanks wouldn't recommend anyone come here samples are almost as small as their personality's of the people behind the bar. One star place all day read more

So much yes. Rosé! My good pals and I took a little boat trip to Leland, and upon docking realized we were woefully unprepared with reservations to Riverview (next time, my dears, next time). And also, needed to use the restroom. To ease our pain in multiple ways we made our way for a late night summer (open til 8pm!) tasting at Verterra which was just what the doctor ordered. Two different tasting options: *3-1oz pours for $3. *5-1oz pours $5 respectively **If you decide to purchase wine, Verterra deducts one tasting fee from the purchase of two or more bottles of wine. Score! 2014 Rosé of Pinot Noir (bought this bottle, deliciously summer) 2014 Chaos Sparkler 2013 Gewurztraminer - Dry 2013 Pinot Grigio 2012 Vintners Select I loved each and every one. Perhaps it was the mood, or the late summer evening or good company, but this was the most enjoyable wine tasting experience I've had in forever. Just perfection. If you want more than "just a taste" -- they sell wines by the glass and also pints of cider. I could've been woo'ed to stay for another full glass of any of the ones I tried, but my friends were pulling me back on the boat in search of a restaurant This winery is a GEM. I've been to most in the area, and Verterra hits that great balance of excellent wines, casual atmosphere, family-run. If you are out and about doing some wine tasting, make this jaunt to Leland...you will not be disappointed. And get that rosé, it sells out fast -- I got one of the last bottles. It was gone by the time we got back to SB on the boat (don't worry the driver wasn't drinking!). read more

I stopped in to the Verterra tasting room across from the Bluebird to get a couple bottles of their Pino Gris, which I had tried at the BB earlier in the week. The room is warm and well-appointed. The ladies behind the counter were nice, but not overly friendly. While I was there, I sipped a couple of their other offerings. I wasn't blown away by anything else. The Pino Gris is definitely their best wine. This is a storefront tasting room, not a winery, and so it is what it is. The wines are drinkable but not amazing. read more

This was a really great experience. Having been to Napa, Santa Barbara and to a variety of other wineries around the world, this was a surprising find. We didn't know anything about the place, the wine, the experience, but, it was a place to go on some time off while in northern Michigan and the results were unquestionably positive! Verterra offered a very nice wine for a very affordable tasting fee (and good bottle prices), and a very knowledgeable and and delightful staff. From the owner to the family that staffed the tasting room, everyone was accessible, nonjudgmental, and eager to help! I am a fan of Michigan white wine. Though there are certainly serviceable reds, the temperature and the grapes seem to work best when white. AT Verterra I was surprised by two of their wines in particular, the Cuvée and the Pinot Blanc. Both of these wines were incredibly crisp and delicious. The sweetness of the Pinot Blanc was delightful as it was a medium dry wine. So, you add crisp citrus to a very sweet and creamy banana flavor, and you have a wine that could pair well with pork, pasta, or salad, or just a nice bottle to share on a warm day. The Chaos White Cuvée was a bit more complex, but shared the same incredibly clean finish and very strong but not overpowering flavors. As the proprietor explained, it's higher level of acidity really plays nicely and creates a delicate balancing act that's a winner for the consumer. Both were far more than I expected from such a young winery. And, the service was exceptional. We enjoyed a lot of wines, and I left with a few bottles of each of the above as well as a bottle of the Ice Wine which was like taking a drink of delicious Riesling that had been infused with granny smith apple. the sweetness of the ice wine and the bitter tart of the apple was just incredible. Well worth the price. Their ciders were quite tasty as well. The pear comes highly recommended! I found all of the white wines worth tasting, and was told that the red's (particularly the red Cuvée) were wonderful as well. This is a bit off the beaten path in the heart of a very traditional northern Michigan town, but well worth the trip if you're looking for a tasty wine. Two thumbs up for sure. read more

Very disappointed with this winery. We came in and the older woman serving us was very standoffish and not conversational at all. She was very rude to us and refused to allow us to pay for more tastings saying me and my sober friends were cut off. I never knew someone would turn away business like that. We will not be returning. This woman ruined our experience. read more

I love the tasting room. It is nice not to have to drive out of town to try the wine and it looks like the have rehabbed an old existing building, very cute. You can easily make this a stop before or after heading to fishtown. Both me and my friend enjoyed the unoaked Chardonnay and picked up a bottle to take home. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I the pricepoint is a bit high. read more

I am going to attempt to review each of the nearly 40 wineries in the Grand Traverse area. In an effort to remain as objective as possible, I will be reviewing the wineries based on how well they live up to their vision of winemaking. I'm not saying that Verterra is a BAD winery per se, I just don't think they have a very solid vision or philosophy of what they want to be and it does hurt them. The good news is that many of their wines and ciders are quite good. However the best wines tend to be, again in my opinion, overpriced to the point that I can't justify buying one. I will say that the one wine that they are doing that I have not tried and really want to is the Pinot Blanc. If it is on par with other Northern Michigan Pinot Blancs, the $22 price tag is not unreasonable. I think they also suffer a bit from being in a town and not out in the countryside. There is something about seeing the vineyards (even if they are just for show) that really helps a wine tasting experience. The consensus on Verterra, which I agree with, is that it isn't horrible, but it also isn't anything to write home about. Unlike some others on here , I actually had a great pourer. He was very knowledgeable, engaging, and was able to not only answer all my questions, but actually teach me a thing or two. He well may have been the owner himself. That was definitely the best part of my visit. read more

I love Verterra wines. The tasting room in Leland is wonderfully located right near fishtown and off the main drag. The wines are fantastic. I was up for a weekend wine trip, and went to at least a dozen wineries. Verterra were my favorite, by far. There wasn't a single wine I disliked! I wish they had wine club membership in Minnesota! I'd sign up in a second! read more

Just stopped in as we were passing by, and had a great experience. The staff was so knowledgeable, and the wines were amazing.

Quite possibly the best wine in Northern Michigan. The Pinot Rosé is a MUST try however you have to be quick because they run out usually by the end of July each year. I stock up each time I'm there. I'm also a wine club member and get an assortment of wines three times a year based on my wine preferences. Very fun! Only 30 minutes from Traverse, this winery is worth the trip. read more

Oh my dear, there are so many wineries in and around this area. You have so many choices. And Verterra should definitely be one you stop at. We walked in with some bag lunches from down the road and planned on just doing a quick tasting. The woman helping us, was incredibly friendly and chatty with my sister, mother and I. They have a wide array of wines, from dry to sweet. I tired a dry, but mostly stuck to sweet. And there was not one that I tried that I did not like. After doing our tasting, we asked if we could eat our lunch at one of the tables, if we got a glass of wine and we were told it no problem. Not every place is ok with that, so that was great. We didn't try any at the time, but along with the wines they offer, they also have a selection of ciders. We left with a few bottles of wine and my sister a few bottles of cider. I really liked this place and I really hope you like it too. read more

Stopped in a week ago ... We like to support the local area businesses but I likely won't return. The wine is actually some of my favorite from the region but the young man behind the counter was quite rude. He was condescending and made us feel like we were a bother, though no one else was in the building. Won't return but the wine is good. read more

They'd just opened their tasting room at the start of July, a week before we arrived. My wife and I were impressed with the wines and the warmth (and space) of the tasting room, especially for a new winery. It may be a bit nondescript on the exterior, but the interior was great. It compares well with wineries in Sonoma, CA. They did not yet have all their wines in (no reds!) but will in a week or so. We bought a few bottles of the unwooded chardonnay and are quite pleased with the taste. read more

We really enjoyed this tasting room in downtown Leland. We especially liked the hard cherry cider on tap. Their reserved Chardonnay was VERY tasty and would have taken a bottle if they could have shipped to Oregon :( read more

Nice small tasting room in a cozy historic fish town of Leland. While there be sure to try their peach cider sold under Chaos cider brand . Super fragrant and well balanced . As to their wines , we only tried the dry white varietals and they were all well made . The prices were on the expensive side - reserve Chardonnay for $29?? I can get excellent Chardonnay from the Russian river valley for less than that. German style wines were very good so we bought a few bottles . read more

I am solidly a red wine guy but their unwooded chardonay is well worht the price at thier location on Leland.

I have had several terrible experiences with Verterra Winery in the last few months. First, I joined this wine club last spring. My husband and I frequently go wine tasting in this area and we thought it was a good idea to join a wine club here. Third week of September I was charged $140 for our shipment. Second week of October I still had not received so I called them. They told me that some orders were not sent out yet and mine must be in that batch and should have it by the end of the week. Another week goes by and I still do not have it so I call again. They tell me again I should have it within a week. Another week goes by and I still do not have it. I call again and they tell me there was a mistake in their shipments, took down my information, and said I should have it within the week. This phone call happened 3 more times! Finally it was the last week of October and I had to tell them if they didn't reimburse me or send the shipment I was going to report them to my credit card company. Surprise Surprise they sent my shipment....But when I got my shipment 4 out of the 6 bottles were the SAME bottle. Why would I pay $140 to get multiple of the same wine bottle?! And never once did anyone apologize for what a headache they created. I immediately cancelled this short lived membership. Also, back in August I had my bachelorette party in Traverse City. My maid of honor planned Verterra to be one of the stops on our wine tour and we were supposed to have a tour of the vineyards at Verterra. The night before our wine tour they called her and said they had to cancel the vineyard tour, but don't worry we could still come to the tasting room.....really? The night before you call her? Again, no one apologized. On top of that we had a group of 16 girls show up in the tasting room and when I went to purchase a bottle of wine they told me that my wine club membership discount did not apply to this bottle of wine (or several others). Really? You cancel our plans the night before, we still bring 16 customers to your store, and I have a wine club membership and you wouldn't give me a 10% discount? What is the point of having a wine club membership if you can't even get a discount on majority of your bottles? I gave this place one too many strikes. They are terrible and not worth stopping at. There are so many other wineries in this area that are 100 times better. read more