The “Big Red House” has long been an object of curiosity for travelers along M-22. The original owner built to both a floor plan and a standard which has facilitated the conversion of the house to a luxury inn offering guests a memorable stay. Each of the ten luxurious rooms includes a private bath, in-room cable television, complimentary wine tasting, a bottle of house wine, hospitality hour, and a full gourmet breakfast.
Black Star Farms' Suttons Bay estate also houses their cozy restaurant, Bistro Polaris. Whether you’re seeking a unique destination restaurant or a rejuvenating stop on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, Bistro Polaris at Black Star Farms is the perfect choice! The menu highlights Estate Chef John Korycki's years of experience with global cuisine, while featuring fresh ingredients from local area farms, including their own. From wood-fired Neapolitan style pizzas, to artisan salads, and delectable desserts, their menu offers a delightful fusion of Mediterranean flavors with a farm-to-table flare. Seating is available inside or on the patio for those wishing to soak up the sun and surrounding beauty of the farm. The restaurant is also a great venue for rehearsal dinners and special events, as well as large groups looking for dining options. Bistro Polaris is open Thursday-Saturday for lunch and dinner from 12pm-8pm. On Sundays, the Bistro is open from 10am-1pm for a ticketed three-course brunch.
Not only is Black Star Farms designed to be a destination for casual visitors to experience all their products and services, they also provide a destination for guests who would like to host a variety of memorable events:
- Weddings and anniversaries
- Corporate and incentive gatherings
- Charitable and cultural activities
- Seasonal and holiday parties
- Executive retreats
- Group tours and tastings
In addition to the Inn and Bistro, Black Star Farms offers two winery tasting rooms and production facilities. The original tasting room and production facility is located at their Suttons Bay estate, just 12 miles from downtown Traverse City on the beautiful Leelanau Peninsula. It's housed in a unique post-and-beam building and features an elliptical tasting bar. Wine club members and Inn guests have access to the exclusive Barrel Room, where they will experience a level of refinement above and beyond their standard tasting room.
A short drive along scenic M-37, among the rolling hills and sublime views of East Grand Traverse Bay, lies their second location, Black Star Farms Old Mission, opened in 2007. Once home to locally renowned Underwood Farm Market, it now houses a beautifully renovated tasting room and state of the art winemaking facility. The tasting room boasts a round bar constructed from nine wine barrels and a cozy fireplace in a farmstead setting.
Black Star Farms' produces 50+ award-winning wines, cider, and brandies, all of which express the regional nature of northwest Michigan. Along with their winemaking program, Black Star Farms' distillery operation began at their inception in 1998 and they are proudly one of the first businesses in the area to receive a distilling license. From clear Eau de Vie-style spirits to whiskey-like barrel-aged brandies, their fruit brandies are an expression of Michigan's agricultural heritage. Crafted from the finest local fruits, their distillation method retains the beautiful characteristics found in these fruits. Black Star Farms' sources their fruit from the proprietor’s vineyards and their local grower partners on both Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This diversity allows them to obtain consistent quality across vintages. Black Star Farms' products reflect this quality and represent the best efforts of their skilled winemaking team.
