ABOUT OUR LAKE LEELANAU, MI BOUTIQUE VINEYARD

Aurora Cellars is part of Simpson Family Estates, owned and operated by siblings Sam and Taylor Simpson who have a long family heritage of farming on the Leelanau Peninsula. The Simpsons acquired the property due to its unique physical and geographical components which intrigued and excited the siblings with what could be cultivated. After studying and becoming more familiar with the property, they knew Aurora Cellars was a viticultural gem. The property is unique in that it is composed of nearly all hard compact clay soil with rolling hills protected in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula. The siblings agreed the objective of Aurora Cellars would be to push the boundaries of innovation in vineyard and winemaking practices. Their mission is to produce world class, cool climate wines with a focus on red varieties. The result is wine with an elegance, nuance and true expressions of where they are grown. Aurora Cellars’ estate flagship reds planted are Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. All these varietals are hand tended to, hand harvested, crafted, and barrel-aged in small lots by the Simpson Family Estates’ Harbor Hill Services, its vineyard and wine consulting and production company. Officially established in 1980 by the Simpson family, this ground to glass award-winning operation has been actively farming on the Leelanau Peninsula since 1956. Growing and producing world class cool climate red wines on the northern edge of a viticultural growing region is not an easy task, but the Simpsons recognized the risk and are up to the challenge. Their farming heritage, forward-thinking attitude, and edgy and innovative business practices are what have helped these distinct cool climate reds gain notoriety nationally.