Annual Events Along The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail

Our off site events, such as the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival at Weko Beach in Bridgman in June, offer venues extremely conducive to enjoying the food and wine of Southwest Michigan at one convenient location. Look for another off site event to be added later.

You are more than welcome to make up your own wine trail tour! Try visiting us during the Winter or Spring months, or on a weekday, when the crowds are less and you will be able to enjoy a more relaxing pace. If you visit the websites of each individual winery, you will find they hold many events throughout the season. Attend a wine dinner, a car rally, music or art festival at any number of our member wineries. Stay at one of the many B&Bs or quality hotels along the trail and make a weekend out of it.

Remember, not all wineries allow limousine or bus groups and it is wise to check with the winery before arriving, if you are in a large group.

We look forward to seeing you on the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail!

WEKO BEACH · BRIDGMAN, MICHIGAN · SATURDAY, JUNE 20th, 2009 · 1-10 P.M. Sample great local wines of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, and enjoy great music & food, right on the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan! Contessa Wine Cellars Free Run Cellars Lawton Ridge Winery St. Julian Winery Domaine Berrien Cellars Hickory Creek Winery Lemon Creek Winery Tabor Hill Winery Fenn Valley Vineyard Karma Vista Winery Round Barn Winery Warner Vineyards Lady Sunshine & The X Band Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra Reverend Right Time · Katie Todd Band Keith Scott Band · B4 KitchenAid Chef's Cooking Demonstrations $10 admission, kids under 12 free. Cash Only Sales. For more info on the festival, parking & shuttle service, visit www.miwinetrail.com. $8 Advance tickets at www.TicketWeb.com for a limited time. HOTEL & COTTAGE LODGING: Visit www.swmichigan.org & Blue Fish Vacation Rentals www.bluefishvacations.com or 269.469.0468 ext. 112.

	EVENT: Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival at Weko Beach, Bridgman, Michigan WHEN: Saturday June 20, 2009 TIME: 1:00pm to 10:00pm TOAST THE COAST AT THE 4th ANNUAL 'LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE WINE FESTIVAL', JUNE 20 AT WEKO BEACH (Bridgman, MI) – Picture this…you're relaxing with friends, enjoying a glass of wine while peering out over a vast white-sand beach at Lake Michigan's tranquil shoreline. As you sit back and take in the enchanting sounds of live music along with waves rolling gently into the beach, you raise your glass and 'toast the coast' while a warm golden sun melts into the horizon. You've just imagined an actual scene from the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival, an unparalleled event set for year FOUR on Saturday, June 20th at Weko Beach in Bridgman, MI. It's certainly no secret that Michigan is home to great wineries and picturesque beaches. After three successful years that turned out over 3,000 wine and sun lovers each year, the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is proud to once again pair two of its favorite local attractions at the 4th Annual Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival. The Economic Growth Alliance (Partnership of Lake Township and City of Bridgman) and the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail invite you to a serene summer day on a pristine beach to savor award-winning Michigan wines that are as spectacular as the sunsets. Live music will enhance the event which takes place under a "Big-Top Tent" overlooking beautiful Weko Beach (Located off Exit 16 of I-94, then north on Red Arrow Highway and west on Lake Street in Bridgman). The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival is a showcase event where guests sample (tastes or by the glass) all of the wonderful Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail locally-grown-and-produced varietals and wines from Tabor Hill, Contessa, Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley, Karma Vista, Lawton Ridge, Lemon Creek, Round Barn, St. Julian, Free Run, Hickory Creek and Warner. Wrap this into a day filled with sun & sand, extraordinary cuisine from local restaurants, jazz, blues, R&B, and a dazzling sunset and you have one fantastic summer festival – ideal not only for wine aficionados but for the entire family! Live Chef Demonstrations from the KitchenAid Outdoor Cooking Area featuring the showmanship and expertise of local chefs from PORT 412, DOUBLE T's BBQ and more starting at 2pm and running throughout the afternoon. Admission to the festival is $10 for ages 21 and older and includes a souvenir wine tasting glass. Ages 13 to 20 are only $5 while 12 and under are FREE. Advance tickets are $8, and are available at www.ticketweb.com. Parking and shuttle buses will be available at designated lots in Bridgman. No coolers allowed. Rain or shine event. ATM machine is available this year! Toast the Coast event begins at 1pm EDT and ends at 10pm EDT. Live Band Lineup: 1:00p-B4 2:30p-Katie Todd Band 4:00p-Keith Scott Band 5:30p-Reverend Right Time 6:30p-Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra 8:00p-Lady Sunshine & the X Band For more information, check www.miwinetrail.com or call 773.791.1809 or email inquiries to info@miwinetrail.com. Media: Call Colleen Ryan at the number above for photos, interviews and media passes.