Fall in Love With Leelanau:

(LEELANAU PENINSULA, Mich) – Love is in the air as you celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day at the “Taste the Passion” weekend, February 9-10. This is the first of four seasonal wine touring weekends hosted by the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association in 2008. As an added bonus, all participants will be entered in a drawing to win one of three romantic weekend escapes to be given away – providing a second opportunity to enjoy this wonderful wine region.

The winter's beauty on the Leelanau Peninsula, paired with the special pleasures of life such as wine and chocolate, always makes for truly wonderful experience.

The weekend starts on Saturday as participants head to their first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass. Then the fun begins with special pours and tasty chocolate treats offered at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday.

All participants in the “Taste the Passion” weekend are entered into a drawing to win one of three romantic weekend escapes to be given away during the weekend for use at a later date. Give-away packages include two nights lodging and breakfast at either The Homestead Resort with dinner at Funistrada; Holiday Inn West Bay with dinner at Hannah; Whaleback Inn with dinner at Samuel’s.

To add to the weekend’s festivities, several of the wineries will be holding special events exclusively for “Taste the Passion” ticket holders to celebrate the beauty and fun to be had in this winter wonderland. These events will provide countless photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera.

• Gill’s Pier is offering an unguided, one-mile morning snowshoe hike through the vineyard and adjoining orchard at 10am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday, with danishes and hot mulled wine for participants. Participants must bring their own snowshoes.
• Black Star Farms welcomes snowshoeing through its vineyards and woods, all weekend long. Participants must bring their own snowshoes.

• Chateau Fontaine is offering cross country skiing through its vineyard trails, all weekend long. Participants must bring their own ski gear.

• Shady Lane Cellars is holding a Miniature Snowman Making Contest throughout the weekend. Use the accessories available on site or feel free to bring your own.
• Ciccone Vineyards is hosting a special cocktail party on Saturday evening with appetizers, wine tasting and socializing with noted winemaker Tony Ciccone.

• L. Mawby Vineyard has created a Vineyard Snow Angel Contest set for Sunday, February 10 from Noon to 4pm. Each contestant will make a snow angle (decorated if they wish to bring their own supplies) which will be judged by an anonymous respected expert in the field of snow angel making. The winner will be announced at 4:15pm in an elaborate Announcement Ceremony, where an incredible prize package will be presented (details of which will remain secret until the award is given). A photograph of the winning snow angel will also be posted on the winery website following the event. In the absence of snow, Mud Angels may be made.

Tickets for “Taste the Passion” are just $30 each and may be purchased online at www.lpwines.com.

For a list of Leelanau Peninsula Vintner Association wineries, log on to www.lpwines.com. From there, you can access each winery’s website where days and hours of operation, as well as winery-specific events, are listed. The site also includes news and information about wine trail events.

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