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ABOUT

Dennis Farms Vineyard & Walloon Lake Winery

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A four generation tradition of family and farming is the motivation for Walloon Lake Winery. Nestled between the arms of Walloon Lake, our unique property has been farmed by the Dennis family since 1954. We craft award winning wines from locally grown grapes, including the ten varieties planted on our own property

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Dennis Family, owners.

1954

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In April 1954, Bob and Dorothy Dennis brought their newborn son, Tim, home to the 40 acre farm they had just purchased. Dennis Farms began as a small dairy operation, later after Bob retired he turned it into a produce farm with green houses.

2012

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In 2012, Tim started looking for a way to use the farm as a retirement business. He learned about cold hardy grapes that could be grown in Northern Michigan. Dennis Farms Vineyard was born.

rainbow over beautiful vineyard
Woman checking on growing grape vines.

2013

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The first Marquette grapes were planted in 2013. The goal is to expand to 15 acres of grapes with seven varieties: Marquette, Frontenac, Petite Pearl and Sabrevois for red wines, Frontenac Gris, Frontenac Blanc, and La Crescent for white wine. The majority of the vines will be propagated in the greenhouses from cuttings from our purchased vines.

2014

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Construction on the new tasting room began in the fall of 2014. Cordwood construction using Cedar from the farm was used to build our one of a kind new building.

construction of the new tasting room
complete tasting room exterior

2015

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Our new unique tasting room is finished and beautiful!  The building was built by Tim and son Connor over the past year. Most of the wood for it was harvested and milled from the farm on site. The red pine harvested for the beams in the building were planted by Tim and Marta in 1973. The stone we will put around the foundation next spring and it also will come from the farm.

2018

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We began construction on our new, covered crush pad! This area will allow us to process fruit in all weather conditions in comfort! Look forward to seeing this project completed in early summer of 2018.

construction of new covered crush pad
continued construction and improvements to property

Summer 2018

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Construction continues on the building! Tongue and Groove pine goes in to the ceiling. 

Fall 2018

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The building was completed September 5th! Just in time for a wedding, that weekend. We couldn't have done it without the hard work of our staff, friends, and family. 

sunny day exterior photo of tasting room
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