Good Harbor Vineyards
- Established Year - 1980
- AVA - Leelanau Peninsula
Origin Story
The Simpson family began farming fruit on the Leelanau Peninsula back in 1950. The family started in cherries but transitioned to wine grapes in the early 1970s after Bruce Simpson returned from studying at the University of California Davis. He and his wife Debbie, along with his parents, John and Millie Simpson, planted five acres of grapes and built the existing winery that is used today. The wine industry was in its infancy and no one knew if growing grapes to produce wine would be sustainable. Slowly over the course of the next forty-five years, Good Harbor Vineyards grew and helped to establish the wine region around it.
How They Started
The Simpson family began their journey on the Leelanau Peninsula in the 1950s with cherries, but shifted toward wine in the 1970s after Bruce Simpson studied viticulture and oenology at UC Davis. In 1980, Bruce and his wife Debbie founded Good Harbor Vineyards—only the fourth winery on the Peninsula at the time. Bruce became a pioneer in Michigan’s wine industry, co-founding the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association and the Leland Wine Festival, helping shape the region’s now-thriving wine community.
Today, Good Harbor Vineyards is led by second-generation siblings Sam and Taylor Simpson. With strong backgrounds in viticulture, finance, and wine marketing, they continue their family’s legacy by cultivating 175 acres of vineyards, producing both classic and experimental varietals. Their mission is to offer diverse opportunities for growth in the wine industry while honoring the vision and foundation laid by their parents and grandparents.
Mission Statement
The Simpson family wants to create high quality Michigan wine for consumers to enjoy at an affordable price.
Wine Making Philosophy
The wines are produced in the vineyard, not in the cellar. You cannot make great wines from subpar fruit. The attention to detail needs to come throughout the season with your growing practices.
Top 3 Wines
This winery is known for:
Pinot Grigio
Late Harvest Riesling
Fishtown White
Accolades
Pinot Grigio – 93 Points – Tasting Panel Magazine
Pinot Noir Zweigelt – 95 Points – Tasting Panel Magazine
Pinot Grigio – Best Pinot Grigios of 2023 – VinePair
Blanc de Blanc – Best of Class – San Francisco Chronicle Competition
