Aurora Cellars
- Established Year - 2014
- AVA - Leelanau Peninsula
Origin Story
After studying and deepening their understanding of the Aurora Cellars property, siblings Taylor and Sam Simpson recognized it as a viticultural gem. They were thrilled by the property’s distinctive physical and geographical characteristics and the potential cultivation opportunities. Nestled in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, the land is uniquely composed of almost entirely hard, compact clay soil with rolling hills. This clay soil offers optimal growing conditions for producing high-quality red wines. The siblings shared a vision to push the boundaries of innovation in vineyard management and winemaking practices. Their mission is to create world-class, cool-climate wines with an emphasis on red varieties. The outcome is wine that embodies elegance, subtlety, and a true reflection of its terroir.

How They Started
Aurora Cellars is part of Simpson Family Estates, owned and operated by siblings Sam and Taylor Simpson who have a long family heritage of fruit farming on the Leelanau Peninsula. The siblings knew the property was special and wanted to open a winery where people could enjoy wines and create memorable experiences that people would feel compelled to share. They put together a dynamic team of talented farmers and vintners to cultivate world-class wines and a group of hospitality professionals to foster an atmosphere where people feel engaged and excited about celebrating Michigan wines.

Mission Statement
The objective of Aurora Cellars is to push the boundaries of innovation in vineyard and winemaking practices. The mission is to produce world class, cool climate wines with a focus on red varieties.
Wine Making Philosophy: We work to produce authentic cool climate wines that are hand crafted and true to the vintage and vineyard in which they are grown. Our wines capture a time and place in each bottle.

Top 3 Wines
This winery is known for:
Sauvignon Blanc
Blaufrankisch
Brut Rose
Accolades
2021 Blaufrankisch – 95 Points – The Tasting Panel
2023 Sauvignon Blanc – 93 Points – The Tasting Panel
2022 Gruner Veltliner – 13 Best Gruner Velltliners of 2023 – VinePair
2021 Blaufrankisch – 14 Best Austrian Reds of 2024 – VinePair
Brut Rose – Double Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Awards