Born in Leelanau, Made to Share

Our Story

We are a local Michigan family operating this vineyard since 1980. We chose to produce our own fruit and follow a farming-first philosophy — putting the land and the vine at the center of every decision: focusing on healthy soils, careful farming, and minimal intervention.

We’re shaped by Northern Michigan — not just as a place, but as a way of life. Growing up here, you learn that good things take time — and that nothing real can be rushed.  

We learned to stay close to what matters. When we had a choice between lucrative careers or a life of winemaking with family, we chose getting our hands dirty and our hearts wide open.

In our lives, farming builds relationships: with the soil, our family, and the world around us. The same principles that guide how we farm — with intention, with patience, with respect — guide everything we make. This is what helps us stay grounded. Honest. Connected.

That’s what our wine carries: not something to be saved, but something to live with. A bottle you open when friends come by unannounced. Or when dinner takes longer — and that’s a good thing.

"If wine is for special occasions, we believe there’s nothing more special than being present for the ordinary ones."

Lake Michigan is Our Co-Winemaker

A Special Place

The Leelanau Peninsula is shaped by Lake Michigan, creating a rare microclimate: long falls, slow ripening, deep snow blankets in winter. The grapes take their time, and the extra week of warmth at harvest makes all the difference.

Our vineyards are planted close to the lake, across elevations and slopes chosen for their natural rhythm. Some are tucked into quiet south-facing hillsides. Others sit just above the shoreline, where the air moves freely and cold nights come later.

This land gives us something rare: fruit that ripens slowly, develops character, and holds the memory of each season.

"Every bottle we make comes from 100% Michigan-grown fruit. This is our commitment to this land, it’s people, and the distinct character only this place can offer."

Natively (and Proudly) Michigan

The Simpson Family

Our roots here go back to the 1950s, when our family began farming pears and plums for Gerber baby food, followed by cherries in the 1970s on the Leelanau Peninsula. In the 1980s, our parents planted the first vines by hand — not for prestige, but for the simple love of good work and good wine. We grew up among the rows and in the cellar, learning that wine isn’t just made — it’s raised. Today, as second generation vintners and third generation farmers, we carry forward what they began: a belief in this land, in each other, and in making wines that feel like home.

Philanthropy and Community Giving

We're in this together

As part of Simpson Family Estates, Good Harbor Vineyards is committed to building a thriving, family-focused Leelanau Peninsula community supported by a world-class educational system for children. We believe strong communities are rooted in the well-being of families and that equal access to early childhood education is essential. This belief dates back to founders John and Millie Simpson, who in the early 1990s helped address the growing need for quality childcare by partnering with their local Methodist church. Through donated space and community fundraising, they helped establish the Leelanau Children’s Center, which remains a vital community resource today.
John and Millie later created the Simpson Family Fund, an endowment that helps cover tuition gaps so all children can access high-quality early education. The Leelanau Children’s Center serves preschoolers ages 30 months to 5 years with a focus on relationships, early experiences, and play-based learning. Fund support helps pay teachers well, provide tuition-free access to marginalized children, and plan for future expansion, including scholarships that in 2022 provided free tuition to eight children from migrant working families.