A couple weekends back, we trekked up to Leland, MI for the annual Food & Wine fest. I have attended the fest every year since I have been of the legal drinking age, and it is one of those things that just screams SUMMER IS HERE to me! I look forward to it every June. This year was just as enjoyable as all the rest.
Even though they raised their prices….
Haha, um dear boyfriend, please don’t hate me for sharing these pictures with everyone. Maybe it will encourage you to try a little harder when you pose for my shots. No more angry/fake faces!
MUCH. BETTER.
Also, THANK YOU for taking all the pictures I demanded sweetly asked you to take for me. We will juts need to work a little on your skills with the DSLR…..although I have a feeling I know what you were trying to capture in this pic. Haha…
THERE we go! 
Our first stop once inside the tents was to Cherry Republic, where my friend Melissa (you know, the one who just got married) now works as the winery even coordinator! UM, I want that job!!
We sampled the Conservancy- a 100% cherry wine- and the Cherry White- a, um, well, cherry white wine. Both were great! LOVED the cherry white. Light, crisp, slightly sweet, great cherry essence!!
Next stop was Silverleaf Winery- a newer place I have never been to before. I went for a taste of the Semi-Dry Riesling, and TJ opted for the classic Late Harvest Riesling. 
Verdict- thumbs up! The semi-dry was exceptional. In fact, as we passed this man going to town on some blackened whitefish, my mouth started watering imagining that pairing. I will definitely be picking up a bottle of that next time I see it!
As for the late-harvest….I was on the fence. It was GOOD, don’t get me wrong, but Northern Michigan has too many WONDERFUL late harvest rieslings, and this one was just a little too acidic for my taste.
Two glasses of wine down by 1 pm? Clearly it was time to sample some goods from the food vendors. First stop- Stonehouse Bread.
Um, yeah. Four inch thick slices of fresh foccaccia?! Sold. We split a piece of the artichoke garlic.
HAHA!!! Oh boyfriend, you crack me up. As soon as he saw my camera come up, he was making the most ridiculous faces!!
But the bread….oh my gahh the bread! Fluffy, tender, chewy, soft, WARM, flavorful, not greasy at all! AKA….bread I would sell my unborn children for. Ridiculously good.
One we were sufficiently carbed up, we headed out for more wine, and for some local craft beer for TJ. 
Short’s brewery is fabulous. I am not a big beer person, but I have really enjoyed everyone one I have tasted from here. TJ grabbed a glass of the Humalupalicious (how fun is that to say!!).
I promise he loved his beer. I was dying laughing because every single pic I took of him, he looked like he was in PAIN drinking this beer! Bahahaha. I <3 him 
I headed to Circa Vineyards. Their table was absolutely decadent! So plush.
Their Pinot Grigio was FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!! I may or may not have gone back for another sample…! We wandered around the tents for a bit, indulging in the sights and finding friends!
More food! A SUPERB burrito with smoked pulled chicken, lettuce, rice, homemade pico de gallo, and a chipotle cilantro crème drizzle.
And more super flattering pictures of boyfriend. Muahahaha.
CAUGHT ya!
FRIENDS!! Kate and Cam (engaged! shiny clean new ring!!!)!!
More friends!! Shawn and Niki!! You know them by now…!
A few more samples, a little bit of dancing, and some silliness while I assigned everyone buttons I had picked up from Circa’s table.
And by 6 pm, we were ready for dinner. Tj and I stopped at a cozy little place across the street, right on the water, called The Cove. And….Camera died!! But don’t worry, I caught more embarassing shots on the iPhone. You’re welcome.
We shared a cup of chowder, whitefish pate dip, and fresh garlic butter escargot. Coors Light to wash it down. Thanks to our friend Sarah for waiting on us!
And with that, we waved bye bye to beautiful Leland and headed home for a VERY much need deep sleep.
Hubba hubba,
Already looking forward to wine fest 2011!
