Crafting Wine and Cultivating Community

Wineries on giving back with charitable programs, bottles, and events

By Rachel Soulliere | July 18, 2026

The 45th parallel is known around the world for ideal grape-growing conditions and terrific terroir. While some of these European regions have been producing wine for nearly 3,000 years, the 45th parallel in the Grand Traverse region only started growing its local wine scene in the 1970s.

Now, there are nearly 50 wineries between Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsula taking advantage of glacial soils and lake-effect weather to craft wines that reflect northern Michigan’s unique terroir. But the wineries and winemakers aren’t just cultivating grapes—they’re cultivating relationships too.

Dune Bird

“Wine, from its inception, has always been communal. It’s something that brings people together, celebrates communities, and creates meaningful change. Wine is community, wine is place, wine is story,” says Bekah Bell, former brand culture and wine club manager for Dune Bird Winery and current director of sales and hospitality for Suttons Bay’s newest winery, Lee Creek Vineyard.

During her time at Dune Bird, Bell helped create their winery giving program. She was responsible for finding a community partner whose mission aligned with Dune Bird’s philanthropic views.

“My brother was born with cerebral palsy and lives in Ohio, but we make it a priority for him to come up here at least once a year. During one of his visits, we rented the new beach wheelchair, provided free of charge, by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes as part of their accessibility program. This was the first time he was ever able to touch Lake Michigan, and it was such a special moment for us all,” says Bell. “The way Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes approach and lead accessibility, community, and environmental protection is unmatched. When it was time to pick a nonprofit partner for Dune Bird, they were my first choice.”

The team at Dune Bird then decided their new rosé would be their philanthropic wine and wanted to work with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to benefit piping plover conservation. The aviation theme was an instant connection and Dune Bird ended up naming the new wine Pink Plover. They pledged to raise $15,000 over one year and met that goal through merch and bottle sales, general donations, and a successful Pink Plover launch event attended by 500 people.

A year later, Dune Bird is still supporting Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes and piping plover conservation with Pink Plover wine. To expand on their giving, they are now supporting the restoration efforts of Northport’s Woolsey Airport through sales of their Woolsey Red wine—another perfectly themed local aviation partnership.

“While I was a small part of getting this giving program started, seeing it continue is what really matters and what we need in all our communities. Someone to light the torch and then for others to carry it forward,” says Bell.

MAWBY

While newer wineries and giving programs are emerging in northern Michigan, some winemakers have been working to give back to the community for decades, including MAWBY. From yearly partnerships and donations, to founder Larry Mawby starting Peninsula Housing in 2021 (a nonprofit with the mission of providing affordable housing in Leelanau), MAWBY has had giving on its mind for the last 50 years.

“Good work can be hard work. At MAWBY, we know this as makers of sparkling wine. We also know the value of nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work in our community, and we want to amplify their impact,” says Mike Laing, owner of MAWBY.

Through their program MAWBY Gives, they select a few partners each year to support. Their 2026 partners are Peninsula Housing and Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Student Support Network due to the continuous rising need from local families and students. MAWBY provides financial assistance through donating a percentage of proceeds from each “Build Your Own Flight” in the tasting room, along with hands-on support in the form of volunteering with Student Support Network pop-ups and hosting an event in the fall for Peninsula Housing.

“Giving back to the community is part of who we are at MAWBY,” adds Laing.

Chateau Chantal

Affordable housing has also become a priority for the team at Chateau Chantal. In advocating for housing in northern Michigan, Chateau Chantal has built an ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region to move the needle for affordable housing support in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Kalkaska counties.

“A few years ago, we attended a community conversation focused on local housing and how it impacts our workforce,” says Brian Lillie, vice president of hospitality operations and distribution at Chateau Chantal. “Being located on Old Mission Peninsula, a majority of our team members live in Grand Traverse County, and we know things aren’t getting any cheaper. This quickly drove us towards wanting to make a difference.”

Their winery even has a historical link to affordable housing, as founder Bob Begin was a pastor in Detroit who studied HUD financing and rehabilitation.

“Between our values inside Chateau Chantal and evaluating what is important in our communities, we couldn’t let go of our passion and historical connection to housing, but we didn’t know how to make a difference on our own. What we do know is that a single bottle of wine can bring people together: share with a friend, enjoy a sunset meal, collaborate, and converse. As we continued conversations and connections in the housing realm, we were able to meet Wendy Irvin from Habitat for Humanity and started talking. It felt right to build a partnership with them in order to truly make an impact together,” says Lillie.

In the first year of partnership, Chateau Chantal created a Welcome Home wine that welcomed families into homes made possible through Habitat for Humanity. This wine was then released in local retailers, such as Tom’s Food Markets, and gained some partnerships, including Traverse City Tourism, leading to three times the contributions than what was initially expected. Funds raised from this wine supported the New Waves Community project, which brought 14 new homes to families in Leelanau County.

“At Habitat for Humanity, we’ve worked with so many wonderful partners in the community, but the vision, action, and passion brought forward by the team at Chateau Chantal have helped us spread awareness, generate revenue, engage in our mission, and meet goals we’ve been aiming to achieve,” says Wendy Irvin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region.

Now, Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and Chateau Chantal is continuing their support with their newest philanthropic wine: Cheers! Through a $1 donation from each bottle of sparkling wine, Chateau Chantal has already been able to raise more than $1,000 since launching the wine this May. Funds raised will support an eight-home townhouse project in Kalkaska. Habitat for Humanity is currently seeking homeowner applications for this affordable housing project called Court Street Station.

“It’s so powerful that we have neighbors who want to utilize their talent, time, and treasures to help with one community crisis and support our organization to build more affordable homes in northern Michigan. We are so grateful for the entire team at Chateau Chantal for being present, involved, and engaged in our community to give back. Their vision, hard work, and drive to support something that is real and challenging in our region have been a beautiful experience for us all,” says Irvin.