OBrien Vineyards’ Ard Ri Pinot Noir

Bottoms Up

By Anna Faller | Oct. 17, 2026

There’s something about fall in northern Michigan that has us feeling like royalty. So, we’re pairing the majesty of Mother Nature (and her crimson color change) with the 2024 Ard Rí Pinot Noir from ŌBrien Vineyards in Traverse City. With a name that translates to “high king” in Gaelic, this limited production pinot combines estate grapes from Old Mission Peninsula with the ripe and complex palette of an especially warm growing season—and a vinification process that included 10 months of aging in French oak barrels. The result is a bright and savory red whose plush fruit notes, silky tannin, and vibrant acid are fit for a king. Don your crown at the tasting room at 1380 Yellow Dr., in the Grand Traverse Commons, and while you’re there, check out the 2021 Brut Rose—pinot done another way! (231) 590-3478