Facing Challenges in the Wine Industry

How does Left Foot Charley Winery rise above

Nationally, and even internationally, wine consumption is down. Older consumers are restricting their spending, wine isn’t as trendy as cocktails, and the younger generation is opting for non-alcoholic options or products with THC as an alternative to drinking. So how does the wine industry in Northern Michigan earn the title of “Napa of the Midwest?” By meeting this challenge, each in their own way. Estate wineries like Black Star Farms and Chateau Chantal can lean into other on-site amenities like lodging, weddings and vineyard events. Left Foot Charley winery is unique in many ways, including their unusual location inside the former asylum laundry facilities and root cellar of the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. So how do they compete?

As I chatted with Kristy and watched the tasting room slowly fill with customers ready to wrap-up the work week, I kept coming back to three reasons Left Foot Charley meets and exceeds expectations:

• They are people with passion
• They believe in placemaking
• Creating great wine and cider isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life

Pouring with Passion

Connection through staff and story

Bryan and Jen Ulbrich have owned and operated Left Foot Charley Winery for over 20 years. They pour their passion into the business every day, treating their staff and customers like trusted friends and family. So it came as no surprise to me that most of their staff have been with them between 5-10 years. They stay because they believe in the brand. They’re extremely knowledgeable, with ninety percent of the tasting room staff having received WSET wine education training. So if you’re from California and are not familiar with Michigan grape varietals, the staff at Left Foot Charley can suggest a wine based on what you already like to drink. They know the fruit, the wine-making process, and care about your experience.

Membership has Big Benefits

Earning First Place as the “Third Place”

Like most wineries in our region, wine clubs help sustain the business at Left Foot Charley. But here membership has unexpected benefits. What they’ve created feels more like a social community than a subscription service. If your first place is at home, your second place is at work, Left Foot Charley winery is becoming the third place for wine club members. Every Monday night in the Barrel Room is open mic. Members save 25% on food and wine, which has turned Mondays into happy hour get togethers for the regulars. Quarterly wine pickups might include an ice cream social, or a meet and greet hangout in Bryan’s den gathered around a vintage record player spinning tunes and sharing wine wisdom.

One of the perks of the wine club membership is the option to attend special events. In April 2026 Left Foot Charley is offering a chartered river cruise on the Danube through the Austrian wine region. They’ve already had over 60 club members sign up for the cruise, filling nearly half the boat! I can’t think of a better way to explore the region than with Bryan as your wine sherpa, while you enjoy private group tastings and take in the vistas from Vilshofen to Budapest.

My How They’ve Grown

Some things change, and some stay the same

Not every winery has a winemaker on staff. And not every winemaker has a vineyard on site. When I met Bryan in 2004 he guided me through his plans for a wine-making operation and tasting room inside the slowly renovating former state hospital grounds. He had a solid reputation as a winemaker behind the scenes at Peninsula Cellars. And with the support of small growers across Old Mission he found a way to build a brand and make consistently great wine without owning vineyards. As his reputation grew, so did the opportunities for custom crush, a common practice where winemakers process and age wines for other wineries. And then along came cider. Cinnamon Girl hit the taps at Left Foot Charley in 2008 and it hasn’t stopped flowing since. So as you can imagine space at the old laundry facility turned winery was getting tight.

In 2024 Left Foot Charley had the opportunity to expand and take much of the winemaking off-site to a larger production facility off M72. Now they have all the room they need to make award-winning wines and ciders for Left Foot Charley and custom crush clients, and they can repurpose some winery space at their original location on Red Drive inside The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Wine Recommendations

for Holiday Hosts, Gifts and Everyday

With the holidays on the horizon I asked Kristy for some wine recommendations from the shelves at Left Foot Charley. If you live in the Traverse City region you can stop by to taste and purchase at the tasting room. Left Foot Charley also ships to several states if you want to shop their wine online.

Holiday Meals

White wine: Kerner //

Dry, crispy fruit-forward wine that pairs well with turkey and sausage gravy

Red wine: Blaufränkisch //

A little cranberry and clove, peppery but not lingering spice. And it can handle a chill if that’s your preference

Bubbles: Crémant of Michigan //

It tastes “like jumping in Lake Michigan on a summer’s day.” A blend of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, dry but fruity

Hostess Gift –

Wine Sap Cider //

Think of biting into a Granny Smith apple. A great choice if you’re a Sauvignon Blanc fan

Le Caban Riesling //

You know Skittles, well here you can taste all the rainbow fruits. The name is an anagram of “balance” and the label features a rock cairn. It’s made from Riesling grapes from four different Old Mission vineyards.

Wow gift –

Single Vessel Blau Trio //

Enjoy three bottles of Blaufränkisch. All fruits are picked from the same vineyard, at the same time, but aged in different vessels. A very special and limited vertical tasting experience for the true oenophile.

Always on hand

Island View Pinot Blanc //

Pinot Blanc is really taking off. If you had to choose one wine to keep in the cellar this season this dry white made from Michigan’s oldest planting of Pinot Blanc would be the one.

Left Foot Charley has space available in the Barrel Room for private parties from 8-75 people. Great for holidays, birthdays, corporate events throughout the year. For more information email kristy@leftfootcharley.com.