WaterFire Vineyards - Torch Lake Winery

An amazing experience. COME HERE!!!! The family is extremely friendly and outgoing. We had a blast. They gave you enough space to enjoy yourself but made you feel so welcomed. Views and wine was incredible, hospitality was great. we will absolutely be back! Dog friendly!

Honestly, the best winery in Northern, if not all, of Michigan! Stopped in this past Saturday, right after a bus group was finishing up, and had the two owners assist us with our flights, so they were extremely knowledgeable about their wines. The best part was they both kept asking us what we thought of each wine we tried. They were genuinely looking for our opinions. Every wine was 5/5 and the salmon spread with crackers was the cherry on top! The place has a quaint charm to it. We'll be back every time we're nearby!

Beautiful setting to sit and enjoy Northern Michigan. Their estate wines are wonderful and the owners explained how they are grown naturally and organically. Bottles made great gifts for our friends downstate that don’t know how good Northern Michigan wine is. Owners were super nice!

What a hidden gem! We loved the quaint vineyards and friendly space! Our knowledgeable hosts explained the various blends and we sampled some wines we would not otherwise have enjoyed! Definitely add this to your list on your wine tour!

It's hard to put into words how special this place is. Sure, it's beautiful. Yes, it's sustainable. Of course, the staff are down to earth, fantastic locals. But it's more than that. Kids are welcomed. Dogs are welcomed. They have a list of native plants found of the property. The wood stove and fireplace are going when needed. There's a wee B&B. I mean!!!! This place... I'll be back.

I was on a road trip from out of town over the holiday weekend and this was a place recommended by a friend. I decided to make the stop and was immediately greeted when I walked in. She recommended some wines to me and I had a glass while looking around the beautiful fields. The wine was good. Unfortunately, it started to rain and then got extremely busy. I was on a road trip with my dog and didn’t want to keep him in the car alone for too long, so I couldn’t wait and had to leave without getting a bottle. Might have to buy and ship one online! They also had live entertainment. I would recommend stopping here.

Absolutely stunning landscape with a beautiful trail to walk. Wine tasting was a great choice as they were all delicious and the staff was friendly and helpful!

Everything about this place was amazing. The view, the wine, the staff, and of course, the cute dogs! We were able to sit outside and enjoy our wine and charcuterie board with a spectacular view. Ellis was very knowledgeable about the wine and very friendly. I would highly recommend checking this place out! After we had our wine, we went to Torch Lake because it was so close. We cannot wait to go back!

Nice views and friendly service. Wine is about what you'd expect for the area - nothing amazing but not bad. They say they specialize in dry white wines. They had one red blend but said the juice comes from California given this area isn't great for reds. It was $12 for a tasting of 4-5 wines. I liked the Gneiss white and semi dry Riesling the best, both of which were a little on the sweet side despite the fact I typically don't like sweet wines. They also have small bites menu but we were stuffed having just come from lunch so didn't try.

Well-timed stop for wine and beautiful surroundings. We followed the sign off of US-31 on a whim and so glad we did. Fully sustainable vineyard with delicious wine and small plates. Great conversation on the patio. Dogs welcome. Super friendly sommelier and let us try the wines first. Only bummer is that they were out of the Grüner Veltliner-guess we'll have to come back!!

Beautiful, quaint vineyard. Nice white wines and excellent service. A relaxing and enjoyable place.

Great people enjoyed every thing,we had drinks and snacks enjoying best views of their skylines...Definitely be coming back when in this region.

Cute, cozy little place with amazing views of the vineyard. They only had four wines to try but they were really good.

Beautiful scenery, great friendly service, delicious wines, bought a couple of different bottles of wine after the wine tasting

This place was a fantastic little winery we stumbled on through the bed and breakfast we were staying at! It's located in a "wide open"-like area. You pull up to a nice little house (there's a small trailer also in the lot that is selling clothing). When we arrived, it was at about 11am, so we were the only ones there. Ellis was there to greet us and get us started with our tasting. We sat on their outdoor patio area which has a beautiful view into the trees and fields nearby. They pride themselves in leaving as much of nature around them, untouched. All of the wines and ciders were fantastic! I wish we were able to come to this place at night. We were told that the nightlife here is pretty great. Whether, it is socializing with other people or listening to live music. Next time we're up near Charlevoix, we're definitely making a stop here again!

Always comfortable. Go for the white wines and ambiance. Their cider is also great. Highly recommend coming here.

Hidden gem in my neighborhood Friendly, knowledgeable staff and delicious wine overlooking a beautiful, walkable property. I almost hesitate to promote it because the experience is so special.

Just spent a lovely couple hours sipping organic wine and looking out over the vineyard. This place is so incredibly beautiful- you can take a walk on the grounds or enjoy your beverage in a variety of places (may I suggest at a picnic table under a willow tree?). Their specialty is cold weather white wines, which seemed to run on the dry side. Their 2017 riesling was my favorite. Not only does this vineyard use organic practices, they're sustainable in every aspect of their business.

Very knowledgeable personnel and a cute hideaway to sample wines. Try it! Very environmentally friendly operation.

Only tried the cider, not the wine but it was delicious! Staff was very friendly and chatted with us. Friends stayed at the AirBnb on-site which was wonderful as well. We throughly enjoyed just sitting on the porch enjoying time together and the view!

Really nice little vineyard. I tried the Dry Riesling and the Garnet red wine blend. They were both very tasty. I really enjoyed the little trail around the property with benches and a picnic table. Staff was friendly and helpful.

This is such a hidden gem! Such a cute atmosphere and friendly server!! A must-see! :)

This vineyard is beautiful! They have great service. This was my first time going to a vineyard where they tell you to feel free to walk around and explore. They even offered us blankets if we wanted to set up a little picnic on the property. The wine was delicious as well. We had such a relaxing afternoon with our wine, charcuterie, and those views. Can't wait to go back next time we're in town.

Wow! A hidden gem! This small off the beaten path winery has a fantastic selection of wine, plus a charming setting both indoors and out on their deck overlooking the orchards and vineyards. The dogs that escort you from your car to the tasting room are a special treat. I especially liked the pinot noir, but white wine drinkers will not be disappointed. A must stop. And have a glass on the deck after your tasting.

Such a lovely vineyard! Service was amazing. Everyone was so kind and we had such great conversations. The wines are delicious and refreshing and perfect for this beautiful June day. Can't wait until we can come back and visit!!

Loved this winery! There was a beautiful view, and my favorite part was Finely, the wineries doggo. He made my day! The wine was good, their charcuterie board was mouth watering. I truly enjoyed my time there, and i love the ambiance and aesthetic of the building. Would definitely go back!

My husband and I were driving to Traverse City when we stumbled upon this gem. It is so cozy and intimate. Michigan's only sustainable vineyard. The young lady serving our pours (her name escapes me) was so friendly and knowledgeable. We had a great chat about how the vineyard got started and what sustainability really means. She even gave us some good recommendations for books and Netflix docs. We got to sample some very delicious wines and even a hard cider (not your typical cider). I am not a fan of traditional cider due to its extreme sweetness. This was the opposite. She also let us sample two Rieslings that were a year apart with totally different tasting notes. We purchased one (not pictured). The bonus about this tasting room is they have an AirBnB attached. The owner gave us a quick peek. The view is AMAZING! My husband and I will definitely be back. If you are ever in town or passing thorough, you should stop at Water Fire for sure! You won't regret it.

This place is "off the beaten path" for sure but well worth the trip. We were greeted by dogs who escorted us into a super charming space. The hostess was super personable and the wine was delicious. Unfortunately, this year they are specializing in white wines (I prefer reds) but all six we tasted were surprisingly good. They said they are listing a two bedroom apartment off the back for seasonal rental on vrbo and b-n-b. I suggested a hot tub for a secluded couple winter get-a-way. If you are tired of the beach, take a ride and check it out.

We had a private event here tonight and it was amazing. The wine, setting, staff, food, wildflowers, COVID planning, everything was outstanding. It's an intimate, small venue, using sustainable practices, focusing on maintaining water quality. We loved it and would recommend it for a party or just to stop by.

What an amazing place to visit. From the ambiance to the service and the wine! We sampled all of the wines and loved them all. The grape leaves and hummus were so good. The manager and the owner were very friendly and knowledgeable. I can't say enough amazing things and can't wait to go back! We even brought a case of wine home with us! Highly recommended!!!

Went to Waterfire a few weeks after they opened and the space is great! It's small, but in the summer it is going to be awesome!!!! Loved all of the wine tastings we were offered. The woman who was working said they were going to start offering picnic baskets that you can bring and hangout in the vineyards so I hope they do that this summer!!

Loved this winery and their commitment to sustainability. Nice knowing their wine is free of pesticides. Beautiful space and Ellis was incredibly friendly and educated us on the wines, the vineyard and the unique aspects of their operation. Definitely a boutique experience. Can't wait to go back!

If you're in the Torch Lake area and are looking for wine tasting, this is a must stop! It's not your typical winery or wine tasting venue, however this is what makes it stand out. Great food, awesome view and fantastic service. Zero complaints from this reviewer!

First off it must be said the wines were good. They were, in fact very good. I don't mind paying for a tasting, but you then have to give me a substantial taste so I can decide if I want to buy the wine. There were two dogs there as mentioned by previous reviewers. One had gone with someone for a time. The remaining grey haired, blue eyed mutt then seemed on edge. We are an experienced "dog family" so we left her alone because of this. A family came in with two small children. The 5-year old boy seemed interested in the dog. It responded with growling, barking, ears back and tail down. It appears that this dog is not fond of children! My question is why would you have an unfriendly dog in your business? The little boy was scared and he cried. Yes, a winery isn't a "kid place" but it was a rainy day and this family, like us was desperately seeking something to do. I bought a wine because as I said previously they were good, but I feel they need to get a handle on the dog and start pouring respectable sized tastes when people are paying! I might have bought more wine if they had!

Wonderful, organic, sustainable winery with sweet and knowledgeable tasting room manage, Ellis We really liked the dry Riesling. Comfortable, authentic setting.

Found this place on Yelp and decided to check it out... Boy am I glad we did! We had SUCH a lovely time at Waterfire. The staff was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the hostess about the wines, the vineyard, and local "hot spots"! The wines are very good as well (definitely primarily white wines). Would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a charming, mellow, and tasty vineyard experience!