Lake District Wine Co.

08/06/2026

This week we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to run an independent wine shop. From the outside, it might seem like we spend our days tasting wine and chatting with customers (and yes, there’s plenty of that), but behind the scenes we’re constantly making decisions about where to invest our time, energy, and budget.

We’re talking about the balance between short-term revenue and long-term growth, why every season has a different purpose, how we plan inventory months in advance, and why saying “yes” to one opportunity often means saying “no” to another. We also get into the things that don’t always show up on a profit and loss statement but are essential to building a successful business, education, customer relationships, community, and creating an experience people want to come back to.

Whether you’re a business owner, thinking about starting something of your own, or just curious about what goes into stocking the shelves at your favorite local wine shop, this episode is an honest conversation about the decisions, tradeoffs, and long game of building a business. Pour yourself something good and come hang out with us.

Featured Wine: ⁠2025 Quinta do Ermízio, Vinho Verde⁠, Imported by Jose Pastor Selections and distributed by AHD Vintners - Michigan Wine Distributor and sold at Lake District Wine Co.

Additional Mentions:
BOS Wine Raduno Golden Hour Outdoors Shady Lane Cellars Mari Vineyards Maria's Sauce Co Vintage Shop | Traverse City Cherryland Humane Society Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City vom Boden

08/05/2026

Fancy Pour Friday: This Friday, August 7!

Fancy Pour Friday is our monthly opportunity (first Friday of every month) to open a bottle that's usually reserved for special occasions, cellar collections, or bucket lists, giving everyone the chance to experience truly iconic wines.

This month, we're opening 2021 Domaine Faiveley Pommard Premier Cru!

Pommard has long been known as one of Burgundy's most powerful and age-worthy villages, producing Pinot Noir with delicious depth and character. Domaine Faiveley, founded in 1825, is one of Burgundy's most respected family estates, with an incredible collection of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards throughout the Côte d'Or.

This Premier Cru is everything you hope for from great Burgundy. As always, we'll only be opening one bottle.

Don't wait. Last month people were lined up before we even opened, and trust us, this is one you definitely want to taste!

Doors open Friday at 10:00 AM. Once it's gone, it's goneeeeee

08/03/2026

Gorgeous new BRIM wines at the shop! Sparkling Merlot, Blau Rosè and the new vintage of Gamay. Super pumped about these! Lee’s wines always go fast, come and get ‘em

08/01/2026

It’s 10:14 am and K$’s ready for you! We’re pouring a stunning lineup from Aurora Cellars all day and special guest, Taylor Simpson, will be here from 1-3 pm pouring and chatting about all things Aurora. Complimentary tastings 10-6 pm today and every Saturday!

07/30/2026

2/3 ladies of Lake District Wine Co enjoying a delicious glass of bubbles at Colibri. We sure are glad to have a new wine bar just down the street!

07/28/2026

This week we’re talking about the purchases that have made our lives better because they’ve given us more life to live. From travel and ski passes to wine education, five-star dinners, childcare, and a few unforgettable bottles, we’re sharing the things we’d happily spend the money on again.

Is it worth spending your Saturday cleaning your house if hiring someone means you spend the day making memories with your kids? Is the cheaper option really cheaper if it costs you hours of your life? There was a time when we optimized for productivity. Now, we’re trying to optimize for living.

The older we get, the more we realize the best investments are the ones that get us out into the world, around a table with friends, on the ski hill, on a plane, or simply more present with the people we love. The laundry will always be there. The dishes will always be there. Your kids won’t always be little, and your friends won’t always be free on a random Tuesday. Life has a funny way of happening while we’re busy trying to catch up.

Pour yourself something good and come hang out with us as we talk about what was worth every penny, what absolutely wasn’t, and why we’re spending less time chasing stuff and more time investing in experiences, connection, and buying back time. Because the best things we’ve ever bought weren’t really things at all. They were the moments that made our lives richer.

Featured Wine: Jolandie Fouché ⁠Grenache Blanc 2024, Distributed by Eagle Eye Brands⁠, sold at Lake District Wine Co

Additional mentions: Anavery Fine Foods and Local Yokels

07/27/2026

Tasting Event | Golden Hour Fresh Catch & Fresh Wine
TH 7/30 at 5:30 pm.

Enjoy courses of Lake Michigan’s fresh caught Lake Trout, Walleye and Salmon paired with FISH wines! Chef Janene from Raduno will tantalize your taste buds with recipe ideas you can use to prepare delicious local fish all summer long! Golden Hour Outdoors fishing charter owners will be there to share stories fishing on the Great Lakes as we share stories about the coastal wine pairings.

Tickets are $35pp and available via the link in bio. See you there! https://lake-district-wine-co.square.site/

07/26/2026

Level 2, commence!

I’m excited to spend the next few days with this awesome group. Here’s to another Level 2 class with Traverse Wine Institute!

07/24/2026

It’s the freedom to choose wines we believe in, rather than those chosen by a corporate office. It’s the relationships we’ve built with growers in Burgundy, importers in New York, winemakers in South Africa, producers in California, and neighbors here in Northern Michigan. It’s introducing someone to a Blaufränkisch from Austria one day and a Blaufränkisch from Michigan the next. It’s opening bottles every Saturday simply because we think people deserve to taste before they buy. It’s answering questions without prejudice, sharing what we’ve learned, and helping someone uncover a new favorite bottle they’ll remember long after it’s gone.

In a world of endless choices, we still believe the best wine is discovered through people, not algorithms.

07/21/2026

New Episode: Passport Stamps and Hot Takes | Ep12

We’re finally back together and catching up after a couple of weeks apart. Kristy takes us to London, Alaina recaps a family trip to Manitoulin Island, and we relive the fun, the chaos, and a few Cherry Festival roses and thorns.

Then we tackle two topics that have been on our minds: the hard seltzer craze and whether ingredient labels belong on wine bottles. As usual, we don’t solve the world’s problems, but we definitely have opinions.

Travel stories, hot takes, a few laughs, and a conversation we’d be having whether the microphones were on or not. Grab a glass and come hang out.

Featured Wine: English Rosé, female-owned!
Additional Mentions: ⁠,