Both men began their avocations strictly in the amateur sense. But then, with Rink, something went horribly wrong. In 1975, construction began on Boskydel Vineyard, the first bonded winecellar in Leelanau County. They are crisp, clear wines with a touch of oak and plenty of time in the bottle. The winery bottles approximately 6,500 gallons per year.
Emphasis is placed on intensive viticulture.
Early experiments at Boskydel Vineyard with Riesling and Chardonnay ended in, well, indifference. Although the vines did grow and a fairly good wine could be produced, it was felt that the results were not consistent enough to merit the additional time and expense of maintaining larger tracts. Unfortunately, too much has been made of the alleged rift between the hybrid growers and the vinifera growers of the region, such as Ed O'Keefe of Chateau Grand Traverse. The difference is, the Leelanau Peninsula wineries waited until their hybrid vineyards were established before pursuing the more tender vinifera, which requires greater care and treatment. By contrast, Chateau's first major commercial harvest did not take place until 1983, and the winery the largest in the area at 50,000 gallons continues to buy up to half of its grapes from other winegrowing regions.