Black Star Farms

What Black Star Farms does

Black Star Farms is a privately-held Northern Michigan winery and integrated hospitality destination founded in 1998, headquartered in Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula. The company operates a 160-acre flagship estate in Suttons Bay plus a secondary tasting room on the Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City, producing more than 50 wines and European-style fruit brandies across the Arcturos (premium), Red House (value), Sirius (dessert), and Bedazzled (sparkling) labels. Production relies on estate-grown vinifera grapes characteristic of the Traverse Wine Coast region.

The business spans winery operations, a 10-room equestrian-themed bed and breakfast (The Inn at Black Star Farms), the Bistro Polaris vineyard-to-table restaurant, an on-site equestrian facility, and a diversified calendar of ticketed experiences including Goat Yoga, Yoga in the Vines, Paella Nights, Wine & Chocolate workshops, Estate & Wine Tours, sailing packages, and wedding and corporate event hosting. The platform is powered by Commerce7 for e-commerce and wine club management, with direct-to-consumer shipping to 24+ US states.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: per-transaction wine sales at tasting rooms and via e-commerce, recurring Wine Club subscription shipments, nightly Inn bookings bundled with wine experiences, paid event tickets ($40–$85 per person for typical experiences), on-site dining, and full-service wedding and corporate event contracts. Customers are predominantly distributed individual tourists, couples on romantic getaways, experience-seekers, and wine club members, with no major enterprise accounts.

Name

Black Star Farms

Legal name

Black Star Farms

Website

https://blackstarfarms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Star Farms is a privately-held Northern Michigan winery founded in 1998, operating two estates on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas with 50+ wines, a 10-room inn, restaurant, equestrian center, and diverse experiences serving wine tourists, couples, and event customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery and Hospitality

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Gastronomy & Wine-Focused Boutique Hotels (THAGADAG), Wine Bars (THAFAEAF)

Keywords

• Estate winery
• Winemaking and distilling
• Wine tasting room
• Wine club membership
• Bed and breakfast

Headquarters

HQ city

Suttons Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct sales of wine through tasting rooms and e-commerce. Customers can purchase wines by the glass, bottle, or case. Shipping available to 24+ US states.
2. Wine Club Membership: Recurring subscription model with periodic wine shipments. Members receive preferential access to wines, discounts, and exclusive experiences.
3. Inn/Accommodations: Bed and breakfast lodging with 10 guest rooms. Includes daily gourmet breakfast, nightly wine reception, and complimentary wine tasting. Recognized as USA Today's #1 Best Wine Country Hotel 2025.
4. Events and Experiences: Revenue from paid events including Goat Yoga ($45), Paella Nights dining ($70-$85), Wine & Chocolate workshops ($40), Estate & Wine Tours, and special culinary events featuring celebrity chefs.
5. Dining (Bistro Polaris): On-site restaurant offering vineyard-to-table dining experiences including the Arcturos Dining Series, Celebration of Cherries dinners, and seasonal menu featuring locally-sourced ingredients.
6. Vacation Packages: Curated packages including Sailing Package (2-hour cruise with charcuterie and sparkling wine), Ultimate Experience Package, and Outdoor Adventure Packages for Inn guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Star Farms operates a 160-acre winery estate in Suttons Bay, Michigan, producing over 50 wines and European-style brandies from estate-grown vinifera grapes on the Leelanau Peninsula. The company runs two tasting rooms (Suttons Bay and Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City), a 10-room bed and breakfast inn, the Bistro Polaris vineyard-to-table restaurant, an equestrian center, a recurring wine club, and a calendar of ticketed wine experiences including Goat Yoga, Estate Tours, Paella Nights, and Wine & Chocolate workshops.

Product overview

Black Star Farms is a diversified winery estate and hospitality destination operating two locations on Michigan's Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. The company offers a unified portfolio combining wine and spirits production (with over 50 wines under the Arcturos, Red House, and Sirius labels, plus European-style fruit brandies) with hospitality services including a 10-room Bed and Breakfast (The Inn), two tasting rooms, the Bistro Polaris restaurant, equestrian center, and diverse event experiences. The product ecosystem centers on the flagship Suttons Bay 160-acre estate where wine production, accommodations, dining, and activities (Goat Yoga, Yoga in the Vines, Estate Tours, Paella Nights) converge, complemented by the Old Mission Peninsula tasting room. A Wine Club subscription and event venues for weddings extend the hospitality offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arcturos Wine Collection Premium wine label featuring single-vineyard varietals including Dry Riesling, Semi-Dry Riesling, Late Harvest Riesling, Sur Lie Chardonnay, Barrel Aged Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Gamay Noir, sold to consumers through tasting rooms, wine club, and trade partners.
• Red House Collection Value-oriented wine line including Red House Red, Red House Artisan Red, Red House White, and Red House Rosé, positioned as everyday wines for retail and tasting room customers.
• Sirius Dessert Wines Fruit-forward dessert wines including Cherry, Raspberry, and Red Dessert Wine varieties made from Michigan-grown fruit.
• Bedazzled Sparkling Wine Sparkling wine produced using traditional champagne methods, offered in multiple vintages through the winery's tasting rooms and e-commerce store.
• Spirit of Brandies European-style fruit brandies including Spirit of Apple Brandy, Spirit of Cherry Brandy, and Spirit of Pear Brandy, distilled on-site at the estate distillery.
• The Inn at Black Star Farms A 10-room equestrian-inspired Bed and Breakfast located on the 160-acre Suttons Bay estate, offering complimentary wine, nightly wine reception, gourmet breakfast, and access to winery amenities.
• Wine Club Membership Subscription wine club with recurring shipments of curated Black Star Farms wine selections, offering member-exclusive benefits, event invitations, and preferential pricing.
• Bistro Polaris Restaurant On-site special event restaurant at Suttons Bay offering vineyard-to-table dining experiences including the Arcturos Dining Series, Paella Nights, Celebration of Cherries dinners, and seasonal menus using locally sourced ingredients.
• Equestrian Center & Stables On-site equestrian facility at the Suttons Bay estate offering horse experiences and reinforcing the property's equestrian-inspired atmosphere for inn guests and visitors.
• Goat Yoga One-hour ticketed yoga class at Suttons Bay featuring 45 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of goat interaction; a portion of proceeds benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• Yoga in the Vines Morning yoga sessions held in the estate vineyard, guided by Yen Yoga instructors and followed by wine tasting, offered as a ticketed vineyard experience.
• Estate & Wine Tours One-hour guided walking tour of the 160-acre Suttons Bay estate covering the vineyard, Inn, historic centennial barn, and wine cave, culminating in an educational wine and spirits tasting.

Quantifiable outcome

• USA Today's #1 Best Wine Country Hotel 2025 recognition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grocer's Daughter ChocolatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artisan chocolate partner collaborating on Wine & Chocolate Tasting Workshops. This partnership features local favorite chocolates alongside award-winning wines in an educational, tasting experience. Partner has been a local favorite since 2004.
• Lakeview Hill FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplier providing fresh, locally-sourced greens for Bistro Polaris restaurant. Supports the vineyard-to-table dining philosophy at the estate.
• Commerce7coreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering the online store and wine club management. Processes customer data, order fulfillment, and subscription management for direct wine sales.
• National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity beneficiary of Goat Yoga event proceeds. A portion of all Goat Yoga ticket sales directly fund MS research and support programs.
• Yen YogaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga instructor partnership for Yoga in the Vines experiences. Expert instructors guide participants through yoga sessions in the estate vineyard.
• Grand Traverse Bike ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraverse City wine tour operator offering cycling tours through Leelanau Peninsula wineries. Introduces visitors to Black Star Farms as part of multi-winery wine country experiences.
• Traverse City Wine and Beer ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tour operator offering join-in and private wine tours to Traverse City area wineries. Features Black Star Farms as a premier destination.
• Magic Shuttle BusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner specializing in Old Mission Peninsula wine tours. Offers transportation services to Black Star Farms Old Mission location.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chateau Grand Traverse: Established Old Mission Peninsula winery producing Riesling and other vinifera wines; one of the most recognized Michigan wineries with tasting room and direct-to-consumer sales — directly comparable as a regional wine producer in the same Traverse City market.
• Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery: Old Mission Peninsula winery with tasting room, wine club, and vineyard tours on a 91-acre estate — directly comparable in geography, business model, and DTC focus.
• Mari Vineyards: Traverse City (Old Mission Peninsula) winery known for Italian-style wines and food pairings; operates tasting room and wine club in the same regional market with overlapping customer base.
• Bowers Harbor Vineyards: Old Mission Peninsula winery with tasting room and estate vineyard; comparable in product range, DTC model, and Traverse City tourism positioning.
• L. Mawby Vineyards: Leelanau Peninsula sparkling and still wine producer with tasting room; directly comparable as a regional winery sharing the Leelanau Peninsula AVA and DTC tasting-room model.
• Tabone Vineyards: Leelanau Peninsula small-batch winery producing estate wines; comparable as a regional Leelanau-based wine producer with direct-to-consumer tasting room focus.
• Hawthorne Vineyards: Old Mission Peninsula winery with tasting room, vineyard, and wine club; comparable in scale, regional footprint, and DTC subscription model.
• Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery: Leelanau Peninsula estate vineyard and winery with tasting room; directly comparable as a Northern Michigan wine producer sharing both the AVA and DTC distribution strategy.
• Chateau Chantal: Old Mission Peninsula winery with on-site B&B accommodations and tasting room — closest comparable as a wine country destination combining winery and lodging, directly mirroring Black Star Farms' dual product strategy.
• 2 Lads Winery: Old Mission Peninsula boutique winery with tasting room, wine club, and modern facility design; comparable as a regional DTC winery competing for the same wine tourist and club member.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blackstarfarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-star-farms
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackstarfarms
• Pinterestpinterest.com/bsfevents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Star Farms