Dune Bird Winery makes breakout debut at San Francisco Chronicle wine competition
Recently highlighted by the Glen Arbor Sun, Dune Bird Winery is celebrating a remarkable first showing at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The publication recognized Dune Bird’s standout debut, where the young Leelanau label earned a coveted Double Gold along with multiple additional medals—an impressive achievement in one of North America’s most competitive wine judging events.
Among nearly 5,500 entries from more than 950 wineries, Dune Bird’s Leelanau Peninsula whites captured top recognition, marking an exciting milestone not only for the winery but for Northern Michigan wine on a national stage.
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“This is a first win for Dune Bird, and it’s especially meaningful to debut with a Double Gold,” said winemaker Blake Lougheed. “It reflects the focus we put on site expression and precision winemaking in every lot.”