A Toast to Tradition: The Heartwarming Legacy of Good Harbor's Tribute Chardonnay

When Bruce Simpson walked in the door on November 1st and told his wife Debbie “Okay, you can have her now, harvest is over” Debbie caught a glimpse that her life as a cofounder of Good Harbor Vineyards was going to be dictated by planting, harvest schedules and the trials of a family farm. She gave birth to their firstborn, Taylor, on November 2nd.

In 1980 Good Harbor Vineyards opened its doors when the thought of Michigan wine viability was still questioned. Back in 1980 the wineries on Leelanau Peninsula were often small operations with owners wearing multiple hats, “Bruce made the wine, ran the vineyards, did the bookkeeping, did the bottling and grew cherries! He was really pretty remarkable,” Debbie says of her late husband Bruce, founder of Good Harbor Vineyards. Debbie is pretty remarkable herself, running the Tasting Room for 40 years and truly being the face of Good Harbor throughout its decades of growth. Generations of customers have come through the front door of Good Harbor and ask for Debbie; “I mean I’ve watched some of these people get engaged, married, have babies. They are like family,” she says of the customers. That family friendly atmosphere is definitely palpable at Good Harbor Vineyards regardless of who you are or what your previous wine knowledge is. Debbie wants everyone who walks in the door to know “that they are welcome, that we are glad they are here and that we want them to have a good time.”  

Now Debbie gets the opportunity to watch her two children, Taylor and Sam Simpson, run the growing business. “I’m very proud” she says, “I think they are doing a great job. They still get along, they each have their own jobs to do, they respect each other, and they both have their strengths and weaknesses that complement each other well.” The second generation is passionate about growing and expanding the impact of Michigan wine across the country while still keeping true to the roots their father planted. 

Part of those roots include continuing to make his favorite wine, a barrel fermented and aged Chardonnay. The special labeled Chardonnay named Tribute was created to honor Bruce’s legacy. The original label for Tribute is a beautiful panoramic painting of the view from Bruce and Debbie’s home with a message that reads “This Chardonnay, complex and rich in flavor, is a Tribute to our beloved father and husband Bruce Simpson. A quiet, kind and humble leader with perseverance and ambition, he was a pioneer in winemaking and viticulture on the Leelanau Peninsula. Without his efforts over the past thirty years the wine industry on the Leelanau Peninsula would not be where it is today. We selected high quality fruit and new French Oak barrels to create a reserve wine to honor and remember him. The label is a painting of the view from his front porch of Good Harbor Bay.”  

Good Harbor is thrilled to announce the return of Tribute, this time a 2023 vintage. Just like Bruce’s monumental impact on the Northern Michigan wine industry, this wine’s legacy at Good Harbor continues to flourish and leave a lasting impression. His dedication and passion for creating exceptional wines have paved the way for Tribute to become a beloved staple among Good Harbor visitors. Each bottle of Tribute is a celebration of Bruce’s vision and the ongoing commitment to quality that defines Good Harbor. Each sip is a tribute to the craft and tradition that has made Good Harbor a standout choice in Michigan and beyond.