About Contessa Wine Cellars
Contessa Wine Cellars stands in the hills above Coloma, with a tasting room built to look like an Italian villa and a large terrace that looks across the orchards of the Coloma Valley. Winemaker Tony Peterson is the third generation of his family to make wine and learned the work as an apprentice in his father's winery before opening Contessa.
Visits are simple. Inside, a wine consultant walks you through a tasting of five wines you choose from the menu, in one-ounce pours, for $10. If you would rather sit outside, the deck flight is four two-ounce pours for $15, and glasses run about $7 to $10 depending on the wine, with a house sangria too. The winery is open every day from noon to 5; the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail notes later Friday hours in summer and weekend-only hours in January.
There is no kitchen, so you are welcome to bring a picnic, as long as you carry out your trash. Only Contessa wine may be consumed on site, and photo ID is required. Seating is first come, first served. Inside space is small, so larger groups are steered to the deck and patio, part of which is covered for rain; wind and cold can make it chilly, so check the forecast. Dogs are welcome on the deck. The winery does not host weddings or private parties.
Hickory Creek Lavender Farm near Stevensville is about 25 minutes southwest by I-94. On a summer day, pick lavender in the morning and bring a picnic lunch up to the Contessa deck.
What to do
- Take a guided tasting of five wines in the villa-style tasting room
- Order a four-wine flight to sip on the deck over the Coloma Valley
- Bring a picnic to eat with a glass of wine
- Try a glass of the house sangria
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round, daily noon to 5; deck best from late spring through early fall
- Hours
- Posted on their website (2026): daily noon–5 p.m.
- Admission
- Free to visit; tasting $10, deck flight $15 (posted on their website, checked October 2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Dogs
- Allowed on the deck
- Reservations
- Walk-in; no table reservations
Tips for your visit
- Bring your own picnic, since food is not served, and pack out your trash
- Larger groups should plan to sit outside; check the weather first
- Bring photo ID
- Plan a designated driver if you are following the wine trail
Pair it with a lavender farm
Hickory Creek Lavender Farm · about 25 minutes away
Hickory Creek Lavender Farm near Stevensville is about 25 minutes southwest; pick lavender in the morning and bring lunch up to the Contessa deck.
Getting there
Questions
Can I bring food to Contessa?
Yes. The winery doesn't serve food, so picnics are welcome; carry out your trash.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, on the deck.
How much is a tasting?
$10 for five one-ounce samples, or $15 for a four-wine deck flight (posted on their website, October 2026).
Can we reserve a table?
No. Tables and bar seats are first come, first served.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Berrien County, Michigan
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
