About Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery
Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery is a family maple farm east of Petoskey run by Todd and Christi Petersen. After two years of sugaring in their backyard they set up the business in 2011, made their first commercial syrup in the spring of 2012, and now run about 4,500 taps. The name comes from the sap run, which they tie to the third moon after the winter solstice. A few years in, they began fermenting the natural sugars of maple syrup rather than grapes, and they call it America's first maple winery.
The list now runs to eleven wines, from the dry, oaky Early Spring Reserve to the port-style Maple Gold at 18 percent alcohol. Others blend maple with grapes or fruit: Maple Marquette, Maple Rouge, Maple Blanc made from Itasca grapes, and maple cherry, blackberry, blueberry and peach wines. There are two hard ciders, maple ginger and a bourbon-aged maple cider. Tastings are poured at the bar, seating is first come, first served, and pets are welcome on the outdoor patio.
The farm store offers a free taste of pure syrup and sells several grades, bourbon barrel-aged syrup, maple sugar, candy and barbecue sauce, along with honey, salsas and jams. Tours are scheduled by phone, usually around 1 PM: a one-hour group tour is $10 a person without wine, and a two-hour private tour with the owner, including a tasting of the full wine list, is $50.
Lavender Hill Farm near Boyne City is about 35 minutes southwest. In summer and early fall, when both are open, a morning in the lavender fields and an afternoon maple tasting make an easy loop around Petoskey.
What to do
- Taste maple wines from dry Early Spring Reserve to port-style Maple Gold
- Try the maple ginger or bourbon-aged maple hard cider
- Sample pure maple syrup for free in the farm store
- Book a sugarbush tour by phone, usually around 1 PM
- Take home bourbon barrel-aged syrup or maple candy
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Store and tasting room open May through October daily except Sunday, then three days a week in November and December; closed January through April
- Hours
- May–Oct: Mon–Sat 11 AM–6 PM; Nov–Dec: Mon, Fri and Sat noon–5 PM; closed Jan–Apr (posted on their website, October 2026; subject to change)
- Admission
- Free entry and syrup tasting; group tour $10 per person, private tour with wine tasting $50 per person (listed 2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Dogs
- Welcome on the outdoor patio
- Reservations
- Walk-in for tastings; tours booked by phone
Tips for your visit
- Call (231) 342-6843 to schedule a tour; they usually start around 1 PM
- Tasting seating holds about six, so contact them ahead for a larger group
- The store is closed January through April, during the sugaring months
- Have a designated driver if you're tasting the wines
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Hill Farm · about 35 minutes away
Lavender Hill Farm near Boyne City is about 35 minutes away; in summer and early fall a morning there pairs with a maple tasting here.
Getting there
Questions
What is maple wine?
Wine fermented from the natural sugars in maple syrup instead of grapes; Maple Moon makes eleven, some blended with grapes or fruit.
Do I need a reservation to taste?
No. Seating is first come, first served. Tours do need to be booked by phone.
When is Maple Moon closed?
January through April. It's open May through December, with shorter hours in November and December.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Boyne City & Lake Charlevoix, 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
