French Valley Vineyard announced the release of two new wines: Sugar Loaf Red and Sugar Loaf White. Created in partnership with the Leelanau Conservancy, the wines support the long-term stewardship of Sugar Loaf, the iconic Leelanau County landmark recently protected from development for generations to come.

The wines are available at the French Valley tasting room. A portion from every bottle sold will be donated to the Leelanau Conservancy’s Sugar Loaf fund. The donations will help sustain trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and long-term stewardship of the 285-acre property.

The winery invites the community to celebrate the launch with a release party on Friday, July 31st from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at French Valley. Guests can taste Sugar Loaf Red and Sugar Loaf White, hear more about the Conservancy's plans for the property, and toast to a landmark now protected for generations to come.

Admission to the event is free, details and RSVP available here.

The Sugar Loaf ski resort property, that has been dormant for over 25 years, officially transferred to the Leelanau Conservancy on March 11, 2026, following a community fundraising effort that raised over $8 million from more than 1,100 donors. The property was gifted by the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. The Conservancy’s long-term vision includes a multi-use trail network for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, as well as universal access features, scenic viewpoints, a community sledding hill, and ecological restoration of native habitat throughout the 285-acre site.

The Sugar Loaf property is not yet open to the public while safety assessment and trail infrastructure work is underway. The Conservancy expects an initial public opening in mid-to-late 2026.

“Partnerships like this one are how conservation becomes community. French Valley’s commitment ensures that the work of caring for Sugar Loaf doesn’t stop when the press releases do — it continues every time someone opens a bottle,” Tom Nelson of the Leelanau Conservancy said in a statement.