Mountain Road Estate Vineyard sits in the heart of the Lake Michigan Shore AVA, just miles from the tempering influence of Lake Michigan. This proximity helps moderate temperatures and supports long, even ripening during the growing season. The 40-acre vineyard grows Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. These varieties produce some of our most awarded and best-loved wines year after year.
So what defines an “estate” vineyard? In the United States, the term “Estate Bottled” carries a legal definition. The producer must both own or control the vineyard and make and bottle the wine at their winery. The vineyard and winery must also exist within the same AVA. Throughout the entire process, the wine remains on site, including fermentation, aging, and bottling. This level of oversight ensures full transparency and quality control from vine to bottle.
Our Estate wines come entirely from Mountain Road Estate Vineyard, which Sarah and John Braganini own and manage. They hold uncompromising standards for how grapes grow and how wines represent their name. Their hands-on approach allows for careful vineyard decisions that directly shape wine style and consistency. When you see “Estate Bottled” on a Braganini Reserve wine, the grapes always come from Mountain Road Estate Vineyard.
Why does this matter? Estate wines allow for the highest level of control at every stage of production. That control leads to consistent quality, clear vineyard expression, and wines that truly reflect their place of origin.
Ready to experience our estate wines? Start with the first-ever Braganini Reserve Estate Pinot Grigio. Also explore the Braganini Reserve Mountain Road Estate White Blend and the Braganini Reserve Mountain Road Estate Sweet Riesling. Each bottle showcases the character of Mountain Road Estate Vineyard and the care behind every step of the process.
