Filkins Vineyards

Filkins Vineyards is a family-owned winery located in Coloma, Michigan, within the Lake Michigan Shore AVA. Founded by Zach and Lindsay Filkins, the winery focuses on sustainable farming and small-batch winemaking, with an emphasis on transparency and minimal intervention.

The Filkinses manage the entire process themselves—from tending the vines to fermentation, aging, bottling, and selling the wine. They do not purchase grapes or outsource production. Their stated philosophy: “We grow grapes. We make wine. We do the work. We are not a brand.”

Wines are made in small lots, fermented on native yeasts when possible, and aged in neutral oak. Additions are avoided, and wines are neither fined nor filtered. The result is a lineup that changes with each vintage and reflects the site and season rather than a fixed house style.

Vineyard and Farming

The vineyard is located on a west-facing slope in Coloma with sandy-loam soil. Filkins uses regenerative farming practices and avoids synthetic inputs. They manage the entire site without herbicides or pesticides and promote biodiversity through cover crops and compost.

Vineyard work is done by hand, including pruning, canopy management, and harvest. The team values the vineyard as an ecosystem and allows the site to drive the farming calendar rather than external trends.

Winemaking

Fermentation is done in small tanks or open bins. When possible, fermentations are native. Sulfur is added only when necessary. Wines are aged in neutral oak and bottled on-site in small lots. Filkins emphasizes a vintage-specific approach. There is no recipe or formula. Every bottling is made from the ground up, based on what the grapes show in that year.

Recent releases include:

2022 Cabernet Funk 100% Cabernet Franc, fermented with native yeast, zero sulfur added

2022 Karisma A co-ferment of Merlot and Chardonnay

2022 Chardonnay Neutral oak aged, unfined and unfiltered

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Made from their oldest block

All wines are sold in limited quantities, typically under 100 cases per bottling.

Tasting Room

The tasting room is located on-site in a restored white farmhouse overlooking the vineyard. Tastings are offered seasonally from spring through fall on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Private tastings are available by appointment.

Walk-ins are not guaranteed. Groups are limited to six guests. The experience is intended to be calm, focused, and centered on the wine.

Events

Filkins hosts a limited number of seasonal events, including: Vineyard painting workshops, collaborative tasting dinners, and seasonal release weekends. Events are small and designed to foster a deeper connection with the winemaking process.

Wine Availability

Wines can be purchased through the online shop or at the tasting room. Most wines are priced between $22–$36. Shipping is available to select U.S. states and fulfilled directly by the winery. To be notified of new releases and events, customers can join the mailing list at filkinsvineyards.com.