Free Run Cellars

This was our last stop on a long day of a wine tour so I was a little wine-​d out but it was still a good time. The servers were very nice and friendly and explained when I had a few questions. My favorite was the grappa, which is just like tequila apparently! We also got to keep the glass, which I am a fan of. I started giving away my tasting tokens by the end because let’s be real, I had drank enough, but I really enjoyed it here.

I figured I would love Free Run Cellars/​Round Barn Berrien Springs as much as I love the Round Barn in Baroda, but I had to give this tasting room a try either way. I’m glad I did. Don’t be confused by the set up here… St. Julian’s winery is right next door and the beer barn for Round Barn is in the red building behind Free Run. There are both Free Run and Round Barn wines inside the main building with the big wooden bar… you still with me?
There are actually more Round Barn wines here than Free Run, but I like that you can try both. The tasting is the same as the one in Baroda, if you have been there, and will cost you $ 8 for a stemless wine glass and five tokens for tastes. You also get a token for a discount on 3 beer sixers or a case, I think, but I always lose it. The tasting is nice because you have a wide range of things to choose from ranging from fruit wines to sparkling ones, whites and reds (both dry and semi-dry…stainless and oaked), dessert wines, and liquor. I ended up trying one white wine and then just sticking with reds because they are so good here. I’m not one for American barrel aging, but I love French oak aging (mmmm…toasty, buttery goodness), and it seems like that’s what they use most here. All of the wines were smooth, but my favorite from Free Run was definitely their Cab Franc and the best Round Barn red I tried was the Pinot Noir Reserve. (I say this as I drink their cheap Demi-​Sec I got at the liquor store. I LIKE IT ALL!)
The vibe here is good, the people behind the bar are really knowledgeable, and the wines are tasty. What more can you ask for?

When they say «free» they mean it’s $ 8 for the tasting. Yes, you get to keep the glass, but really, do I want it? And while I do find that off-​putting I just really can’t complain. Of the four vinyards I visited today, this had my two favorite wines; the Zinfandel at $ 19.99 and the Rosso for $ 13.99. Yes, I took two bottles home with me as well as the Mezzo which had a fresh peachy apple taste and only $ 11.99.
Now the Apple Brandy was terrible. Way, way, way too much bite — is that fire coming out my mouth? Yuk! My husband had to finish it for me. His Michigan Brandy was much, much, much smoother. I will give her one thing. I wanted to start with this and she said not to. Thank goodness, because it took a full 20 minutes for my taste buds to recover.
So while the $ 8 fee was the highest amount I have ever been asked to pay for a tasting of any winery I have ever been to, I did really love the Zin, Rosso and Mezzo. And for buying three bottles, I received $ 5 off. Which ain’t bad.
The room itself is also nice and big with lots of windows, not claustrophobic like some.
When doing an afternoon of wine tasting in Harbor County I recomend starting at Lemon Creek, cross the street to Domaine Berrien, then around the corner to Free Run, down the road to Tabor Hill and back toward the lake at Round Barn. But make sure you eat something along the way. And if you still have the stamina, just before getting back on 94, try Hickory Creek which I always tucker out before I get to, but some day I will make it there. I’ll have to start there first next time and do it backwards.

$ 5 and you get to keep the glass (which is perfect for Champagne), taste 5 wines and/​or Champagne, and 1 dessert wine.
Initially I had planned on tasting and dashing but the woman working was so freaking cool that i just had to reach into my pocket. She knew everything there was to know about the wine from both wineries that they feature. I tried all the bubbly options, some red, some white, and one apricot wine that is a bit sweeter– not dessert sweet, just fruit sweet BUT, here’s the kicker, they keep it heated in a crock pot with cider spices like cinnamon, dried orange, cloves, etc… it was amazing! How have I not thought of this before? Of course I should heat up wine with spices instead of actual cider for the holidays!
Anyway, the taste and dash didn’t happen. I ended up getting 6 bottles and some spices and left with a big olé smile. I will SO be back before X-​mas… maybe even a little stop before Thanksgiving too. Just to get a little something to take the edge off, ya know?

Mixed opinions on this place… A few fairly decent wines. Nothing strikingly different than I’ve had elsewhere in the area, but we walked away with one bottle…
They do have a deal to get 2 glasses and tastings at both places for $ 5. Though tastings at the Round Barn used to be free anyway, and unless it’s a special ice wine no other winery in the area charges for tastings either. (And they limit you to 4 wines, when they carry 8 or so? …So you have to decide what not to drink or share tastings with your SO to get all…)
Staff was very very friendly. The wine tasting list didn’t have prices on it, we had to ask for that (apparently they only have 2 printouts of the prices???).
Nothing to eat on site. I guess you can bring your own picnic though, as a group was doing.

I really liked this place. It is owned by the children of the owners of Round Barn and they have a deal where if you pay $ 5 for a tasting at one place, you get cute glasses, 4 tastes and your tasting at the other location.
Staff was friendly, wines were excellent, and the pours were a decent size.