Shady Creek Winery: the Hidden Treasure of La Porte County

Of the many hidden treasures in La Porte County, Shady Creek Winery probably has the most flavor. The winery has called Michigan City home since the mid-2000s, and it is owned and run by the Anderson family.

Tim Anderson is one of the owners of Shady Creek Winery. He and his wife, Sue, are the principal operators, but Tim’s siblings all play very large roles in making Shady Creek Winery the great establishment that it is.

“My siblings and their spouses are involved so it’s definitely a family business,” Tim said. “My brother Jim and his wife, Linda, are greatly involved. My brother, Jerry, runs our food department. My brother, Mike, is our wine maker. And my sister, Kathy, helps out as well.”

Tim worked in the software industry, and spent a significant amount of time on the West Coast and after 25 years, felt the need to try something more fulfilling.

“I sat down and did a self-assessment and asked myself ‘What do I like to do?’ It was a short list,” Tim said. “I like to travel, I like recreation, and I like to be at wineries. Wineries are great. People are there because they want to be there and they are generally happy when they are there. The locations are beautiful with interesting people inside them who have done neat things and traveled the world.”

So Tim wrote a business plan, invited his family to join in the venture, and one thing led to another and Shady Creek Winery opened in 2009.

“It’s my family’s story about wanting to do something great for ourselves and the community,” Tim said. “We want to share what we love with the place that we’ve grown to love.”

Tim believes that every bottle of wine has a story to tell. He said that Shady Creek’s goal was not to be a vineyard, and that has been an advantage to them because they can source their grapes from other farmers and create great relationships.

“The local grapes create wonderful white and semi-sweet wines,” Tim said. “Semi-sweet, fruity, and floral wines with varietals like Traminette, Vidal, Chardonel, Seyvel, and Riesling. The big, dry, high tannin wines; we go west for those. Our Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petit Syrah, and a few others are all made using west coast grapes.”

Getting grapes from farmers who know their trade enables Shady Creek to do what it does best, allowing for the consistent creation of great wines. And consistency is key.

Shady Creek has a pretty broad list of wines that fit all palettes. The most popular dry white is Beach Glass, and Sandy Feet as well as their Pinot Grigio has won multiple awards. Rescue Dog Red is a popular choice and it’s a blend of Michigan and California grapes, and when a bottle is purchased, a portion of the sales go to select animal shelters.

Many of Shady Creek’s wines have beach-centered names. Being close to Lake Michigan, that makes sense. Tim said that wines with a blend of grapes can be named whatever you want, but if it’s made with 75% or more of the same grape in its content, it usually has the name of the dominant grape.

Shady Creek has two menus that one can partake in when enjoying a glass of wine within their cozy confines. The Anytime Menu can be enjoyed… anytime. It includes what they call their Perfect Pairing Plates. Baked Brie with crusty bread and sliced apples, a Mediterranean plate with different meats and cheeses and veggies, and a traditional cheese and cracker plate along with a selection of 12” pizzas. Sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, salads, and other delicious items are on Shady Creek’s lunch menu, which is served until 2pm each day. Local restaurant, Scartotozzi's, creates some of the menu items that are offered at lunchtime, and the rest are created by Chef Jerry, Shady Creek’s resident foodie who has over 25 years of restaurant experience. Events can also be held at Shady Creek. Private tastings, dinner parties, wedding receptions, and more take place there.

“Food is an ever-evolving part of our business,” Tim said. “And we do food our way. We do what we know and we do it well. Our lunch menu is called Leisure Lunch and it’s meant to bring people in for a relaxing time where they will stay for a while, have a glass of wine, and enjoy themselves.”

So if you are looking for a place to let down your hair and lift up your glass, head over to Shady Creek Winery.

Hours of operation:
Wednesday through Saturday 11AM to 6PM
Sunday's Noon to 5PM - Live Music at 1PM
Live Music Series by 'E-man' on Sundays at 1PM
(Shady Creek Winery is a BMI Licensed Music Venue)

For more information email info@shadycreekwinery.com call (219) 874-9463, or find Shady Creek Winery on Facebook or visit them on the web at www.shadycreekwinery.com.