Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenzie Gallagher.
Hi McKenzie , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When my husband and I started dating, he was working at a local winery in the cellar. Our first date was a wine dinner, and we both just fell in love with the idea of wine. I will be honest, in hindsight we knew very little about all that went into growing grapes, making wine and then having a space that we could invite the public in to enjoy our wine and views- however that is the beauty of being young and bold. We didn’t over think, it we just jumped in feet first. We bought our farm 15 yrs ago from my husband’s parents, and then we opened Rove Winery in 2016- 10 yrs ago. It has been an incredible journey, full of twists and turns of course, but overall it has been the adventure of our lifetime. Creating a business out of farming has to be one of the most difficult business models, but for us it was the only way to create a life surrounded by our five kids and creating something truly special on our multi generational farm.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Ha! I don’t think smooth and farming should ever be in the same sentence unless it is referring to a paradox. We have experienced crop loss, changing consumer market trends, and even dealt with a personal cancer diagnosis. But through those challenges we have always managed to find the sunshine and the opportunity in some of the hardest chapters. In 15 years we have more than doubled our vineyards, received nearly 50 awards and accolades for our wines and have built an incredible team of top tier humans that not only care about our customers but strive to make our farm and winery better every year. So for every challenge we have experienced the universe has rewarded us in tenfold with blessings.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Rove Winery is a small estate winery on the Leelanau Peninsula. We grow the fruit ourselves, make the wine ourselves, and pour it for guests who make the drive out to see where it comes from. That farm first approach isn’t a tagline for us, it’s just how the place actually operates, since Creighton and I converted this land from a cherry orchard around 2011 and have been building the winery on decades of existing farm history ever since.
What sets us apart is that we’ve put the land itself under a conservation easement. That’s not a common move in this industry, and it says something real about how we think about this ground long term, not just what we can pull out of it this season.
Our wine club is built around the same idea. The tiers are named Rambler, Irish Rover, and Winegeese, because we wanted members to feel like they’d joined something with a sense of journey to it, not just a subscription that shows up quarterly.
What I’m most proud of, brand wise, is that Rove has a real point of view. We’re not trying to be the polished, buttoned up winery experience you’ll find elsewhere on the peninsula. We’re rooted, a little unconventional, and built by a family that’s raising five kids on this same land while running the business. We are approachable and inclusive in our experiences too. We want all different walks of life to come to our farm and enjoy what we have to offer.
For readers who haven’t been out to see us: this is a working farm that became a vineyard, and you can feel that history the moment you walk in. That’s not something you can manufacture, and it’s the reason to start here rather than somewhere else on the peninsula.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is to connect with our community. I love to meet new people and I love being in an environment that is constantly changing. It keeps life fun and vibrant for me. I also really enjoy creating a space and an environment that is unique to us, and a place that lets people feel seen and accepted. We hear that a lot from members and guests.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rovewinery.com
- Instagram: rovewinery
- Facebook: Rove Winery at the Gallagher Estate
