Nomadic couple starts vineyard on Beaver Island

Kate Leese and Adam Kendall, owners of Antho Vineyards, a new venture on an old farm on Beaver Island, have set down roots (and vines) after traveling the country for years in their Airstream. Kate and Adam, a nomadic married couple who spent four years traveling the country in an Airstream, have planted Old World and hybrid grapes on a 120-acre farm on Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, about 35 miles northwest of Charlevoix. That first vintage is a few years off but Kate and Adam have high hopes for their ANTHO Vineyards and their back-breaking endeavor has been welcomed by the local island community, just 600 hardy souls.

This is the view of Beaver Island from an Island Airways flight, one of two airlines serving island residents and visitors.

Overlooking 2,100 vines in the first field of Antho Vineyards from the air, looking towards Lake Michigan above Beaver Island.

After living over 200 places around the country, Kate and Adam had their solar-powered Airstream barged to the island.

Married couple Kate Leese and Adam Kendall were all smiles on their first day clearing fields for their new vineyard in April of 2021 on Beaver Island.

Fall storm clouds roll off Lake Michigan and over the old homestead on Beaver Island.

Adam Kendall breaks ground for the first rows of vines — all equipment coming over via ferry, plane, or barge — on Beaver Island.

Kate and Adam used minimal tillage practices to maintain the soil structure and existing vegetation between vine rows.

To avoid using herbicides and to retain moisture during the growing season the previsously fallow fields were prepared with plastic mulch.

Kate Leese, joined by her husband Adam Kendall and their two dogs Frank and Baker, reviews the spreadsheet tool used to map the 43 row vineyard that the couple planned to test the suitability of wine grape varietals on Beaver Island, Michigan

Adam and farm dog Baker enjoy a peaceful moment after finishing the preparartion of 43 rows for vines on Beaver Island.

Adam Kendall plants the first vine, a small test run of Pinot Noir from California, that came shipped as potted plants, rather than bare roots.

Kate Leese and Adam Kendall install grow tubes secured by a bamboo stake around each of the 2,100 vines to encourage them to grow tall and straight and protect them from damage from deer and other animals.

Adam Kendall holds a bundle of vine roots. The majority of the vines were shipped and planted as bare roots, with European or hybrid vines grafted to an American rootstock selected for the soil type.

The first vines to bud break were Pinot Meunier, best known for being one of the three classic champagne grapes. Adam and Kate hope to make some sparkling wines during the short growing season.

Adam Kendall checks the young vines for signs of pests or blooms that may turn into grapes. The couple is following organic farming and pest management practices and plans to remove the inflorescence (early fruit) for several years to allow the vines to mature.

Vines make their way to the top of the grow tubes by the Forth of July weekend.

An elevated view of the first field in the vineyard, referred to as “Antho 1” where Adam Kendall and Kate Leese have planted 2,100 vines, shown here protected by grow tubes.

Kate Leese and Adam Kendall among their Saperavi vines, a varietal that originates from the Georgia, the country. Unlike most red grapes, Saperavi has both red skin and red flesh.

Multiple wine grape varietals grow in the first field at Antho Vineyards, where owners Kate and Adam are intentionally testing the limits of what can be grown on Beaver Island and this far north in Michigan.

Adam Kendall and his wife Kate Leese (not pictured), carefully tied each vine to a bamboo stake using bio-compostable ties to provide support until a permanent trellis can be installed next year.

Frank the Basset Hound lies next to a first year vine as the grow tubes are removed. *** Kate and Adam Kendall, a nomadic couple who spent four years traveling the country in an Airstream, have planted roots as well as Old World and hybrid grapes on a 120-acre farm on Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, about 35 miles northwest of Charlevoix. That first vintage is a few years off but Kate and Adam have high hopes for their ANTHO Vineyards and their back-breaking endeavor has been welcomed by the local island community, just 600 hardy souls.

While living out of their Airstream, right, Kate and Adam conducted experiments for the long term, identifying 23 combinations of varietals and rootstocks to test on the property, with plans to expand after a full year of observations of what performs best. Their Airstream camper is visible at right.

Pinotage grapes, primarily grown in South Africa, are one of Antho Vineyard’s long-shot varietals that is also successfully grown by another Great Lakes island winery in Canada.

Kate and Adam spent last winter working to rehabilitate old apple trees on the farm as well, pruning about 35 trees resulting in a large amount of heirloom apples this year.

Overlooking 2,100 vines in the first field of Antho Vineyards from the air, looking towards Lake Michigan above Beaver Island.

Adam and Kate test planted 13 varietals of wine grapes on Beaver Island, 32 miles out from the Michigan mainland in Lake Michigan.

Adam Kendall and Kate Leese, husband and wife, with their two dogs Frank and Baker, (seen here at the Grand Canyon), have been traveling the country since August of 2016 while running their consulting company before starting Antho Vineyards.

Baker, the couples Bernese Mountain Dog, runs at sunrise near Badlands National Park in front of their off-grid Airstream.

Beaver Island is certainly not the most remote place we've ever lived, according to Kate Leese, who has been traveling with her husband Adam Kendall in their self-contained Airstream since 2016.

Beaver Island is certainly not the most remote place we've ever lived, according to Kate Leese, who has been traveling with her husband Adam Kendall in their self-contained Airstream since 2016.

Beaver Island is certainly not the most remote place we've ever lived, according to Kate Leese, who has been traveling with her husband Adam Kendall in their self-contained Airstream since 2016.

Beaver Island is certainly not the most remote place we've ever lived, according to Kate Leese, who has been traveling with her husband Adam Kendall in their self-contained Airstream since 2016.