Big Little Wines
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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Leelanau Peninsula, Northern Michigan
People: Brothers Michael & Peter Laing, Owners & Winemakers
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bigLITTLE Wines is the personal project of brothers Michael and Peter Laing, longtime partners of Mawby Sparkling Wines. Rooted equally in family, farming, and a shared sense of humor, bigLITTLE focuses on still and sparkling wines that are approachable, expressive, and unmistakably Leelanau.
Ann Arbor natives, the Laing brothers’ wine story began in 2002 when their parents relocated to Suttons Bay and planted two acres of grapes on the Leelanau Peninsula. By 2005, the family fruit was being sold to Larry Mawby, and Michael and Peter were spending as much time as possible in the vineyards while still balancing careers elsewhere. In 2007 and 2009, respectively, the brothers made the full move north, joining Mawby Vineyards and laying the groundwork for their own label.
bigLITTLE Wines debuted with its first vintage in 2010, followed by the opening of a tasting room in 2013. Today, the Laings farm and manage three estate vineyards in Leelanau County, sourcing most of their fruit from these sites. Alongside Mawby, bigLITTLE remains a family operation supported by a close knit team. Annual production for bigLITTLE remains intentionally small, approximately 2,000 cases, allowing for hands on farming and thoughtful winemaking.
The varieties and structure often nod toward Alsace, while the wines themselves reflect a distinctly New World sensibility that is fresh, precise, and generous without excess. Wine names draw from childhood memories and brotherhood, shaped by time spent in both Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan. The stories on the back labels, as the brothers like to say, are “20% embellishment and 80% who we really are.”
Leelanau Terroir
The Leelanau Peninsula experiences long summer days, cool nights, and an extended growing season that favors natural acidity and aromatic development. The region’s geology was shaped roughly 12,000 years ago by retreating glaciers, leaving behind well-draining, sandy soils and frost-shedding slopes, as cold air drains downhill due to gravity. These acidic soils naturally limit vine vigor, encouraging balance in both the vineyard and the resulting wines. Lake Michigan plays a critical moderating role as well. Cool spring air delays bud break and reduces frost risk, while the lake’s immense heat capacity tempers winter cold. Together, these influences allow the Laings to farm confidently and consistently in a challenging northern climate.
Sustainability is central to the Laings’ farming philosophy. Cover cropping has been the primary weed management strategy since 2020. Clovers and low grasses are planted under vine to suppress weeds, increase biodiversity, improve soil structure, build organic matter, and sequester carbon. Custom compost blends are developed in collaboration with Morgan Composting to promote long term soil health. The vineyards are MAEAP certified across four cropping and farmstead systems. The majority of the vineyards are dry farmed, relying on natural rainfall rather than irrigation.