Dune Bird Partners with Friends of Sleeping Bear to Benefit Piping Plover

Dune Bird Winery announced a new collaboration with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes (FOSB), a 501C3 nonprofit partnered with the National Park Service. This collaboration is marked by the release of a special, limited release wine: Pink Plover – a sweet rosé crafted to raise awareness and funds for the endangered Piping Plover and other resource protection efforts along Lake Michigan’s shorelines.

“We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to raise both awareness and funds for the Piping Plover,” Bekah Bell, Brand Culture and Flight Club manager at Dune Bird, said in a press release. “This partnership allows us to bring together our love for wine and our commitment to environmental conservation—not only in our vineyards and winemaking, but also in our communities and along our shorelines.”

The Piping Plover is a small, endangered shorebird which breeds along the shores of the Great Lakes from April to August each year. Almost half of the Great Lakes population nests within the Lakeshore. Dune Bird’s Pink Plover represents a community commitment to protect one of Michigan’s most beloved and vulnerable species. A portion of every bottle sold will go toward supporting conservation efforts for the Piping Plover and other Friends of Sleeping Bear resource protection programs.

“The Friends of Sleeping Bear welcome Dune Bird’s creative and financial support to helping conservation efforts at Sleeping Bear Dunes,” said Laura Ann Johnson, Executive Director of FoSB. “In supporting our partnership with the park, we rely on the generosity of individual and business donations to help protect natural resources and enhance visitor experiences in the park”.

Kicking off Michigan Wine Month, the public is invited to join in launching Pink Plover rosé on Thursday, May 1, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m..The family friendly event will feature tastings of the new wine, live music by Luke Woltanski, opportunities to learn about the Great Lakes Piping Plover population along the national lakeshore and in Northport, and many other activities. Attendees will learn about how they can volunteer and contribute to protecting Piping Plovers and preserve natural resources Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Event Details:

What: Pink Plover Wine Release Party & Conservation Education Night

When: May 1, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Dune Bird Winery, 5620 N. Manitou Trail, Northport, MI

Cost: Free to attend, donations and purchases of Pink Plover wine will support Piping Plover conservation and Friends of Sleeping Bear resource protection initiatives.

For more information about the Pink Plover wine, the event, or to RSVP, please visit Dune Bird Winery’s website or contact Bekah Bell directly at bekah@dunebirdwinery.com.