Tim and Sherry and their beautiful Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate is a perfect example of what separates a boutique inn that is also a bed and breakfast from other lodging. Tim is a professional chef and Sherry a sommelier. They each share a tremendous love of sharing good food and wine with their guests, while also providing a comfortable respite in their country farmhouse that is just a few miles from downtown South Haven. Soon after they purchased this extraordinary property, they shared this blog article about what their future vision will be for Vintage. Here are just a few clips from that Article: “The farmhouse and property are so beautiful. When I first set foot in the house I could feel the 100 years of history in the house and the tremendous care that was taken in renovating the original wood floors and covered porches. Walking the entire property that day it was also obvious there was the potential to create a sustainable estate with vegetable gardens, forest foraging, and vineyards to supply incredible food and wine for the Inn. Chef Tim found over 20 pounds of the rare, choice mushroom Grifola frondosa on an ancient oak tree that very first day. We couldn’t believe how well the property and home fit perfectly with who we are and what we had envisioned for our business. To make the Inn our own, we started with finding the right furniture and decór for the farmhouse. Luckily, there are some incredible antique shops right in South Haven and plenty more in Holland for us to search! We already had a small collection of original 1930s-era wine posters from France! These posters are the main inspiration for the decor of the entire Inn. Our largest piece is a 6 ft X 4.5 ft original lithograph poster by Robert Wolff. It is featured in the main sitting area on the first floor. Other pieces are smaller and are in the individual suites on the second and third floors. Our next priority was to establish a flock of chickens, build raised-bed gardens, and plant a vineyard so we can produce food and wine right on the estate. I previously raised chickens and I missed having a flock of friendly hens clucking around my feet! Chickens are both entertaining and soothing, not to mention that steady supply of eggs. We modified an existing shed to create a hen house with nesting boxes and hand raised the 5 different breeds that are known for being friendly, hardy, and good egg-layers. So far our girls have been wonderful ambassadors for the Inn and have provided light-hearted entertainment for many guests. Their manure is also composted and used to enhance the soil of our young vineyard. We also planted 360 vines that are the start of the Veritas Estate vineyard on the northwest corner of the property. I have chosen four European grape varieties, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gruner Veltliner, that will do well in the Lake Michigan Shore American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in southwest Michigan—the state’s traditional fruit belt region. Cabernet Franc is more cold hardy than many red Vitis vinifera varieties and it ripens slightly earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is versatile as well, and may be used to make a rich, tannic red wine or picked and pressed early to make a wonderful rosé. Pinot Gris is also a versatile grape which may be used to make dry white wines, sparkling wine, and even skin-contact pink/orange wine. I hope to experiment with all of these styles in the future! Lastly, Chef Tim has a plan for a beautiful fenced garden and orchard on the northeast side of the property. In the spring of 2024 we will start construction of 16 raised bed gardens, unique trellises for vining plants, and espaliered fruit trees to save space. Tim has a green thumb and has raised raspberries, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, peas, beans, kale, and lettuces for use in his commercial kitchen for years. Peach trees, lavender, cut flowers, and plenty of herbs will fill in spaces and add to our harvest as well. It is going to be fun watching everything grow over the next few years!”