Madonna’s Father Hopes To Uncork an Offer on His ‘Immaculate’ Michigan Winery

Just as pop icon Madonna’s career was taking off in the late 1980s, her father, Silvio “Tony” Ciccone, snapped up land in Northern Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula with his second wife Joan.

There, with Madonna’s sister Paula as the winemaker, Ciccone Vineyard & Winery blossomed into a family business over the years.

But the property popped onto the market for $4,925,000 in June.

Blake Bernard, of Homewaters LLC, is handling the 78-acre listing in Suttons Bay. The place will be sold turnkey and includes 15 acres of planted vines, a renovated barn, and a main house built in 1990.

Chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, dolcetto, and sangiovese grapes are harvested on-site and used to make the wine. Their first vintage was in 1998, and a tasting room was added in 2000.

“They were one of the first to plant grapes in Northern Michigan,” Bernard says. “We have 40 wineries now. I’ve been licensed [as a Realtor] for 10 years. This is the second time I’ve seen a property like this and the first time of this size and scale.”

This, coupled with the winery’s celebrity connection, has made it a hot listing.

“We’ve had some offers already, and I’ve got a showing every day this week,” says Bernard.

The next owner can either continue the Ciccone brand (which has 700 wine-club members and local distribution) or launch a new label.

Ten acres of additional grapes could be planted, and a permit’s already in place for up to 48 events annually.

“Tony and Joan built this from the ground up,” says Bernard. “It’s in a very solid place. The property’s immaculate.”

The Ciccones lived in the five-bedroom, 4.5-bath home, but it could also serve as a vacation rental or venue for weddings and corporate retreats.

The listing includes an attached, three-car garage.

“The kitchen has had some updates,” Bernard notes. “For 1990, they were ahead of their time with a wide-open floor plan. And the way they placed the house on the property is excellent. You can see West Grand Traverse Bay with no houses between you and the water.”

According to the listing, plans for an on-site cafe, a new production building, expanded vineyard potential, and an event pavilion can be shared with the next owner.

Bernard notes that interest has mainly come from two types of potential buyers: “people already in the hospitality business or hotels or beverage businesses that would add this to their portfolio” and  “people who would make this their retirement project, just like Tony and Joan.”

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