One of Southwest Michigan’s most recognizable wine destinations is making some significant changes, but the people behind Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant say the goal isn’t to turn the longtime landmark into something it isn’t.
Instead, they’re trying to make Tabor Hill more distinctly what it has always had the potential to be — a place where Southwest Michigan’s wine, agriculture, food and hospitality come together.
And the effort is already getting some national attention.
Tabor Hill has been named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 57 Best Winery Restaurants in the World in the magazine’s 2026 list of destination restaurants. The publication describes the selections as winery restaurants that go beyond the traditional tasting-room experience and are destinations in their own right.
For Tabor Hill, the recognition comes at the beginning of what Moersch Hospitality Group CEO and owner Matthew Moersch describes as a new chapter for the more than 50-year-old winery and restaurant.
At the center of that change is Chef Justin Carlisle, who joined Tabor Hill as executive chef in early July and introduced a new menu August 1.
Carlisle brings substantial national credentials to the Tabor Hill operation. The Wisconsin native was chef and owner of Ardent in Milwaukee and received a James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef: Midwest. His culinary philosophy emphasizes local ingredients, regional agriculture and a modern interpretation of Midwestern food.
Tabor Hill’s new menu reflects that philosophy, with greater emphasis on seasonal ingredients from Southwest Michigan farms and producers, along with more deliberate pairings between the food and Tabor Hill wines.
The restaurant’s website now describes the direction as “farm-to-table dining in Southwest Michigan,” with Carlisle’s cuisine built around the agricultural character of the region.
“We aren’t simply operating a winery and restaurant; we’re taking care of a piece of Southwest Michigan wine history and defining what it will become for the next generation,” Moersch said in outlining the company’s vision for Tabor Hill.
That history is substantial.
Tabor Hill was one of the pioneers of what has become Southwest Michigan’s wine industry, with more than five decades of winemaking at its Buchanan-area property. The winery has long been known for its vineyard setting, Michigan wines and restaurant, making it one of the region’s best-known wine destinations.
The Moersch family’s connection to Tabor Hill goes back even further than its ownership of the property.
Rick Moersch, Matthew’s father and the founder of what became Moersch Hospitality Group, began his winemaking career at Tabor Hill in 1979. The Moersch family ultimately acquired Tabor Hill in 2017, bringing one of the region’s historic wine names into the same family of businesses that includes Round Barn Winery and other Southwest Michigan hospitality operations.
Matthew Moersch says that history is part of the reason the changes at Tabor Hill are being approached carefully.
The objective, he says, isn’t “luxury for luxury’s sake,” but rather a restaurant that feels refined without being pretentious, elevated without losing its warmth and distinctly Michigan rather than an imitation of another wine region.
That means changes beyond the menu, including the restaurant’s atmosphere, presentation, service and the way food and wine are integrated into the overall guest experience.
The timing also comes as Southwest Michigan’s wine industry continues to develop a broader reputation as a food and beverage destination.
Tabor Hill’s national recognition from Wine Enthusiast adds another piece to that larger regional story. The magazine’s list includes winery restaurants across the United States and around the world, from established wine regions in California and Oregon to destinations in Europe, South America and elsewhere.
For Tabor Hill, the recognition is particularly notable because the restaurant’s new direction is still in its early stages.
Moersch says accolades aren’t the ultimate objective, but rather an indication that the effort to raise the quality of the experience is being noticed.
“We’re proud of where we’ve been, excited for where we’re going,” he said.
For a winery that has helped shape the Southwest Michigan wine experience for more than half a century, that next chapter is now underway.
