MICHIGAN
WINES!
By
Madeline Triffon, Wine Director, Unique Restaurant Corp.
Does
Michigan make world-class wine? Acquire a random sampling from the
list provided here, throw them into playful blind tastings and surprise
yourself-- not just with Rieslings, sparklers and French hybrids,
categories that are safe bets for a cool growing region; but with
Pinot Gris/Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot
and Gewürztraminer. Quality is on a joyous vertical climb in
a state whose winemakers have long toiled to deserve some critical
airtime.
There
are 25 wineries in Michigan, and the number is growing. The most famous
Michigan winegrowing region is in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties,
in the northwest corner of the state, but there are vineyards bordering
Lake Michigan on the west coast and wineries located in the southwest
corner "en route to Chicago."
If you’re
planning a late summer or fall vacation in gorgeous northern Michigan,
a very useful piece of literature is Michigan Wine Country,
a magazine released by the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council.
For a complimentary copy, call 517-373-1104 or 734-483-0748. The magazine
provides complete winery listings with phone numbers, hours and locations,
as well as easy-to-follow maps.
What
follows is a short list of stylish, delicious, beautifully crafted
Michigan wines. This list is not comprehensive, but everything noted
has been tasted recently and is currently in stock at the wineries.
An important buyer’s caveat: some of these beauties may be available
only out of the wineries’ tasting rooms or by direct mail, so
the contact phone numbers have been included here. Many Detroit area
fine wine retailers are supportive of the industry and will carry
what is available to them.
Sparkling
L.Mawby
"Blanc de Blanc" Brut (Leelanau Peninsula)
L. Mawby
"Dionysus" Brut Rosé 1993 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Shady
Lane Sparkling Riesling 1997 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Good
Harbor "Moonstruck" (Leelanau Peninsula)
Riesling
& Gewurztraminer
Peninsula
Cellars Gewurztraminer 1999 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Shady
Lane Dry Riesling NV (Leelanau Peninsula)
Chateau
Grand Traverse "Dry" Riesling 1998 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Peninsula
Cellars "Select" Riesling 1999 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Chateau
Grand Traverse "Semi Dry" Johannisberg Riesling 1998 (Michigan)
K.
Edward Winery "Semi-Dry" Riesling 1999 (Michigan)
Chateau
Grand Traverse "Late Harvest" Johannisberg Riesling 1999
Pinot
Blanc & Pinot Grigio
Peninsula
Cellars Pinot Blanc 1999 (Old Mission Peninsula)
K.
Edward Winery Pinot Grigio 1999 (Michigan)
Bowers
Harbor Pinot Grigio "Mission & J. Joseph Vineyards" 1998 (Old
Mission Peninsula)
Chardonnay
Chateau
Grand Traverse "Barrel Fermented" Chardonnay 1998 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Chateau
Grand Traverse "Reserve" Chardonnay 1997 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Leelanau
Cellars Chardonnay 1998 (Michigan)
Leelanau
Cellars "Tall Ship Reserve" Chardonnay 1997 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Red
Wine
Bel
Lago Pinot Noir 1998 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Leelanau
Cellars Pinot Noir 1997 ( Leelanau Peninsula)
Black
Star Farms "Arcturos" Pinot Noir 1998 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Fenn
Valley "Capriccio" (Lake Michigan Shore)
Raftshol
Vineyards Claret 1998 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Black
Star Farms "Arcturos" Cabernet Franc 1998 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Sweet
St.
Julian Light Solera Cream Sherry (Michigan)
MICHIGAN
WINERY PHONE NUMBERS:
Black
Star Farms 231-271-4882
Bel
Lago 231-228-4800
Chateau
Grand Traverse 231-223-7355
Fenn
Valley 616-561-2396
Good
Harbor 231-256-7165
K.
Edwards Winery 810-786-1921
L.
Mawby 231-271-3522
Leelanau
Cellars 231-386-5201
Peninsula
Cellars 231-223-4050
Rafshol
Vineyards 231-271-5650
Shady
Lane 231-947-8865
St
Julian Winery 616-657-5568
Tabor
Hill 800-283-3363
More
of Madeline’s Tips:
