Our summer wine country travels took us to Michigan. I clearly remember, to continue our overland east to west coast travels along The Great Northern Route, we needed to reach Highway 2 (US-2) on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Our first stop on our journey north to rejoin US-2, was a state park at Sugar Loaf Lake, in the Waterloo Recreation Area. Here we experienced a tornado watch warning. Next stop, Warren Dune State Park, brought us to wine country on the western shore of the peninsula. It was at Tabor Hill, a family owned and operated winery in southwestern Michigan where we were introduced to Michigan wines. The Lake Michigan Shore American Viticultural Area (AVA) was the beginning of our Michigan vine-filled explorations.
While our journey through Michigan was brief I have discovered that Michigan is home to more than 140 wineries. These wineries are scattered across five AVA’s (Fernville, Lake Michigan Shore, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, and Tip of the Mitt). In fact throughout the state there are six wine trails (Lake Michigan Shore, Glen Arbor Village, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, Thumbs Up, Southwestern Michigan Pioneer, and Petosky). Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville, a sub-AVA, account for around 40% of the state's wine, while the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula AVAs, account for 55%. Each Michigan AVA has its own unique terroir. For example, Lake Michigan Shore, enjoys an extended growing season. Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir do well. The approximate four additional weeks for ripening also allows this area to produce big, jammy red varietal wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Whereas the Leelanau Peninsula produces white varieties with well-balanced acidity, such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Riesling. Hybrid grape wines, such as Marquette, Frontenac and Vidal Blanc, do well in the vineyards farther inland. Michigan produces ice wine, making if one of the few fortunate winemaking regions, besides Canada and Germany.
Michigan, ranked sixth in the US for wine production, has a rich history of wine making, dating back to 1780's. Michigan wineries specialized in sweet wine and fruit wine well into the 1970s. With the growth in demand, starting in the latter half of the 20th century, for locally grown fine wines, several existing Michigan makers of sweet wine experimented with upgrading their production, and new vintners also entered the scene. A slow growth in the number of wineries, and experimentation with different vinifera varieties continued well into the 2000s. While most wineries have focused on grape varieties that are best suited for Michigan's climate, a few have explored further. These days various hybrid varieties are being looked at to allow for grape growing in the Upper Peninsula. Clearly wine making in Michigan has had an exciting history and its future looks promising.
Michigan's Wine Trail
While on the Lake Shore Wine Trail we celebrated our friends anniversary at Tabor Hill's winery restaurant in Buchanan. Besides exploring Lake Michigan Shore wine country we got to relax at the Warren Dune State Park.
Lake Michigan Shore AVA extended growing season allows this area to produce Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir, along with big, jammy red varietal wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The region is also know for its hybrids, like Chambourain, and Ravat Vignoles. While in the area we visited Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant to sample some of the wines.
Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant © Spaswinefood
We ordered a wine flight to checkout their wines. Their wine flight included a dry white, rosé and Cabernet Franc.
Pushing Grape Boundaries in Michigan
From Lake Michigan Shore we traveled onto Traverse City. Using Traverse City, as a base, we toured the Old Mission Peninsula AVA. This wine region became an AVA in 1987. While in this region we visited Chateau Chantal and Mari Vineyards.
Wine Tasting, Chateau Chantal © Spaswinefood
Old Mission Peninsula AVA, where both Chateau Chantal and Mari Vineyards are found, provided a great introduction to the possibility of Michigan wines. Old Mission Peninsula AVA, an area know for its cherries became an AVA in 1987. These days the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula AVAs, account for 55% of Michigan's wine production.
Tabor Hill Winery, our first introduction to Michigan wines, was a perfect introduction. Discovering Pure Michigan, ranked sixth in the US for wine production, was an exciting wine adventure for me. Put Michigan wines on your list. It was fun discovering Michigan's wine regions (AVA's). I invite you to join me in my wine travels in Michigan and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
