Cool Weather is Wine Touring Weather!

The hot, humid days of summer are slowly giving way to milder days and cool evenings. This is a wonderful time to tour Michigan wine country and attend a few tasting events. Visit www.michiganwines.com to get more details on these and all the other fabulous events throughout the year.

New Buffalo Harvest and Wine Fest — October 8
Lion’s Park, New Buffalo
The New Buffalo Business Association and the Four Winds Casino are hosting the 5th annual “New Buffalo Harvest & Wine Fest” from noon to 10pm. Representing all that the season has to offer, the Harvest & Wine Fest boasts an abundance of local treats including a copious farmer’s market, world-class wines from Southwest Michigan, tasty fare from area restaurants, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and more. Suggested donation at the gate is $5 per person — children 12 and under are FREE. Visit www.newbuffalo.org for more information.

Wine Country Tour — October 9
East Lansing to Southwest Michigan
Michigan State University and Lansing Community College have joined together to offer a day-long bus tour to some of western Michigan’s wineries. Visits to several Southwest Michigan wineries including Tabor Hill Winery are planned. The tour includes transportation, lunch and an experienced guide. The return trip home will include a stop to pick up food to go. Cost is $159, with lunch included. Call 517-355-4562 to reserve your spot.

Greater Lansing Wine Opener — October 20
Eagle Eye Golf Club, Bath
Indulge in the finer things at Eagle Eye Golf Club and support a great cause, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Guests will sip fine wines from five different regions, including Michigan, dine on delicious local cuisine and peruse the wonderful items in the live and silent auction in a unique setting. Guests attending the VIP Reception will enjoy exclusive fare before heading into the Wine Opener. Live music and celebrity pourers complete the evening making it unforgettable for all who attend. Cocktail attire please. $60 ($65 at door) for main tasting; $100 ($110 at door) VIP Tasting; VIP tasting begins at 6:00. Visit www.ccf.org for more information.

The Big Grape Tour — November 5-6
Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail
Join us for a day of wine, food, and fun as we travel by motorcoach from one Wine Trail winery to another, five in all. Each winery will be featuring one of their best wines paired with food. Following the wine and food pairings, we will check into the Marriott at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti followed by dinner and dancing. This is one event you won’t want to miss! Registration Deadline: October 5. Purchase tickets online at www.pioneerwinetrail.com.

Toast the Season — November 5-6 & November 12-13
Leelanau Peninsula Wineries
The tour is self guided and you may visit 8 of our 18 member wineries each day in whatever order you desire between the hours of 11am to 5pm Saturday and noon to 5pm Sunday. The tour features a special wine pour accompanied by holiday themed gourmet food at each of the 18 Leelanau Peninsula member wineries. At your starting winery you will be given a commemorative glass, an LPVA holiday ornament and a holiday gift bag featuring local, fair trade and organic food and more! More information at www.lpwines.com/toast.

Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival — November 17-19
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids
Over 100 wineries from around the world will provide samples of as many as 1,200 assorted wines — including some hard to find, top shelf vintages. Brewmasters and distillers will also to be on hand providing tastes of their hand-crafted beverages. Chefs from eight of the area’s top restaurants prepare and serve samples of their culinary specialties. Six select restaurants partner with distinguished wineries and breweries for special Pairings — gourmet multi-course meals served on-site in a casual yet intimate “bar top” setting. Tickets are $30-$40 each and may be purchased in advance online at www.grwinefestival.com, or at the Festival on a first-come, first-served basis.

Great Macaroni & Cheese Bake-Off — November 26
Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula
Local restaurants have turned the classic comfort food dish of Macaroni and Cheese into culinary marvels! This rich and creamy fare is paired with wines from Old Mission – Rieslings, Pinot Grigios, Chardonnays and more. Taste what our local chefs have come up with this year! Tickets are $40 and will be available online at www.wineriesofoldmission.com.

Michigan Wines Receive Prestigious Awards

Michigan Wines Receive Prestigious Awards

Michiganwines and wineries have been in the spotlight throughout the summer; and it’s not just inMichigan, it’s happening across the country. The reason?Michiganwines have been winning a significant number of top awards at regional, national and international wine competitions.

In January, Chateau Grand Traverse won a Best of Class award at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for their 2009Lot49 Riesling. This off-dry wine was produced from grapes harvested from a single vineyard — located on a steep, west-facing slope onOldMissionPeninsula, in northernMichigan.

Judges evaluated more than 2,000 wines from around the world at the Pacific Rim Wine Competition, held inSan Bernadino,Calif., in April, and declared a tie for Best Gewurztraminer: Tabor Hill Winery, in Buchanan, for their 2009 vintage, and Chateau Fontaine, onLeelanauPeninsula, for their 2010. Chateau Fontaine went on to win Grand Champion honors as Best White Wine of the competition.

Tabor Hill also garnered several top awards at other international competitions, including Best White Wine at the International Eastern Wine Competition, held inCorning,N.Y., for their 2010 Traminette, a hybrid variety similar to Gewurztraminer. Fenn Valley Vineyards, in Fennville, won Best of Class Riesling at the same competition, which accepted more than 1,400 entries in 2011.

Pinot Blanc is a relatively new varietal forMichiganvintners. Left Foot Charley, inTraverse City, is doing an outstanding job of producing wine from this sister grape of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The winery received a “Sweepstakes” award of Best White Wine at the Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition for their 2010 Pinot Blanc, Island View Vineyard. TheLong Beachjudging is one of the top international wine competitions in theUnited States.

With more than 3,000 entries from 15 countries, the Indy International Wine Competition, held inIndianapolisin August, is the largest independent wine competition in the nation. The 2011 judging was a gold mine for threeMichiganwineries — from three different regions of the state. Best Vidal was awarded to Sandhill Crane Vineyards, inJackson; Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs won Best Chancellor; and Leelanau Cellars onLeelanauPeninsulawonBestFlavoredPortfor their Raspberry version of this dessert-style wine.

Michigan’s wine industry continues to enjoy steady growth, with sales of Michiganwine outpacing sales of all wines in Michiganfor eight consecutive years. Five new wineries opened in 2011, bringing the total number to 86 wineries using predominantly Michigan-grown grapes and other fruit. To learn more about the wineries and vineyards of Michigan, visit www.michiganwines.com or call 517-241-1207 to request Michigan Wine Country magazine, with maps and information about the wineries ofMichigan.

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council is a 10-member panel that supports the growth of the grape and wine industry inMichigan. It is housed in the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, which is the official state agency charged with serving, promoting and protecting the food, agriculture and agricultural economic interests of the people of the state ofMichigan.

Thanks to Karel Bush / bushk9@michigan.gov / 517-241-4468 for this contribution!

Blue Water Summer

The summer is winding down along the shores of Lake Huron. The Port Sanilac and Lexington marinas and streets have been buzzing with tourists and residents celebrating the last few days sun and the fun.

Blue Water Winery and Vineyard is doing what it needs to do….loving the heat and producing grapes for harvest.  For now their attention is on the Old Town Hall Winery, which is growing up fast.  There are also a few new vintages, including a new hard cider named, appropriately, EastCider.  It, too, is available by the glass or by the growler. Of course, their customers let Blue Water know which wines are they like the best, but it is nice to get a little validation from competitions. Blue Water’s most recent awards include a Bronze and Silver medal from the New York Finger Lakes International Competition.  A 2011 Bronze for the 2009 Dry Riesling and a 2011 Silver 2009 Sunrise Coast Red.  At the San Francisco International Wine Competition, Blue Water won a 2011 Bronze for their 2009 Chambourcin in the dry red category.

At the Old Town Hall Winery in Lexington, Blue Water is serving wine by the glass and offering a small cheese, fruit, and cured meats plates.  Customers are still able to sample and purchase wine, but their new table service gives visitors another enjoyable option.  Blue Water also just released the Old Town Hall Winery brand. Under that label, Blue Water offers a Cherry Wine, a Cherry port, a Chambourcin port infused with Chocolate.

Blue Water is in the process of bottling their 2010 Chardonnay, 2010 Pinot Noir, and the 2010 Cab Franc.  “I am so excited about these wines because we had such a good/hot growing year last year and the flavor levels are very high. They should all be released by the fall” remarks owner Connie Currie. Blue Water’s volunteer harvest teams are already sizable, so that should be another big annual event.  “It surprised me last year when we had so many people who asked to participate in the harvest.  It was a positive experience for everyone, so we will be doing it again this year,” says Connie.

New Vintages Now Available:

The 2010 Chardonnay. Big, Bold, and Blond. Perhaps their best Chardonnay yet. Dry, buttery, lightly oaked, big body, and very aromatic.

Fire Hall Red. Rich, dry blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton.

Opera House White.  A refreshing, fruity Un-oaked Chardonnay.

Norton. Dry, Dark, and Delicious. Vinted from Norton grapes (from Steve’s hometown!)

Blue Water Winery and Vineyard Hours:  Wednesday – Sunday, 12-6.

Old Town Hall Winery Hours:  Friday and Saturday, 11-9. Sunday-Thursday, 11-7.