Michigan Award Winning Wines

 Its time for an update on Michigan wines. This tasting will give us an opportunity to taste some of the best wines Michigan has to offer.  David Creighton of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council has selected some great wines for our tasting. David will present the wines and give us an overview of the Michigan Wine Industry.

The Wines:

Aperitif: Chateau de Leelanau ‘Andante’ Sparkling Riesling 2002 ­ Leelanau Peninsula

Chateau Grand Traverse ‘Ship of Fools’ 2002 ­ Old Mission Peninsula

Willow Vineyards Chardonnay 2001 ­ Leelanau Peninsula

Peninsula Cellars Dry Gewurztraminer ’Manigold Vineyard’ 2002 ­ Old Mission Peninsula

Domaine Berrien Pinot Noir 2001 ­ Lake Michigan Shore

Black Star Farms ‘Leorie Vineyard’ Cabernet-Merlot 2000 ­ Old Mission Peninsula

Fenn Valley Late Harvest Vignoles 2002 ­ Lake Michigan Shore

Cheese and bread will accompany the wines with coffee and dessert following. Please bring your own glasses. No smoking or strong fragrances ­please. Attendees recognize they will be consuming alcohol and assume the responsibility for having done so.

Attendance will be limited to the first 36 and the deadline is Tuesday February 17th

What Happened.........

George and Betty Callas organized this very informative wine tasting.  Our speaker, David Creighton, has first hand knowledge of the fast growing and very productive Michigan Wine industry.  He brought along a very good collection for us to try.

The aperitif Chateau Grand Traverse Sparkling Riesling was a Best of Class 2000 and emulates the German Sekt.

The Grand Traverse “Ship of Fools” is a blend of chardonnay, pinot gris and pinot blanc, and demonstrated the vintner’s willingness to blend.

The Berrian Pinot Noir is a cold macerated wine, and a Silver Award winner. The Black Star Cab-Merlot, also a Silver winner, was another very good red wine.

The Fenn Valley Late Harvest Vignoles demonstrated the excellent use of this grape as a dessert wine.

But the wine of the evening was the Peninsula Cellars Manigold Vineyard Dry Gewurtztraminer, which was world class - dry and aromatic and loaded with flavor.

We finished with coffee and dessert and left with a great appreciation for our Michigan vintners.