I'm going to get a bit more local and vague with today's slightly lazy wine selection. If you haven't been able to wine taste in Michigan and explore local wineries, DECEMBER IS A GREAT TIME TO DO SO. The fall rush of color-tourists is over, and tasting rooms are generally sparsely filled. Employees have time to talk in-depth about philosophy and product. In fact, I've made a friend or two with industry employees at down times like these. When you want to learn and ask questions, there's no better time to visit than Friday-Sunday from mid-November to mid-May.
Recently, wineries in Michigan have hit a bit of a roadblock on what's previously been a rise to international recognition. The winters of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 were harsh - some locations recorded temperatures of -30 degrees Fahrenheit. This is very bad for the most commercially viable wine grape species, vitis vinifera. This species is used to produce almost every world-renowned wine on earth and includes varietals like Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. But vinifera vines struggle to survive in colder climates, and many varietals die predictably with extended exposure to temperatures of -15 or below - some varietals are less hardy, others more so. In the past two winters, Michigan vineyards have seen massive vine death. Many producers are procuring fruit from Western states that don't have to deal with extreme cold. At the end of the day, many winemakers will still make a great product to sell until vines recover. In the mean time, these wineries could use your support. Consider making a visit on a down weekend over the holidays or in late winter. For those who live outside Michigan, giving them a drinkable part of the state makes a great gift.
If you don't want a crowd, avoid event weekends. Some wine regions have special event weekends in the winter to help drive traffic during traditionally slow times. Here are the event calendars for the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (http://www.wineriesofoldmission.com/events), and the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail (http://www.lpwines.com/events/).
Recently, wineries in Michigan have hit a bit of a roadblock on what's previously been a rise to international recognition. The winters of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 were harsh - some locations recorded temperatures of -30 degrees Fahrenheit. This is very bad for the most commercially viable wine grape species, vitis vinifera. This species is used to produce almost every world-renowned wine on earth and includes varietals like Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. But vinifera vines struggle to survive in colder climates, and many varietals die predictably with extended exposure to temperatures of -15 or below - some varietals are less hardy, others more so. In the past two winters, Michigan vineyards have seen massive vine death. Many producers are procuring fruit from Western states that don't have to deal with extreme cold. At the end of the day, many winemakers will still make a great product to sell until vines recover. In the mean time, these wineries could use your support. Consider making a visit on a down weekend over the holidays or in late winter. For those who live outside Michigan, giving them a drinkable part of the state makes a great gift.
If you don't want a crowd, avoid event weekends. Some wine regions have special event weekends in the winter to help drive traffic during traditionally slow times. Here are the event calendars for the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (http://www.wineriesofoldmission.com/events), and the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail (http://www.lpwines.com/events/).
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