Michigan Wine Country

A celebration of the Traverse Wine Coast returns in May after being shelved last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release from Traverse City Tourism. Traverse City Uncorked will feature self-guided tours of more than 40 area wineries while offering incentives, hotel discounts and a chance to win prizes.

You can say a lot about the pandemic,  and most of it wouldn’t be all that great. On the plus side, however, it created new opportunities for regional winemakers to connect with consumers, says Bryan Ulbrich, owner/winemaker at Left Foot Charley in Traverse City.

Robin and Jim Barker own End of the Road Winery in the Upper Peninsula community of Germfask. Operating a manufacturing facility, tasting room, indoor and outdoor seating and a 3.5-acre vineyard is Jim’s “dream...

The picturesque Irish Hills region of southeastern Michigan is home to a new winery. The Winery North of 12 in Brooklyn is the brainchild of Sylvania, Ohio, resident Corey Gray, a hobbyist winemaker for more than two decades. Gray, who is 61, recently decided it was time for a change of pace after 40 years working for himself as a commercial photographer.

Meet Chuck “Vino Papi” Jackson Jr., also known as “The Wine Guy.” He’s spent 20 years in the wine industry, primarily as a wine educator.

Enjoying a glass of wine or two at a tasting room is a treat that many Michiganders had become accustomed to before COVID-19 came along. Since then, wineries have had to adjust their tastings and other activities in myriad ways with varying results. But one thing has remained constant: One way or another, Michigan wine fans won’t be deterred.

It all started with a bottle of wine — a really, really nice bottle of wine, back in 2001. Aimee Mali — now 44 — was on the hunt to buy a special wine she could give as a wedding gift. The internet was new then, so she took herself to a store where she could talk to “the wine guy.”