Lake Michigan is a key player in what makes Michigan wine country so special, much as the Mediterranean-like climate fosters favorable growing conditions in California’s famed Napa Valley.
In the Mitten, Lake Michigan’s lake effect moderates the climate, extends the growing season (harvest can stretch into November), and protects vines from severe cold and early frosts, particularly on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. This “inland sea” also creates a benevolent climate in Michigan’s southwestern corner. In fact, all five of the state’s American Viticultural Areas — or AVAs — touch the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Michigan’s terroir leads to vibrant, fruit-forward white wines and nuanced, light- and medium-bodied red wines, which are increasingly attracting the attention of both national wine critics and the public.
“Michigan is truly a unique wine-growing region with terrific merit and ongoing potential as a cool-climate region, beautifully moderated by the Great Lakes, and with unlimited potential for making stellar wines,” says Madeline Triffon, a master sommelier, who directs wine tasting events and selects wines for Plum Market, an upscale grocery chain in metro Detroit. “The effect of Lake Michigan specifically can’t be overstated, from arresting spring frosts to extending the growing season, especially [on] the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas.”
It’s no wonder these two peninsulas are home to more than 30 wineries.
“People are surprised by the number of wineries, for sure,” says Josh Golnick, wine club and tasting room manager at Mari Vineyards on the Old Mission Peninsula. “And then they’re surprised that they find good wine, because there is this generalization that newer or unknown wine regions equals flaws. People are pleasantly surprised.”
High-quality wine is part of the appeal, of course, but Michigan wine country is also accessible — a few hours’ drive from major Midwest cities — and affordable. Many wineries are clustered along easy-to-follow wine trails.
Winery tasting room fees in Michigan have remained reasonable. Three to five pours at many wineries will cost you $10 to $20. Some wineries waive tasting fees with wine purchases.
Compare Michigan with the West Coast. In Napa Valley, tasting room fees range widely depending on the experience, from $20 to $200, according to Visit Napa Valley. Those experiences can vary from a simple three-sample flight of wine to a full-scale wine and food pairing, prepared on-site by a chef, to even more-exclusive activities. A recent survey by the wine division of Silicon Valley Bank, part of First Citizens Bank, indicates that the average cost of a standard wine tasting in Napa is $81, the highest in the country. The average tasting fee in Oregon is $32.
“In my experience, people coming from more well-known regions are expecting to pay, as it is the norm,” Golnick says. “Being cheaper than out West is hopefully just a pleasant surprise and an excuse to take some wines home.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2024 Michigan Wine Country magazine.
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