Michigan Wines Are Crushing It in Competition

Recent award winners shine a spotlight on the U.S.’s ”Third Coast”

May 21, 2025

Pouring wine in glasses — Photo by Rido/Adobe Stock

Move over, Napa and New York! Michigan, part of the United States’ “Third Coast,” is making quite the splash on the national (and international) stage with its award-winning wine.

In addition to Michigan’s marked success at wine competitions, the region is also drawing attention from prestigious media outlets. Not the least of these is Food & Wine, which showcased eight of Michigan’s “crisp and inviting” wines online earlier this year. Likewise, distinguished wine education platform Wine Folly has added The Mitten to its collection of region guides alongside such heavy-hitting locations as Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and New York.

Emily Dockery, executive director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the state’s wine scene, anticipates continued industry growth moving forward and highlights competitions as opportunities for solidifying Michigan’s place on the map.

“We have what it takes to really make an impact,” she says. “It’s all about raising awareness, and competitions can be a good way of doing that.”

Here are some of the local pours that brought home the gold (and platinum) at major wine competitions throughout the past year: