Michigan Wine Country

When Wyncroft owner James Lester first started planting grapes in 1984, he was a trailblazer in insisting on growing grapes that few others in Michigan’s fledgling wine industry had tried.“I sought out the very...

Sean O’Keefe has followed the weather patterns on the Old Mission Peninsula for decades. His father moved the family there to start Chateau Grand Traverse, the area’s first commercial winery, in 1974; the trailblazing...

Make the most of your next winery visit with these tasting room tips from the experts.Don’t chew gum or drink coffee or consume “anything that’s going to skew your palate” immediately before going...

There may have been a time when visiting a tasting room at a Michigan winery could have been somewhat predictable as far as what the process was like. Guests likely would wait their turn...

As far as the Michigan Wine Country team is concerned, pink is the color of summer. In order words, rosé is on the drink list all season long, and there’s no better way to...

Less than two hours northeast of Traverse City, a lesser-known viticultural haven awaits Michigan wine lovers: the Petoskey Wine Region, a trail spanning just over 50 miles from Central Lake to Indian River and...

Make room on your rack between those after-work whites and dinner reds for something truly indulgent: ice wine. It’s the ultrarich and supersweet dessert wine that makes for the perfect post-meal treat, and for...

Kris Baguzis has attended quite a few events at Youngblood Vineyard south of Armada. She lives not far away in Richmond and says she has helped with harvest and vine suckering. She joined an...

Day trips are fun, but if you really want to experience the full Michigan viticultural scene, why not plan to stay awhile? Several of the state’s wineries offer lodging on-site, giving guests a chance...

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...

Despite weather challenges in some vineyards this past year, the 2024 vintage of Michigan wine is shaping up to be one for the record books, winemakers say.The quality of each year’s grape output largely...

If you want to take wine tasting to the next level, look no further than vertical and horizontal tastings, which provide unique insights into the wines being presented.A vertical tasting explores the same wine...

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...

As Michigan wine country has developed and grown over the years, it has garnered quite a following of Michigan wine superfans. These are the Michigan wine enthusiasts who systematically tick off visits to the...

I only drink dry wines. That’s a common refrain echoed in tasting rooms across Michigan and beyond.Everyone’s tastes are different, of course, but our state’s sweet wines merit another sip. After all, part of...

As Cassandra Poné describes it, Michigan’s warm days enable grapes to develop fruit flavors and sugar levels slowly, while cool nights help them maintain high acidity.“It’s this balance between bright fruit and vibrant acidity...

If you live in the Mitten — or even a short ways outside of it — you’re never too far from a glass of Michigan wine.That’s partly thanks to these tasting rooms that partner with...

Jessica Youngblood is busy pruning vines on her 46-acre farm in Ray during a phone interview with Michigan Wine Country magazine. January in the Mitten is no match for this seasoned viticulturist, who is...

 Michigan’s wine scene is growing — a lot. Multiple wineries have opened their doors recently, bringing the grand total just under 200. Here are some of the newest wineries in the state.468 Urban Winery Offering community...

Sure, summer and fall are glorious times to visit wineries across Michigan. Vineyards are flourishing, and the weather is perfect for being outside with a glass of wine overlooking a tableau of a lake,...