The second Michigan Wine Month Virtual Wine Wednesday is slated for May 13 at 8 p.m., with the weekly events continuing through May 27.
Sommelier Cortney Casey, co-owner of Michigan By The Bottle tasting rooms, is leading the virtual events on Facebook Live. Offered in conjunction with the Michigan Wine Collaborative and Michigan Wine Country, Virtual Wine Wednesdays focus on three wineries from throughout Michigan each week, highlighting their stories as well as newer products.
“We received a lot of positive feedback about the first event, both from viewers who enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with their favorite wineries and those who appreciated the chance to learn about wineries they’d never visited before,” Casey says. “We can’t wait to do it again every Wednesday throughout Michigan Wine Month!
“It’s a great way to stay engaged in the Michigan wine scene and support small businesses during a time when we can’t visit the wineries in person.”
Just sign in here at 8 p.m. May 13 to watch and ask questions. Here’s a little preview.
Flying Otter Winery, Adrian
Bob and Linda Utter, co-owners who also go by The Wine Curmudgeon and Mrs. Curmudgeon (Bob’s the winemaker, she’s a cellar rat), will be participating to discuss two of their wines. Curmudgeon’s Red (2016) is a blend of Frontenac, Petite Pearl and Norton, lightly oaked. Bob describes it as having “mid-palate cherry fruitiness with a dark red cherry and date fruit finish.”
Flying Otter’s Frontenac Gris (2018) is also being featured. It’s an orange wine, which is the result of fermenting white grapes using a red winemaking process.
“Fermentation occurs within the skins and seeds,” Bob explains. “The result is a beautiful, orange-tinted wine with notable tannin and acidity, balanced by a pleasant sweetness.
“The crispness and sweetness should pair well with most foods.”
Amoritas Vineyards, Lake Leelanau
Matt Goodell, part owner with Michael and Emily Goodell of Amoritas Vineyards, will be discussing their 2018 Fascinator and 2017 Mary’s Folly.
“The origin of the fascinator was a head covering which obscured the face of the wearer, creating an air of mystery and intrigue,” says Becca Worley, Amoritas’ tasting room manager, observing that the wine has notes of jasmine, ripe melon and mandarin orange. “The Muscat Ottonel grape similarly masks some of its most alluring qualities behind the sweet facade, begging the question, what lies beneath?
“Our Fascinator attempts to lift the veil, revealing the grape’s true nature to your palate.”
Mary’s Folly draws on grape varieties of Auxerrois, Muscat Ottonel and Pinot Blanc to make for a crisp-but-complex party wine.
“They are harvested and vinified together to create an elegant floral field blend,” Worley says. “Paired with food or solo, this pleasurable wine is the perfect blend of sweetness and acidity.”
Amoritas is offering virtual tasters a special discount of 20 percent off bottles that aren’t already on sale. Use the code MIWINE when ordering.
Two K Farms Cidery & Winery, Suttons Bay
Tasting Room Manager Nic Schulte and winemaker and cidermaker Adam Satchwell will represent Two K, discussing the winery’s Estate Rosé cider and 2017 Riesling.
Schulte describes the Riesling as a dry, medium-bodied, moderate-acidity wine unveiling notes of stone fruit, citrus and honeysuckle.
“The 2018 Rosé is a dry blend of estate red-fleshed apples producing fruit-forward Jolly Rancher-esque notes of watermelon and strawberry candied fruit,” he adds.
Again, click here to join the Facebook Live event May 13 at 8 p.m.
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