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By now, the savvy winelover is aware of that wine is produced within the state of Michigan. With round 200 wineries scattered all through 5 AVAs (Fennville, Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Michigan Shore, Outdated Mission Peninsula and Tip of the Mitt), its wine trade garners greater than $6.33 billion per 12 months, in keeping with an announcement on the Michigan Wine Nation web site. Though I haven’t tasted an unlimited quantity of wines from the state, I’ve had these from a handful of wineries throughout my travels.
My newest journey took me Traverse Metropolis, then to the Leelanau Peninsula the place my husband and I spent a heat, sunny morning at Aurora Cellars, a household owned and operated boutique vineyard producing award-winning cool local weather wines from all property grown grapes. Their sister vineyard, Good Harbor Vineyards, is situated a number of miles west, in direction of Leland, Michigan.
Photograph Credit score: Michigan Wine
The Leelanau Peninsula
The Leelanau Peninsula in northwestern Decrease Michigan turned the state’s second AVA when it was accepted in 1982. It’s located on the 45th parallel that features world class areas of Piemonte in Italy, Bordeaux in France and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
On the Peninsula, there’s a various terroir of hills, valleys, forests, meadows, sand dunes, orchards and vineyards. Famous are freshwater areas in bogs, springs, creeks, rivers, inland lakes and the Nice Lakes. Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay (in the event that they don’t utterly freeze!) average the temperatures with late springs, lengthy falls and hotter winters. Because of giant quantities of snow cowl, vines are protected with this pure insulation all through the winter months. Winery soils are usually of well-drained sandy loam; vines are deeply rooted.
What I discovered was that the views alongside the Peninsula’s 100+ miles of shoreline pair fantastically with a glass of wine.
Winery view at Aurora Cellars
Aurora Cellars and Good Harbor Vineyards
From Traverse Metropolis, Aurora Cellars (7788 East Horn Highway, Lake Leelanau) is a calming 20-minute drive by means of quaint lakeside villages providing views of Grand Traverse Bay. Owned and operated by the dynamic sister and brother staff of Taylor and Sam Simpson, the 2 have been joined by seasoned Head Winemaker Drew Perry for our tour and tasting. Glowing, white and purple wines have been poured and sipped of their comfy tasting room with winery views and a European vibe.
Photograph Credit score: Aurora Cellars
The Simpson household has been farming on the Leelanau Peninsula since 1956. Aurora Cellars, producing fewer than 10K instances per 12 months, was based in 1980 and is a part of the Simpson Household Estates that additionally contains Good Harbor Vineyards. The Aurora Cellars property is distinctive attributable to the truth that it’s composed of just about all exhausting compact clay soil on rolling hills.
Nearly all of Good Harbor Vineyards’ acreage is 5 miles from Lake Michigan and inside the Good Harbor Basin. It consists of excessive elevation parcels with southwest dealing with slopes. Grapes in 4 property vineyards of 60 acres are cultivated; the Simpson household has long run leases with 4 different vineyards from which they supply grapes. Wines produced embody purple, white, candy, and glowing at various worth factors to swimsuit any style and finances. Roughly 20K instances per 12 months of wines embody Albarino, Pinot Blanc to Brut, Dry Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, and Cabernet Franc.
Drew Perry, Taylor Simpson, Sam Simpson
Chosen Wines of Aurora Cellars and Good Harbor Vineyards
Taylor, Sam and Drew acknowledged that the mission at Aurora Cellars is to “produce world class, cool local weather wines with a give attention to purple varieties.” Nevertheless, glowing wines produced utilizing the Charmat technique are memorable and white wines tasted have been flavorful and meals pleasant, too. Our tasting consisted of a variety wines from each Aurora Cellars and Good Harbor Vineyards. Under are a few of my favorites.
A couple of sips of Aurora Cellars Glowing Brut Rose ($34), of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, was a scrumptious strategy to start, due to its pretty effervescence and notes of cherries and raspberries resulting in a lingering fruit end. Good Harbor Vineyards Blanc de Noir ($34), 100% Pinot Noir, was wealthy, savory and balanced with recent fruit notes. In an extra-dry fashion was Good Harbor Vineyards Blanc to Blanc ($34) of 100% Chardonnay. Refreshing and flavorful this bubbly is yet one more award winner for Aurora Cellars.
Vibrant citrus notes, salinity and minerality have been options of Aurora Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2023, out there to wine membership members solely. Peaches and lemon zest notes with snappy acidity have been distinctive and this alternative can be a memorable pairing with the realm’s signature smoked whitefish pate! Ahhh, snappy Aurora Cellars Gruner Veltliner 2021 ($24) exuded notes of spice, white pepper, lime and melon.
Our first purple wine was Aurora Cellars Blaufränkisch 2020 ($48), an award successful wine lauded by the TexSom Worldwide Wine Competitors and San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competitors. It additionally garnered excessive factors from Wine Fanatic and was a winner within the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competitors. Property grown Lemberger provided lush notes of pepper and blueberries resulting in an enduring end. Final however not least was a chic, beneficiant Aurora Cellars Cabernet Franc 2018 ($55) with its refined notes of blackberries, darkish plums and herbs framed by average acidity and tannic construction.
Throughout our dialog, Sam acknowledged, “Should you’re going to do one thing, do it higher than anybody else” and it appeared that that he was proper. But, after the tasting, we visited a number of extra wineries to find if Sam, Taylor and Drew actually are on the precise path to attaining that objective. The outcome? They’re. Should you’re on the fence about making an attempt wines from Michigan and particularly the Leelanau Peninsula, discover an intriguing bottle from my newest uncommon finds, Aurora Cellars or Good Harbor Vineyards.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
For extra Grape Experiences, your free infographic “4 Keys to a Stellar Wine Choose” and a coupon code in direction of your buy of my on-line course “Uncover the Necessities of Wine (and select it like a professional!)” click on right here.
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