For our New Year's Eve Mini Contest, we asked you to tell us the best/most exciting/most interesting Michigan wine you tried in 2012 and to tell us your Michigan wine resolution. We then turned to our trusty friend, the random number generator at Random.org, to choose the winner. And it was ... GINA KITTLE of Fruitport! Gina, please email us at cort@michiganbythebottle.com to claim your prize: a 2-for-1 tasting voucher for the Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room in Shelby Township (Metro Detroit) and a signed copy of "A History of Michigan Wine: 150 Years of Winemaking along the Great Lakes," by Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway.
Keep reading to see what fellow MBTB fans had to say in response to our New Year's questions...
Resolutions
"To try and visit all of the wineries in Michigan."
— Mary Ellen Babcock
"I want to drink more of it. Not in the sense of several glasses, but more in the sense that I want to explore more flavors; I want to learn more about wine, its history and its flavor profiles."
— Joanna Dueweke
"My 2013 Michigan Wine resolution is to finally head down to the Lake Michigan Shore trail. I've been to Fenn Valley but would really like to visit Tabor Hill and some others!"
— Julie Vandenboom
"To try more Michigan ports and dessert wines."
— Bradley Matson
"I’m working on converting my husband, the beer drinker, to enjoy more wine. First stop on the list is to come visit MBTB and second make a few more longer trips, one to Sandhill Crane and then to Traverse City."
— Laurie Rosinski
"I have never been able to actually go to any Leelenau Peninsula wineries! I would love to make the drive and actually taste the wines up there instead of in Metro Detroit."
— Jenn Wolff
"For my New Years Resolutions I am recycling last year's. I resolve to only purchase Michigan wines. They are the best by far so I am really just doing myself a favor and treating myself like royalty. I was able to keep that resolution in 2012, here is to a repeat in 2013! The second part of my resolution is to hit the four main wine trails (Leelanau, WOMP, Lake Michigan Shore, and Pioneer). I only hit 2 of them in 2012. Here is to being a better consumer of the trails in 2013!"
— Shawn Dilts
"My wine Michigan wine resolution is to visit Michigan by the Bottle Tasting Room often!"
— Mary Ann Kenerson
"Don't buy more then 96 bottles of wine."
— Amy Karwaczynski
"My MI wine resolution for 2013: learn more about the abundance of delicious wines produced in our great state! That resolution will undoubtedly involved several more visits to the MBTB Tasting Room!! Loved my first visit this week! Congrats on your opening and Happy New Year!"
— Maria Rosati
"To buy more local (Michigan) wines. I am just finishing up my new 900ish bottle wine cellar and I need to fill it up with some great wines. So, it's off to do some tastings and buy some great wines throughout the New Year!"
— Jeff Swan
"To visit MBTB Tasting Room! And … inform and educate more family members and friends on the superb tasting Michigan wines. How buying local helps our economy. Letting them know the variety and locations of many Michigan wineries and wine tasting rooms all over the state that they need to visit. Maybe just starting with an afternoon drive and stop or schedule an event that a set of wineries may be hosting. Not only will it introduce them to the great wines, but also the friendly hospitality given by the staff and wine makers. And drink more Michigan wine, of course."
— Kathleen Swinehart
"Drink more of (L. Mawby bubbly) — starting tonight, please."
— Lisa Brookfield
"My 2013 Michigan wine resolution is to make sure I take my wife to more Michigan wineries and of course to visit your new wine tasting room, a lot!"
— Paul Kittle
"My resolution for 2013, regarding Michigan wines is to go to MORE Michigan wineries and to attend even more Michigan wine events! (That's not going to be an easy task, since we have gone to SO many last year! We saw you guys at most of them! ;))"
— Gina Kittle
"Our Michigan Wine New Years resolution is to visit as many (as of yet) unvisited Michigan wineries as possible, to attend some new festivals, and to visit the MBTB tasting room!"
— Brian & Joelle Mosher
"2013 resolution is to visit some of the southeast Michigan winery's, in he only area of Michigan that we haven't wine toured."
— Walt Bischoff
"A bottle of wine a week minimum!"
— Sebastian Karwaczynski
"My MI wine resolution is to make it up to the wineries in Traverse City. I have had many of their wines, but have never visited."
— Jen King
"My resolution is to go to the Wine and Mac and Cheese event on Mission Peninsula this fall."
— Michelle McAllister
"Do some more exploring of Michigan wines! Have been up and down Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas more times than I can count. I need to get over to other parts of the state and/or the MBTB Tasting Room to try a few new wineries!"
— Dave Moss
"My Michigan wine resolution is two parts. The first part is to purchase only Michigan wines for 2013. The second is to step out of my comfort zone and venture to new wineries this year.... of course still visiting my tried true faves though :)"
— Sarah Schneider
"My 2013 wine resolution would be to only drink more Michigan wines. What could be better!"
— Pat Raap
"Our Michigan wine resolution is to make it to all of the Michigan wineries that opened in the past year."
— Mark & Margaret Pawloski
"My Michigan wine resolution for 2013 is try more Michigan wines, especially at Michigan By the Bottle."
— Lori Matz
"My goal for 2013 is to get to Domaine Berrien Cellars! I still have a wine tasting picnic for four that I need to use."
— Amber Stevens
"I’d like to be able to spend more time with my wife learning about the wines and etiquette. We have enjoyed several trips to Traverse City for tastings and always come back with a few cases each time. She likes very sweet Rieslings where I enjoy my Cabernet Sauvignon."
— Robert Miller
Most Interesting/Exciting/Best Michigan Wine of 2012
"M. Lawrence Sex ... I think the name was the obvious reason why I tried this bubbly. I was so pleasantly surprised by its exciting flavor and fun loving characteristics. I'm not a huge champagne/bubbly drinker, but I couldn't deny this flavor."
— Joanna Dueweke
"Sandhill Crane – Legacy – My daughter surprised me with a visit to Sandhill Crane Winery this year for some mother/daughter bonding. What a beautiful fall day it was and when I tasted the Legacy I was hooked. All of the wines were great but the Legacy by far was my favorite."
— Laurie Rosinski
"We had a bottle of 45 North 2010 reserve that was absolutely fantastic. We rarely are able to keep bottles long enough, but this was well worth the wait."
— Bradley Matson
"The best wine I had this year was 2 Lads' 2010 Pinot Noir Reserve."
— Julie Vandenboom
"I was most excited to try Chateau Grand Traverse's Botrytis Riesling. I go tasting with my friends and significant other every summer and I wanted to try it while we visited the winery to determine whether or not I should buy it (I'd never had a bot Riesling before). But, because of a tight schedule and the rest of my company moving on quickly, I bought the wine without even tasting it. I was nervous to try it but did not assume the absolute worst, because how bad could a Riesling from Chateau Grand Traverse be? I tried and was blown away; it was absolutely wonderful and worth every penny."
— Jenn Wolff
"The best wine I have tried this year is Black Star Farms Bubbly Nouveau. I don't think that is any surprise since I have posted it every chance I could get. I only have one bottle left from my purchases at Toast of the Season. Such sadness! It is so light and fruity. It just dances across my tastebuds and makes me feel giddy and giggly just from the taste."
— Shawn Dilts
"First time at Hickory Creek Winery this past July — liked all their wines but especially the Chardonnay."
— Mary Ann Kenerson
"The red Ice Wine at Circa because its the only red ice wine made in Michigan."
— Amy Karwaczynski
"Best new MI I tried in 2012 was Solem Farms Red (Chateau de Leelanau) ... followed closely by Sandhill Crane's Vidal Blanc!"
— Maria Rosati
"I really like Cascade Winery's Peach wine because it is just so refreshing, but my favorite has to be the Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2011 Riesling. The fact is, I am enjoying a glass right now and I really like it a lot. I can see that I will be getting a case to put into my new wine cellar."
— Jeff Swan
"Chateau de Leelanau's Cherry wine, most definitely! We spent a week in Traverse City in June. I had not had CDL's cherry wine before our trip, since it is not easy to get in our area. To be honest, until I tasted their cherry wine I had not been a big fan of cherry wines — most are a little too tart for my liking. Chateau de Leelanau's cherry is FABULOUS! I absolutely love the blend of spices that they add to it! For anyone that has not tasted it, you need to get right over to the Michigan by the Bottle Tasting Room immediately so that you can!!! ;) And many thanks to the tasting room for carrying it!"
— Nadine Russo
Editor's note: We swear we didn't pay her to say this!
"My most exciting wine that I tried in 2012 was … drum roll please … 45 GOLD * a bourbon-barrel-aged apricot wine from 45 North winery! On the high end side for price but worth every penny. I enjoyed the smooth texture and enhanced flavor of the apricot."
— Kathleen Swinehart
"A bottle of L. Mawby bubbly — excellent brunch beverage!"
— Lisa Brookfield
"My favorite, exciting wine of 2012 is the Brengman Brothers Gary's Reserve Gewurztraminer. The reason is because we finally got to go to Brengman Brothers, now that they're open! We had made several trips to Traverse City, anticipating their opening. Every time we went, they were 'almost' about to open. We missed it by one weekend! So, when we finally got to go there, it made it more exciting. I really enjoyed their wine dogs!"
— Paul Kittle
"My most exciting, most memorable wine of 2012 is the L. Mawby/Domaine Leelanau sparkler, Skita. It was introduced at a special, VIP event that Larry hosted himself last August. The wine is not available for sale; the only way one could have it is to be at this event (at least that was the case, at that time). Everyone in attendance received a bottle to take home!"
— Gina Kittle
"Blustone 2011 Gewurztraminer, new to the scene, but man, is that wine delicious! As you know, I can't pick out any certain flavors, but just the taste is something to savor."
— Sebastian Karwaczynski
"There we so many new wines I tried this year, so I will go with the most recent ... Pink Moon by the Northville Winery. It's great blend of a white and cherry wine."
— Jen King
"My best wine for 2012 was Detroit from L Mawby/M Lawrence. What a fun party in your mouth!"
— Michelle McAllister
"Will have to say Mawby's Green. I'm a big fan of Sex and Wet. Mawby makes a couple others that I don't care for as much. Was pleasantly surprised when I tasted Green, mostly because it tasted Green, but in a good way! I liked the fruit forwardness. Nice and dry. Very enjoyable."
— Dave Moss
"My favorite new find this year is an old friend … different year … Peninsula Cellars 2011 Dry Riesling. I have always loved it, but I think the 2011 that we recently bought is soooo good! It is dry, and really crisp. Good with food, or not! I have a nice long list after that … every Pinot Noir I tried … and Bowers Harbor Vintner's Select … oh, how long do you have? :)"
— Sherri Adcock
"The most exciting wine that I tried this year would have to be Black Star Farms Arcturos Cab Franc. The hubby and I were in their Suttons Bay tasting room the day before we got married in their vineyard. We included a wine box/love in our ceremony & asked the staff to recommend a bottle that would age well for five years. When they described the Cab Franc I shot them down explaining that I wasn't excited about the oak flavors. Thankfully they all but poured it down my throat and I couldn't have been happier :) now I just can't wait until our fifth anniversary so we can uncork that baby :) while the wine is indeed delicious, the most exciting part to me is seeing my palate changing. Cheers to many more new wine experiences in 2013!"
— Sarah Schneider
"I really can't think of one that struck me to be most interesting or exciting, because I love them all … but my first thought was: Back in March, my daughter and son in law rented a cottage for the week up in Traverse to do some ice fishing, and wine tasting. So of course we had to go up for a visit. Well, we got up there on Friday afternoon, and took my daughter Trisha and niece Jill up the Mission Peninsula. We made a couple stops, but it was starting to snow harder and harder. Around 4 we made it into Bowers, and did our normal sampling. They did have the White Cepages, which I was absolutely in love with! Well, the snow kept coming and coming, and after a nice visit, we headed out. Well, little did we know that was the beginning of the Northern Michigan horrific snow storm! We watched it snow sipping on our White Cepages. We lost power around midnight, and when we woke in the morning, trees were down, about 18 inches of snow … we had a lot of clearing to do before we could get out. The rest of the story … we had to leave Saturday, as there was no chance of power being restored … so the cottage owner was so nice and gave my daughter another weekend in April. Which, our whole family went, and had a totally enjoyable weekend, full of wine tasting. :)"
— Pat Raap
"I really enjoyed both Chateau de Leelanau and Domaine Berrien Cellars Pinot Noir, so I guess those would be my favorites ... this week! I have great hopes for Hawthorne Vineyard in 2013. I had one of the best tasting experiences this year at Hawthorne, and am looking forward to returning. The tasting room manager gave me a tour of the unfinished tasting room and was very well informed about all aspects of the winery. Also, I LOVED coming to your tasting room. Amy and I are already planning our next adventure."
— Amber Stevens
"Brys Estate Cab/Merlot. I enjoyed the bold flavor without being over dry. Very smooth."
— Robert Miller
"The ABSOLUTE BEST find in Michigan wines this year has to be LAURENTIDE! The copper tasting room bar tells you as soon as you in that this is NO ordinary winery! Then, a taste of their SAUVIGNON BLANC tells you these guys know the true varietal characteristics. Not many vintners ANYWHERE in Michigan making a Sauv Blanc, much less one that could be considered on par, or superior to one from Europe."
— Peyton Wood
