'Tis the season for giving, and it's no exception among Michigan wineries, many of which are participating in charitable events or holding promotions benefiting worthy causes this holiday season.
OK, we'll warn you right off the bat: This one's a bit longer than usual because we talk about/practice the deductive tasting method as we try a 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine Berrien Cellars. Cort talks about tasting practices she learned in the recent Court of Master Sommeliers' Introductory Sommelier Course, yet still can't pronounce the word "sommelier." Baby steps...
Rhone-irific! In today's podcast, Cort lets Shannon take a turn at yammering as we taste through two vintages of Domaine Berrien Cellars' Marsanne — 2010 and 2011 — side-by-side to evaluate the effects of oak versus tank. Plus, a stern admonishment to check out the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, if you haven't already. (Or even if you have ... do it again!)
Congratulations to ANNIE STODOLA! She was randomly drawn from yesterday's entrants to win a taste and tour package from Left Foot Charley. Annie, please email us at cort@michiganbythebottle.com within 48 hours to claim your prize. (For prizes not claimed within 48 hours, we will redraw from the original pool of entrants to determine a new recipient, so be sure to check back daily to see if you're a winner!)
This contest is closed as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 25.
Today's prize: A gift certificate for a vineyard picnic at Domaine Berrien Cellars for up to four people. The prize includes free wine tasting, souvenir glass, cheese, crackers, sausage and a glass of DBC wine for each of the attendees.
Please click through for restrictions and instructions on how to enter...
Wally Maurer, owner, wine maker and viticulturist at the family-owned Domaine Berrien Cellars near Berrien Springs, said there is extensive damage to the grape crop he uses to make Chardonnay wines.
"We're one of the minority that only use our own fruit. We did suffer quite a bit of damage on early varieties (of grapes)," Maurer said. "Thank goodness we grow 21 different varieties, and they don't all mature at the same time. It's too early to tell if there will be a problem with the wines. But we definitely have a reduced crop, Chardonnay specifically."
"We'll come find you and drink your Lemberger!" Yes, indeed. Today, we taste through Domaine Berrien Cellars' Lemberger, one of our favorite go-to dry reds.
Congratulations to ADAM AFFHOLTER! He was picked randomly from entries in our Thanksgiving Day contest that asked readers to show us which Michigan wines were gracing their holiday tables by posting pics on our Facebook page or emailing them to us. Adam will get his pick of either a Michigan By The Bottle "I Support the State with Every Sip" T-shirt, a copy of Sharon Kegerreis' and Lorri Hathaway's book "The History of Michigan Wines: 150 Years of Winemaking Along the Great Lakes," or a copy of Kegerreis' and Hathaway's book "From the Vine."
Still, the bulk of Michigan wineries dabbling in the dynamics of the Bordeaux blend have chosen to go the thrifty route and coin their own handle—and thus continue to handle their own coin. Domaine Berrien uses ‘Crown of Cab’, since they consider it the ‘crown jewel ‘of their portfolio. Pentemere’s goes by ‘Le Griffon’ for reasons known only to the untamed savages of Boondockia; i.e., Tecumseh. Wyncroft Cellars calls theirs’ ‘Shou’—Chinese for ‘longevity’ which the wine indeed displays. Accurately, if somewhat less imaginatively, Raftshol’s label reads simply ‘Red’.
The St. Joseph Wine Festival is a festival of music food and fun at the Silver Beach Shadowland Pavilion in St. Joseph. It will feature 7 wineries both local and State of Michigan based, reds, whites, roses and sparkling varieties of wine will be features, participating local wineries include Tabor Hill Winery, White Pine Winery, Contessa Winery, Domaine Berrien and Lemon Creek Winery other Michigan Wineries include Chateau Chantal Grand Traverse and Leelanau Cellars from the northern regions of Michigan.
Austria's signature red wine grape, Blaufrankish, has been gaining popularity in Michigan. Also known as Lemberger (not to be confused with the cheese, Limberger), Blaufrankish is currently grown and/or made into wine by at least five Michigan wineries: Shady Lane, Circa, Silver Leaf, Tabor Hill and Domaine Berrien.
Could Blaufrankish become one of Michigan's premier red wines? Some winemakers think it has a good shot.
