Michigan By The Bottle

Podcast #83: St. Julian Sweet Nancie

Cort tries to set a record for saying a certain six-letter word that starts with "I" as we taste through Sweet Nancie, a non-vintage sparkling Traminette from St. Julian that's named after the winemaker, Nancie Corum Oxley. Plus, we run long for ... a very valid reason (hint, hint, nudge, nudge, 12 Days of Christmas contest players!) Are you a St. Julian/Sweet Nancie fan? Come tell us about it.

Charity Uncorked: Michigan Wineries Give Back to the Community

'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.

Feedback Friday: St. Julian, Flying Otter, Willow

You may have at least heard of or seen our Michigan wine app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android — hopefully, you own it, use it and love it! Now, you have a chance to be IN it.

Welcome to Feedback Friday, our weekly feature that works like this: We solicit comments about a specific winery or wineries. You supply them. We pick some to include in our app. You become famous (at least in the Michigan wine community). The end.

Today's featured wineries:

St. Julian Wine Co.
Flying Otter Winery
Willow Vineyard & Winery  

Send your comments on these wineries to cort@michiganbythebottle.com or post them as a reply to today's Feedback Friday thread on Facebook. We'll be accepting Feedback Friday comments for these featured wineries until next Friday, when we'll introduce a new set. (Of course, feel free to come chatter on Facebook about the wineries you love just for fun any old time. We dig that.)

Read on for complete details...

St Julian's Braganini Reserve Cab wows the palate - Wine - The Detroit News

Hands on, motivated by family pride and quest for the best, and feeding off talent wherever he can find it, St. Julian President David Braganini has surely played a pivotal role in the building of the modern Michigan wine industry. His 2010 Cabernet is a toast to his sweat and persistence — and his heartaches and headaches along the way.

This is a lovely wine, off a vintage that was challenged at the beginning but delivered in the end. Black cherry, blackberry, ripe plum, cocoa and spice unfold on the nose. In the mouth, flavors are still restrained but profoundly intense and complex, bound up in supple tannins and acidity. It has an earthy, Old World character.

via blogs.detroitnews.com

Can't wait to try it!

Podcast #76: St. Julian 2009 Braganini Reserve Syrah

You say potato, I say potahto, we say syrah, they say shiraz... Today we explore the syrah grape as interpreted by St. Julian in their 2009 Braganini Reserve line. Also, apparently we've gotten completely spoiled by summer, because we didn't realize until we imported the video that maybe we shouldn't turn on ALL of the lights just because it's dark outside. Sheesh, can somebody get some professionals up in here?! 

Meet Your (Wine)maker: Nancie Corum-Oxley of St. Julian

Ever wonder about the person behind what's in that bottle? Welcome to our latest periodic feature, Meet Your (Wine)maker, which introduces you to the winery folks responsible for crafting that vino you so adore. Today, we get up close and personal with Nancie Corum-Oxley, winemaker for Paw Paw-based St. Julian Winery. Once part of a team of three, Nancie is now the last woman standing at the Michigan wine giant. Take a peek at her story.

Podcast #60: St. Julian Braganini Reserve Traminette

If you're not already AWARE (chitter, chitter, see outtakes) of St. Julian's Braganini Reserve line, you will be after this podcast, featuring the 2010 Traminette. Also, Cort goes off on a bubbly-induced tangent. And Shannon doesn't mention banana (for once).

SUPER HUGE Michigan Wine Month Giveaway: April 1

Happy April, and HAPPY MICHIGAN WINE MONTH! We're kicking off 30+ days of festivities here on Michigan By The Bottle, with prizes up for grabs every day, so be sure to check back daily for new opportunities. Without further ado, let's launch into the first contest!

This contest is closed as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 1. 

Today's sponsor: St. Julian Winery 

Today's prize: TWO winners will each receive a VIP tour and tasting for up to eight people at St. Julian Winery in Paw Paw. The winner and his/her friends can spend an hour with St. Julian's winemaker, Nancie Corum Oxley, enjoying a complimentary Braganini Reserve and Grey Heron vodka tasting, a complimentary cheese platter and a private barrel tasting. (TWO winners drawn today!)

Please click through for restrictions and instructions on how to enter...

Podcast #44: St. Julian 2009 Braganini Reserve Merlot

In today's podcast, we circle back to St. Julian Winery to hit up their Braganini Reserve line once more. This time, we try their 2009 Merlot, and Shannon shows off his kitchen prowess by comparing the nose to something he stuffed inside his Thanksgiving turkey, prompting Cort to raid the cupboard afterward to verify his claim.

Podcast #40: St. Julian Braganini Reserve Blanc de Noir

In today's podcast, Shannon talks in circles and Cort gets giggly, but luckily for you, we had to edit most of that out to stay faithful to our "three minutes or less" policy. The part you do get to see: Us licking our lips over Blanc de Noir, the newest addition to St. Julian Winery's esteemed Braganini Reserve lineup. Made from a slew of red grapes, this non-vintage bubbly is prettily pink and oh-so-dry.