Cherry Republic will raise a glass to Michigan’s wine industry throughout the month of May by celebrating its wide selection of cherry wines with special tasting events at each of its retail locations. Special volume pricing on wine (10 percent off quartets and 20 percent off cases) is also available.
The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail has announced the launch of Sips & Soups. Proceeds from this SOUPer wine and soup tasting event will be donated to Leelanau Christian Neighbors to help restock the local food pantries after its holiday needs are met.
With Charlie Edson, owner and winemaker at Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery mentoring them, the Alan Eaker and Linda Ackley selected vines, and planted 10 acres of wine grapes on their land. Today there are 12 acres of grapes, including hybrids Cayuga and Frontenac, and vinifera varieties Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc.
Sitting with owner and executive winemaker Charlie Edson on Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery’s tasting room patio on a sunny summer day, it’s easy to appreciate his Italian father-in-law’s inspiration for the name “Bel Lago,” which means beautiful lake in Italian. From the vantage point of a steep hill above the western shore of Lake Leelanau, the view is indeed spectacular—white clouds in a blue sky reflecting onto the bluer waters of the southern end of the lake.
The vineyards are lush, and the grapes are plumping up in preparation of the upcoming harvest. And, to celebrate, folks are gearing up for the annual Harvest Stompede held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7.
“Harvest is the long-awaited moment when we pluck plump, ripe fruit from the vines. The grapes are handpicked after long months of carefully tending to the vines to ensure a vintage of quality wines with the unique character for which our region is known for,” says Matt Gregory of Chateau de Leelanau and President of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. “It’s an exciting time in the winemaking process, and we invite you to celebrate with us during our Harvest Stompede event.”
The wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail invite you to share the love of wine and the beauty of Michigan’s wine coast in wintertime at their annual Taste the Passion wine tour the weekend of Feb. 2-3. Your ticket allows you to chart your own course, enjoying food and wine pairings at 20 wineries. Each winery offer savory or sweet food & wine pairing. Many feature the ever-popular pairing of wine and chocolate, and some wineries even open up their vineyards for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
The Spring Sip & Savor returns to the Leelanau Peninsula wine trail the weekend of May 5-6. This annual celebration features food and wine pairings at 19 wineries along with the “Sip-o de Mayo Hat Contest” — a chance to show off your best hat and win prizes including a fantastic getaway to Michigan’s Wine Coast.
According to a study released at last week’s Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Michigan hosted a record 3.2 million out-of-state visitors who spent $1 billion here last year. The state expects a 6 percent increase in tourism this year and is reaching out to farther-flung visitors.
Google insights show an increased interest about Michigan restaurants, wineries and local foods. Several researchers from Michigan State University including Dr. Dan McCole predict that this will lead to a rise in culinary tourism for 2012. This is exciting news for agriculture and culinary destinations such as Black Star Farms that regularly host culinary tourism-based events at their inn and winery tasting rooms.