I say American wine, you say…California. And well you should as the Golden State does represent almost nine out of every 10 bottles of wine made in the USA. But if I ask you to think beyond the obvious, most will reflex respond the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington), then likely NY state, and from there some will say Virginia and others likely Texas. The fact of the matter is that all 50 states do indeed make and sell wine commercially in America and many are making better and better wines all the time. Add into the mix that increasingly good bottles are emanating from Canada (the Okanagan Valley and greater Niagara area of Ontario) and Mexico (hello Guadalupe Valley) and it’s easy to understand the excitement surrounding the North American industry.

Several years back I had the fortune of vacationing in Michigan’s Traverse City area, renting cabin along Torch Lake in the state’s Lower Peninsula (or Lower P as it’s called), and tasting in the adjoining Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula wine regions. I was blown away by the quality and the emerging excitement. Well, that was close to ten years ago. And now…

According to a recent survey I read from Michigan State University, Michigan is now ranked as the fourth largest grape producing state (after California, NY, and presumably Washington) and has seen grape growth of 500% since 1973, back when the state was known more for grapes for juice than wine. Grape growing now comprises 14,600 acres of which 2,000 are dedicated specifically for wines made by close to 90 wineries which vinify about a million gallons of vino per annum. Add to the mix that 800,000 folks visit Michigan wineries annually and that the mix of wine grapes now ranges from the Michigan “classics” (Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Cabernet Franc…and, of course, cherry and apple) to better and better Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. We may soon say wines, as often as we do cars and music, when we cite what products for which the state is known.

The Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula have around 30 wineries in the aforementioned northwest section of the state’s Lower Peninsula. Another wine region is the lower west section of the state where the Lake Michigan Shore area has over 20 wineries. There are other wineries that are located around the state and there are four wine trails that run through these regions including: the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Trail, the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Trail, the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail and the Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail, the latter being an easy day trip from Detroit.

Some of my faves: Left Foot Charley Winery, Black Star Farms, L. Mawby Sparkling Wines, Old Peninsula Cellars, and Chateau Grand Traverse…but there are many more.

And you thought the recent excitement was all about the Chevy Volt!

Your experiences with Michigan wines?