Peninsula Cellars invites you to try Pinot Noir Rose on May 2 in Traverse City

Peninsula Cellars is located just north of Traverse City at 11480 Center Road. Their tasting room is in a former one-room schoolhouse. If you are in the area, this is a great place to visit.

They craft award winning wines. Here are a few of their winners.

2008 Jefferson Cup – 2006 Select Riesling
2006 Best Dry White Wine, Michigan Wine Competition - 2005 Gewurztraminer
2006 Double Gold, Michigan Wine Competition - 2005 Pinot Blanc
2006 Gold, Michigan Wine Competition - 2005 Semidry Riesling
2006 Gold, Michigan Wine Competition - 2005 Lemberger
2006 Double Gold, San Francisco International - 2005 Manigold Gewurz
2006 Bronze, San Francisco International - 2005 Chardonnay
2006 Gold, Great Lakes Wine Competition - 2005 Select Riesling
2006 Double Gold, Great Lakes Wine Competition - 2005 Pinot Blanc
2006 Silver, Tasters Guild International - 2004 Pinot Noir
2006 Silver, Tasters Guild International - 2004 Cabernet Franc
2005 Double Gold , San Francisco International - 2004 Select Riesling
2005 Best White Wine, Michigan Wine Competition - 2004 Semidry Riesling
2005 Best Dessert Wine, Michigan Wine Competition - 2004 Select Riesling
2005 Best Red Wine, Michigan Wine Competition - 2002 Cabernet Merlot
2005 Judge's Special Award, Michigan Wine Competition - 2004 Chardonnay
2005 Gold Medal, Riverside International - 2004 Select Riesling

They are having a party on May 2.

Homework Release Party

Using 2008 fruit, we made our first ever Pinot Noir Rosé, and had a lot of fun doing it. This is a seriously good wine, for everyone to enjoy, even if you don't take wine seriously. This wine joins our Old School White and Red, and Detention, in our Schoolhouse line of "Fruity, not snooty" wines. So join the Old School movement and start to enjoy getting Homework and Detention.

Here are the details....

Homework: Rosé of Pinot Noir. Produced in the sweet style. Strawberry and watermelon flavors with nice acid structure, to balance the sweetness. A refreshing summer picnic wine that is great by the glass.

The release party will be May 2nd, from 6 to 8 pm at our Schoolhouse tasting room on the Old Mission Peninsula. There will be wine, hors d'oeuvres, discounts on wine purchases, and door prizes throughout the evening. The cost is only $10 per person. Call 231.933.9787 for further information.

Their line includes (taken from the website):

Red Wines

2006 Pinot Noir - Elegant plum, fresh berries, and dark cherry flavors with earthy undertones
2006 Merlot - Nice dark berry flavors with strong tannins, bright acid and a white pepper finish. Moderate oak aging gives a pleasant roasted coffee undertone.
2005 Cabernet Franc - Black cherry, ripe plum and currant, with light toast and chocolate aromas, ending in a long complex finish
2005 Cabernet Franc Reserve - A fine agreeable red with harmonized fruit and oak flavors. Plum, black licorice, and dark roasted coffee flavors and aromas make this a great wine for years to come
2005 Hog's Back Merlot - A wonderfully rich and smooth merlot that is ready to drink now or age for a few years. Dark chocolate and deep berry fruit describes this perfect match for a grilled steak.
Old School Red - Medium body red wine with raspberry fruit flavors and a smoky oak finish
Detention - A blend of Baco noir, Lemberger, and Cab. Franc. A semi-sweet mixed berry bombshell, that pairs well with most dishes, and is easy to enjoy

White Wines

2007 Pinot Blanc - Apple and pear accented by honey overtones and a nutty finish
2006 Pinot Grigio - Melon and pear flavors with a refreshing minerality in the finish.
2007 Pinot Gris - Our newest release and first Gris style wine since 2002. An off dry wine with wonderful spice and peach flavors, exotic aromas, and a lingering finish.
2006 Chardonnay - An unwooded Chardonnay with honey and citrus zest flavors
2006 Gewürztraminer - Rose petal aromas, Lychee fruit flavors, and anise spice accents
2006 Manigold Gewürztraminer - This single vineyard, limited production Gewurz has an intense floral bouquet complementing ripe grapefruit flavors, with a spicy, glycerol finish
Old School White - This white blend of Cayuga, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Grigio is light, bright, and fruity, but not snooty!
2006 Dry Riesling - Our first dry Riesling in seven years! Great lime and lemon fruit with bright acidity
2006 Semidry Riesling - Sweet blossom aromas and tropical fruit flavors accented with Semi Dry sweetness
2006 Select Riesling - A limited production collectors wine with ripe peach and apricot flavors accented by natural sweetness
2002 Riesling Ice Wine - A dessert unto itself, or a great complement to the final course. Intense tropical fruit with rich honey overtones.

Fruit Wines

Apple - A blend of Macintosh, Spies, Empires, and Greenings. A delicious, light, crisp wine with an acidic tang.
Kroupa Orchard Cherry - Our sweeter version of cherry wine. This is cherry pie in a bottle. Be prepared for the intense cherry flavors and aromas.
Hot Rod Cherry - A high octane blend of Montmorencies, Ulsters, and Balatons, resulting in a great cherry flavor, with a hint of ginger spice.
White Cherry - A blend of Emperor Francis and Gold cherries, resulting in a sweet, soft, and golden wine.
Melange - A port style wine, made from Ulster black sweet cherries and grape brandy. The flavors of rich black sweet cherries are balanced by the high alcohol brandy, creating a delightful complement to chocolate desserts.

Peninsula Cellars wine is available online, at fine restaurants, and at beverage stores throughout Michigan, including Merchants Fine Wine in Dearborn, Nino Salvaggio's in Farmington Hills, and Wine Barrel Plus in Livonia. Click here for a complete list of stores. To order online, send an email with your name, address, phone number and which wines you want to order. The Peninsula Cellars staff will call you. You can phone the tasting room at 231-933-9787. Click here for a map.

Scheduled hours for the tasting room:

May through October, Monday through Saturday from 10 am until 6 pm and Sunday noon until 5 pm.
November through April, Monday through Saturday from 11 am until 5 pm and Sunday from noon until 5 pm.

When buying for your family or your friends,
spend your Michigan dollars in Michigan.