The rumor is that Michigan is soon to become the new Napa Valley. With climate changes potentially affecting the California coastline, Napa vineyard owners are looking to Northern Michigan to grow their grapes.
Part of the appeal of Northern Michigan is the colder climate on the 45th Parallel where grapes for rare ice wines flourish. For more information on why wines do so well along the 45th parallel, read the Chicago Tribune’s story on this region: www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-wine-line-29jun29,0,5358006.storygallery.
.jpg)
The other appeal is the scenery of Northern Michigan with rugged lakeshores lined with pine trees and sugary soft sand dunes for hiking and walking. The luxury travel experiences aren’t too shabby either, including:
Vineyard tours
My recommendations for wine tastings are the Leelanau Wine Cellars in Omena, Michigan and Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay. At the Leelanau Wine Cellars, their tastings are free and their Apple Wine and Late Harvest Riesling should be bought by the bottle. Buy a case – you can mix up the wines – and get 15 percent off. The other winery I recommend is Black Star Farms. You do have to pay for their tastings (between $3 and $5 depending on the amount of wines you taste). Be sure to try the 2007 A Capella Ice Wine, which was served at Obama’s first State Dinner, as well as the 2007 Leorie Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc and the Sirius Maple Dessert Wine – the maple is tapped on-premise. If you do end up buying the Ice Wine, Black Star is running a special for one more month where a bottle is $79.50 (regularly $92.50).
Restaurants that serve locally-grown foods
For delicious locally-sources dishes, try The Cook’s House in Traverse City, Michigan (231-946-8700) that serves food grown within a 50-mile radius of Traverse City, including whitefish with spinach, basmati rice and dill, and sautéed gnocchi with spicy house sausage, rosemary and cream sauce. The restaurant is BYOB so if you want wine with your dinner, either grab a bottle from one of the vineyards along route 22 or from Jack’s Market across the street from the restaurant.
Luxury accommodations
For overnight stays, try the new mountain-side cottages at the Crystal Mountain Resort that come with flat-screen TVs, fine linens and floor-to-ceiling windows. Be sure to also book a spa treatment at the resort’s new LEED-Certified spa. (A full review of the spa will be coming soon.)
Scenic drives
If you start in Thompsonville, Michigan where the Crystal Mountain Resort is located, go east on 115 to Frankfort then go along Michigan Avenue to Pilgrim Highway to Crystal Drive, which goes along Crystal Lake, and then go north on route 22 up along the Leelanau Peninsula and through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Make a quick stop in Glen Haven near the maritime museum for a walk along the lakeshore and then continue on 22 to Leelanau Wine Cellars and then onto Black Star Farms Winery in Suttons Bay, making your way to Traverse City for dinner.
For more info: State of Michigan Tourism; Leelanau Peninsula; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; Crystal Mountain Resort; Leelanau Wine Cellars; Black Star Farms.
Photo: Black Star Farms Winery in Suttons Bay, Michigan
Comments