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Michigan

Although Michigan’s grape-growing history goes back to the mid-1800s, its chronicle of fine winemaking didn’t start until the end of the 1960s. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, CONCORD was the primary grape variety here, and because Concord grapes are used primarily for juice and jelly, many vineyards survived PROHIBITION. Today Michigan has over 13,000 vineyard acres, mostly planted with Concord and NIAGARA. There are only about 1500 acres of wine grapes (primarily HYBRIDS and some VITIS VINIFERA) and over thirty wineries scattered around the state. Michigan has four AVAs, all of which (particularly the northern two), benefit from the distinctive climate brought about by the LAKE EFFECT, which provides a moderated environment and longer growing season. The majority of the vineyards are in the state’s southwest corner along Lake Michigan. Two AVAs are located here—Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville. Lake Michigan Shore AVA encompasses 1,280,000 acres along a 72-mile section running from where the Kalamazoo River intersects with Lake Michigan (about 10 miles south of Holland) in the north, down to the Michigan–Indiana state line in the south, and inland approximately 35 miles. The Fennville AVA (Michigan’s first) was established in 1981, a little over 2 years before the Lake Michigan Shore AVA. It takes up the 75,000 acres of the northern portion of the Lake Michigan Shore AVA, from the Kalamazoo River down to the City of South Haven—about a 20-mile section. Michigan’s northwest portion contains Leelanau Peninsula AVA and Old Mission Peninsula AVA. Old Mission Peninsula AVA is the northernmost, encompassing 19,200 acres on the narrow 19-mile peninsula surrounded by Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City. Area wineries produce mostly Vitis vinifera wines from the area’s 200 vineyard acres. The Leelanau Peninsula AVA, approved in 1982, is the second oldest Michigan AVA. It’s just south and west of the Old Mission Peninsula AVA, with Lake Michigan on the western side and Grand Traverse Bay on the eastern side. This AVA, which covers approximately 211,000 acres and takes in all of Leelanau County except for the offshore islands, has only about 200 acres planted to vineyards. Although hybrids were once dominant, Vitis vinifera grapes now make up almost half of the acreage. Michigan’s oldest and largest winery is the St. Julian Wine Company, established in 1921 in Ontario, Canada, and relocated to Michigan in 1934.
Related Links: Lake Effect, Concord, Norton
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.

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