It should be no surprise that northwest Michigan wines made a good showing at the 34th annual
Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition, held in East Lansing recently.
The competition was judged by wine experts from around the country, including Doug Frost, other master sommeliers, and led by Christopher Cook, the competition's superintendent.
New wineries showed off their offerings along with more established wineries, and judge Joe Borrello says that's one reason why the competition remains exciting.
"The Michigan wine industry continues to expand and offer quality wines with fun and excitement. It's why Michigan wines and winery tasting rooms are growing in popularity," says Borrello, who is also president of Tasters Guild International.
While medals were thick on the ground in many areas of the state, the Best of Class awards were heavy on the northwest Michigan wines.
Chateau Fontaine took Best of Class in dry whites, with its 2010 dry white Riesling.
L. Mawby took Best of Class for sparkling wines, with its Cremant Classic.
Forty-Five North took Best of Class in roses, with its 2010 Rose of Cabernet Franc, and
Black Star Farms took Best of Class in dessert wines, with its 2008 A Capella Ice Wine.
The other best in class medals went to west Michigan's Fenn Valley Vineyards, which won Best of Class for both dry reds, with its Capriccio, and semi-dry whites, with its 2010 Riesling. The latter class was also tied with Tabor Hill for its 2010 Gewurztraminer. Finally, newcomer Garden Bay Winery, from the U.P., won Best of Class in fruit wines, for its raspberry wine.
There are 84 wineries in Michigan, and 53 of them entered the competition. In all, 367 wines were judged, all produced from Michigan grapes and other fruit.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Joe Borrello, Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.