Black Star Farms' Arcturos Pinot Noir 2013: Black Star is considered by many to be the best Michigan winery, and Arcturos Pinot Noir is perhaps its best red wine. The dry wine holds aromas of violets and plums, while its taste is defined by fruity and spicy flavors of dark cherries, currant, and oak from the barrel.
Brys Estate Pinot Grigio 2016: The 91-acre winery's classic Italian-style pinot is stainless-steel fermented, leaving it with a clean taste featuring a balance of lemon, orange peel, and tangerine.
Brys Estate Dry Riesling Reserve 2016: Another favorite from Old Mission Peninsula's Brys, this one is a dry white with a swirl of floral hints followed by flavors of white peach and apricot.
Chateau Chantal Naughty Red: A medium-bodied "easy going" wine made from grapes grown on the Old Mission Peninsula in a vineyard that is one of its oldest. The winery opened in 1993 and produces more than 20,000 cases of wine annually.
Leelanau Cellars Cherry Wine: What's a list of northern Michigan food and drink without the addition of a cherry-based recipe? Leelanau Cellars grows on the Leelanau Peninsula, which has a climate not too dissimilar from what one finds in northern California. Its cherry wine is produced from northern Michigan Montmorency tart cherries, which leaves the antioxidant-rich wine with a tangy character. Serve it chilled in the summer.
Chateau Chantal Chardonnay 2014: A barrel-fermented Chardonnay that holds ripe pineapple and apricot flavors blended with creamy vanilla.
L. Mawby - Detroit Sparkling Wine: The Suttons Bay winery blends riesling, muscat, and traminette grape juice, which is fermented in stainless steel tanks, then fermented a second time in a closed tank. The wine is then filtered, dosaged, and bottled, leaving it with full floral aromas, and a rich and sweet fruit flavor.
Chateau Grand Traverse Late Harvest Riesling 2016: The bright wine holds a careful balance between sweetness and acidity, along with a variety of citrus flavors, white peach, cantaloupe, and orange blossom honey. Grapes are pulled off the vine later in the season, which leaves it crisper and provides a sweet finish.
Black Star Farms' Leorie Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2013: Another hit from Black Star that's a Bourdeaux-style blend holding flavors of dark berry fruit and a coffee-like spiciness. The vineyard distributes around 25,000 cases of wine throughout Michigan each year.
