It's no secret it's been a cool summer, and that fruits and vegetables have been slow to ripen in Northern Michigan this year. So what about the wine grapes that will result in the 2006 vintage?

Sandra Silfven, the wine columnist at the Detroit News who often writes about our wines, is optimistic. In this column, she talks with a number of Old Mission and other winemakers who are optimistic about the prospects for the vintage, especially for Riesling, Gewurztraminer and other whites.

Posted by Publius at 09:49 AM | Permalink

The Pepellashi sisters--Petra, Erika and Yola--don't just serve up delicious food at their Greilickville restaurant on M-22. They also sustain and nuture a family that extends to include their devoted cadre of customers.

This Record-Eagle article gives a little background on the Silver Swan's owners, their parents, and philosophy. It also mentions one of the restaurant's most striking features--the electic collection of gifts and art that decorate the dining area.

Posted by Publius at 05:02 PM | Permalink

Leelanau wines did well at the 29th annual Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition held Aug 1, with several peninsula vintages best in their class.

This story tells how Peninsula Cellars, Shady Lane, and Leelanau's newest winery, Longview, all won awards for their wines.

Posted by Publius at 09:24 PM | Permalink

Leelanau wines are coming of age. Michigan's wine production is soaring, and Leelanau is leading the way--not just in quantity, but in quality as well.

This Detroit News article has a good survey of Leelanau's best wineries with lots of fascinating detail.

Posted by Publius at 10:08 PM | Permalink

Many of the best new restaurants in our area are being built around the use of local foods whenever possible. Local foods are the freshest, and they help to provide a unique and local character that helps define a great restaurant.

This Record-Eagle article does a good job on some the innovating cooking being done at places like Hannahs and Tratorria Stella with ingredients from local farms and gardens.

Posted by Publius at 09:15 AM | Permalink

Angela Macke of Leelanau County is growing, blending, and selling teas on her 12-acre Leelanau farm.

The Record-Eagle article tells about the physical and spiritual benefits of Macke's teas.

Posted by Publius at 11:34 AM | Permalink

I'm partial to Rieslings. I think the best wines from our region are Rieslings, and even when they cme from upstate New York or Germany (as many do), I still enjoy them.

Here's a New York Times article on the grape and its wines and the curious way in which they are often overlooked even by those who appreciate fine wines.

Posted by Publius at 08:05 AM | Permalink

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association will be holding their annual Sprig Sip and Savor winery tour May 6 - 7. For $25, you get a tasting ticket good at 13 Leelenau wineries.

Sounds like a great way to learn about some new wines and wineries. Details and order forms here.

Posted by Publius at 08:09 PM | Permalink

Maple sugaring is a Leelanau County tradition. And it still flourishes today.

Take a look at this very nice story and photo essay on the subject.

Posted by Publius at 03:18 PM | Permalink

For some time now, Suttons Bay vintner Larry Mawby has concentrated on making sparkling wines in the Champagne style. (And will someone please tell me how he managed to trademark "Sex"? As one local retailer told me: "Sex sells.")

Now one of his wine has been included in a collection of 40 best wines produced in North America. Local boy makes good!

Posted by Publius at 10:00 PM | Permalink

Grocer's Daughter Chocolates, located in Empire, makes a variety of chocolate treats that are to die for, all made with the finest ingredients (including local fruits).

You can visit their attractive website here, but a better strategy would be to visit Oryana in TC or one of their other retail locations locally to try one of their truffles or other treats.

Posted by Publius at 08:28 AM | Permalink

I tend to be a fan of the Riesling grape when grown in Leelanau County and on Old Mission. But the Pinto Grigio (aka "Pinot Gris") also produces some very fine wines. Jancis Robinson, queen of British wine writers, dismisses the wines made from the grape as "a sea of reasonably undistinguished dry white with low aroma and noticeable acidity."

But there are wines that rise above that standard produced in our area (and ones that don't, but we'll pass over those). The Leelanau Cellars Pinto Grigio 2005 is one of those wines that avoids the thin acidity of some Pinto Grigio's and provides as well a lively, peppery bouquet that make this wine eminently quaffable.

It's widely available at outlets throughout the region for about $10.99 (though Tom's West Bay, where I shop, recently had it for a dollar off). If you see it, buy it. It will make a delightful accompaniment to fish, chicken, or any food customary for white wine.

Posted by Publius at 10:04 PM | Permalink

"Bright and clean flavors of apples, peaches, and citrus with a bit of honey and flowers abound." That's what it says on the label, and I must agree. This delicious semi-dry Riesling from Shady Lane Cellars near Suttons Bay illustrates why Rieslings make some of the best wines in our area. A good semi-dry walks a tightrope between acidity and sweetness. These wines are on the dry side, and can be drunk with any food that might ordinarily go with a Chardonnay.

Posted by Publius at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Taste the Local Difference is a great web site from the good folks at the Michigan Land Use Institute, with information on local farms and their produce.

Posted by Publius at 04:43 PM | Permalink