wine softly underscored by f lavors like coffee beans, vanilla, licorice, and chocolate, alongside the distinctive qualities of aged French Oak. The f lowering f lavors in Brys Estate’s wines are mirrored in its Secret Garden and garden shop, where more than 6,000 lavender plants f lourish amongst strawberry and blueberry patches, and a fresh f lower and herb garden. The estate further tailors its tastes to season, offering timely favorites like pinot noir or riesling rosé and spiked hot apple cider, alongside a seasonal upper deck offering elevated views of East Grand Traverse Bay and the sprawling vineyard at its threshold. Also central: Bowers Harbor Vineyards - 2896 Bowers Harbor Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686 SOUTH Mari Vineyards 8175 Center Rd. Traverse City, MI 49686 In 2006, an initial cross-planting within Mari Vineyard’s mysterious first seven vine rows led to its first vintage called Row 7 which, quite appropriately, had a unique f lavor of its own. “This is a field blend made from our very first plot of grapes planted in 1999,” said Jenna Viega, marketing and events manager at Mari Vineyards. “The grapes
were haphazardly planted by a well-intentioned mistake, and ended up making our most popular wine.” Building on the success of Row 7, the vineyards now house more than 60 acres holding approximately 20 grape varieties, from petit verdot and refosco to syrah and chardonnay. “Additionally, I would highly recommend trying our rieslings,” Viega said. “Our winemaker, Sean O’Keefe, studied in Germany. He’s known for creating true ‘acid bomb’ rieslings, comparable to those of the Rhine region in Germany.” Mari’s commitment to raising the profile of Michigan’s red wine offerings is also paired with a commitment to sustainability, which includes a 31,000-square-foot carbon-neutral building. Production also includes a hoop house system used by about 10 percent of the vineyard to raise grapes to an unprecedented maturity level, creating f lavorful, full bodied red wines, Viega explained. In addition to its range of award-winning reds, an exciting new project will yield a new product in Mari’s diversified portfolio. “We are embarking on a big cider experiment, where we will release a rotating stock of apple ciders, some even made using pressed grape skins from the 2019 harvest,” Viega said. “We will also see new
reds released as well as the return of some old favorites.” Also to the south: Black Star Farms - 360 McKinley Rd E, Traverse City, MI 49686 Complement a trip along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail with this collection of golf courses, or the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo. Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club 2520 Kerlikowske Rd Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Harbor Shores 201 Graham Ave Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Ravines Golf Club 3520 Palmer Dr Saugatuck, MI 49453 Whittaker Woods Golf Club 12578 Wilson Rd New Buffalo, MI 49117 Four Winds Casino Resort 11111 Wilson Rd New Buffalo, MI 49117
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