Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery is raising the 120 year old barn that will be their tasting room. Read all about it and see more photos at Barn Raising! on their web site and visit their temporary tasting room Friday - Sunday!

The results are in and several LPVA wineries earned high praise at the 31st Annual Michigan Wine Competition. Surprisingly this year it was Michigan reds that grabbed the spotlight over the usual suspect of Rieslings, Gewurztraminers and Pinot Blancs. Another twist to previous years was that no award was given to Best of Class Sparkling due to lack of a 'wow' factor amongst the entries. Another significant change was that the amount of Double Gold medals awarded was reduced from previous years.

According to Joel Goldberg, editor at michwine.com and a judge at the competition, this is a positive move for the validation of Michigan wine as a world class product.

I'm a true believer when it comes to medals. Michigan gives out way too many, especially at the lower rungs of the ladder. This diminishes both the recognition due the wines that deserve them, and their value as a marketing tool.

Detroit News wine correspondent, Sandra Silfven's article "Michigan wine competition is full of surprises", reports on the new hybrid varieties of grapes being grown by vintners:

Judges said they were a testimony to the better growing and winemaking practices that vintners are applying to all wine grapes, not just the Riesling and Merlot gang.

"It's nice to know there's room at the table for something a little different," remarked Alan Eaker, who owns Longview in Cedar, Mich., and was even astonished at the Frontenac's showing. If you can tame the acidity, he said, you can make a delicious wine in a dry Merlot/Bordeaux style.

Lake Leelanau's Chateau Fontaine took home the most Golds of any winery at 5 with 2 of the wines being produced by Leelanau winemaker Shawn Walters. Shawn took home a total 8 Golds this year including one for his work with Scott Harvey of Napa Valley. Scott had been so impressed with Michigan Riesling that he commissioned Shawn to make a Riesling for his label using Leelanau grapes.

Now for the LPVA Medal Winners:

Sweepstakes winners
Best Dry White: 2007 Chateau Fontaine White Riesling
Best Dry Red: 2007 Longview Rustic Red

Double Gold
Bel Lago Leelanau Peninsula Brillante
Black Star Farms 2006 Arcturos Merlot
Chateau Fontaine 2006 Pinot Gris

Gold
Bel Lago 2007 Pinot Grigio & Chardonnay
Black Star Farms 2006 Leorie Vineyard Merlot/Cabernet Franc
Black Star Farms 2007 Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay
Chateau Fontaine 2006 Semi-Sweet White Riesling
Chateau Fontaine 2006 Chardonnay
Chateau Fontaine 2007 Woodland White
Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery 2007 Reserve Chardonnay
Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery 2007 45 White
Gill's Pier Vineyard & Winery Cheerio Cherry
L. Mawby Consort
Longview 2007 Rustic White
Longview 2007 Chardonnay
Shady Lane Cellars 2007 Coop De Blanc
Shady Lane Cellars 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling

Complete list of Winners
Michigan Wine Competition Results! - MichiganWines.com

Photo Credit: "arcturos by metrolens" from the Leelanau Wine pool at flickr.com

Medal-winning wineries, top regional cuisine and hot blues bands headline the annual Leelanau Wine & Food Festival. Themed Red, White & the Blues, the annual festival runs from noon to 6 in Northport's expanded Haserot Park on Grand Traverse Bay.

Also in Northport on Saturday is the annual Northport Dog Parade, which starts promptly at 1 PM. Dress up your dog and then parade through the streets of Northport. Prizes for all!!

Visit the Leelanau Chamber for more details…

This just in!
The weather report looks great for Saturday, August 9 for the Leelanau Peninsula Wine & Food Festival. Come out and join over 15 wineries, one brewery and one hard cider craftsman to taste the best Leelanau County has to offer. Entertainment will be provided by The Fabulous Horndogs from noon until 3:00 pm followed by James Armstrong from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon listening to great music, drinking local wines and enjoying food provided by local vendors. There will even be chocolate on site! For those of you who enjoy a good cigar with your wine, you will have that opportunity as well.

The festival runs from noon until 6:00 pm in Haserot Park in Northport. Admission is $10 which includes a commemorative wine glass and two tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets will be available for $2 each. Admission for non-drinkers is $5 each. Come early so you can also enjoy the annual Dog Parade in downtown Northport. This wonderful event begins at 1:00 pm and is a must-see! Hope to see you there! The weather people say it will be in the mid-seventies. PERFECT!!

Our 2008 Harvest Stompede poster is available for download.

The event takes place Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21 and starts with a race through Leelanau's vineyards followed by a wine tour of LPVA member wineries featuring wines, gourmet pastas and other culinary delights.

Tickets are selling fast - get yours before they're all gone! Click the photo below for a gallery of photos from 2007!

Who: Respected judges from around the country and across the state

What: 31st Annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition and Gold Medal Reception

When: Competition - Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Gold Medal Reception - Thursday, August 7, 2008 - 5-8 p.m.

Where: Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing

Click here for further details and ticket information

Photo credit: Emery Co Photo

JazzFest has dance floor, swing music, 5 acts

The 16th Annual Suttons Bay JazzFest will include something new this year: A dance floor.

The event is scheduled for July 26 at Suttons Bay Marina Park and will feature the Chris Copeland Big Band with Harry Goldson and Claudia Schmidt playing selections from the golden era of swing.

"We've had so many requests for a dance floor," said Piper Goldson, event co-founder. "We thought this just might be the year to try something different."

The daylong event will feature five acts beginning at 1 p.m. under a large tent and will include gourmet food and award-winning Leelanau Peninsula wines.

Continue reading in the Traverse City Record Eagle

Visit the Suttons Bay JazzFest website for a complete lineup and ticket information.

Photo credit: Keith Burnham A Great Day in Suttons Bay - The Leland Report, July 28, 2007

Bel Lago will be hosting WSRT's Mary in the Morning wine tour July 23rd, 5:00-7:00P.M. Eric Villegas, of the Emmy award winning TV Show, Fork in the Road, will be on hand to prepare two recipes from his new cookbook called…. Fork in the Road! Come taste Bel Lago wines paired with delicious, local Michigan food and meet Eric and the Mary in the Morning crew.

Check out MyNorth.com for a wonderful list of recommended Northern Michigan wines or as they put it:

"A go-to list of refreshing Northern Michigan wines ready for dinner in the garden, chill time on the boat or a toast at sunset."

Many Leelanau peninsula wines are represented….

We asked Northern Michigan winemakers to reveal their very own favorite summer sippers. No matter where you drink these dreamy, aromatic whites—and a few luscious rosés and sparkling wines—they’ll conjure that relaxed Up North mood.