We don’t often think of Michigan as a wine producing State do we, but look at the facts:
- Michigan has 13,500 acres of vineyards making Michigan the fourth largest grape-growing state.
- Most of this acreage is devoted to juice grapes such as Concord and Niagara.
- About 1,500 acres are planted to wine grapes, making Michigan the eighth in wine grape production.
- Vineyard area has increased 24% since 1997.
- Michigan’s 45 commercial wineries produce more than 200,000 cases of wine annually, making the state 13th in wine production. Just about all of the production is from Michigan-grown grapes.
- Wineries are popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually. Some of these wineries also have retail stores where it’s possible to purchase anything from a wine cellar kit to a wine cooler refrigerator.
- Wine production and winery tourism annually contribute $75 million to the state’s economy.
- Three types of grapes are used for wine in Michigan:
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- Vinifera varieties — these are the classic European varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling (the most widely planted white), Pinot Noir (the most widely planted red), Pinot Grigio/Gris and Cabernet Franc; 58% of Michigan’s wine grapes are vinifera. Since 1998, 71% of the new plantings in Michigan have been vinifera varieties.
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- Hybrid varieties (sometimes called French/American hybrids) — these are botanical crosses between vinifera varieties and grapes native to North America. Common names are Vidal, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch and Vignoles; 39% of Michigan’s wine grapes are hybrids.
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- Native varieties — actually close relatives of true native varieties. Usual names are Concord and Niagara. Less than 3% of Michigan’s wine is made from these varieties.
- Most of Michigan’s quality wine grapes grow within 40 kms of Lake Michigan. Here, the “lake effect” protects the vines with snow in winter, retards bud break in spring helping avoid frost damage, and extends the growing season by up to four weeks.
- Michigan has four federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state, near Traverse City, lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. This area has a growing season averaging 145 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,350 growing degree days; 51% of Michigan’s wine grapes grow here. In the southwest part of the state lie the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville appellations, where 45% of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown. This area has a growing season averaging 160 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,750 growing degree days. Both are Region 6 on the USDA plant hardiness zone map.
- Harvest begins for early hybrid varieties at the end of August in the southwest and may extend into November for late-ripening vinifera varieties in the northwest.
- Michigan wines consistently oust California Wines in the Medal Competitions. More than 16% of the wines entered in the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition had already won Gold Medals in regional, national and international competitions. A list of winners is available upon request.
- Michigan wineries make many styles of wine, from dry to sweet including Ice Wine, sparkling, fortified, fruit wines and eau-de-vie (fruit brandy).
- Michigan wines are usually “cool climate” – clean, crisp, balanced wines that exhibit real varietal charact.
- Michigan Wines are very popular choices in the offerings of Wine Clubs
where you set up a monthly subscription to order wine online
Next time you’re savoring your favorite Chardonnay, check the label. It just may not have originated in California!
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Don’t understimate the benefit of properly storing your wine. As the wine rests in its prepared environment, it will age into a truly delicious beverage. Purchasing a wine rack isn’t the cheapest option. A cost effetive wine cellar is possible if that’s what you are after, it doesn’t have to be overly expensive. Consider the basics of wine storage before making your choice: Temperature, light, vibration, and use of space. Your job will be much more rewarding if you build with quality in mind so it wil last for years.
Before you begin construction, plan where you will put the wine rack. Wine favors specific kinds of environments when aging. Humidity helps the cork from drying out, and temperature helps the wine age correctly. Keep your wine away from direct sunlight above all else. It will cook the wine and ruin its flavor. You don’t want the temperature to fluctuate while it maintains around 58 degrees. The horizontal position is the best position to store wine in for long periods of time. If you already have your custom wine cellar built, then you are well on your way.
A Monthly Wine club lets you grow your wine collection over time. Storing your wine will become an issue as you collect a wide variety of vintages. There are many space saving options that make the most out of small spaces. They let you store many bottles of wine on each shelf. They also make it easy to see the labels of the wine bottles. If you want your wine to speak for itself, a simple wine rack will do the trick. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if you are purchasing in bulk. A money saving tip is to construct your own wine rack from a set of plans.
Construct the wine rack yourself to save a good deal of money. It’s a cinch to build your own wooden wine rack, and it can be rewarding as well. You can find plenty of free info on the internet, and you only need a few basic tools. You can seriously go cheap and with a little wood and PVC make a wine rack for under $10.
If you absolutely have to get your wine racked fast, buy some bricks and plywood, this is the cheapest and easiest method. Put the planks on top of the bricks to make shelves, and use other pieces to divide the shelves up. These options give you the power to decide how much the project will cost. Budget wine cellars are very possible, and you can make them yourselves. Please enjoy our website for other wine cellaring hints.
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