Grand Rapids International Wine Festival by farlane

Shannon writes:

From my perspective, the show was a huge success. We had a blast tasting not only Michigan wines, but comparing them to their worldwide counterparts. I am happy to say that the local wine held up very well. I was particularly blown away by the number of young people at the show. This really excites me, as I am a huge advocate of getting the 21-30 something crowd more involved with wine.

I was really impressed that at every Michigan booth, there was representation from the winery -- most of the time it was the actual owner or winemaker.

They'll almost certainly be back in 2010 - stay tuned at  grwinefestival.com!

In Five questions with wine expert Claudia Tyagi, the Detroit Free Press asks Master Sommelier* Claudia Tyagi about selecting Michigan wines to go with a Thanksgiving dinner. She recommends a few and says:

I always like Riesling with turkey, although with poultry Chardonnay would be beautiful. You have a lot of versatility and a lot of possibility with turkey. You could use a white wine or an aromatic wine. Those tend to go well with turkey, too.

Click through to read the rest and you might also want to try this recipe for roasting your turkey with white wine & rosemary.

Photo: Ciccone by Kiran Bhat

*Wikipedia's Sommelier entry explains that a sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional who specializes in all aspects of wine service. Since the Master Sommelier Diploma was introduced in 1969, 171 people from around the world had become Master Sommeliers by 2009. Of these there were 74 active Master Sommeliers in the Americas.

Claudia is one of three in the state of Michigan, and her observations can be found at twitter.com/Winegenie. Get many more Thanksgiving ideas at absolutemichigan.com/Thanksgiving.

Autumn Pathways by pentax hammer (gary syrba)

The crowds and traffic have subsided, the harvests are bountiful and the mosquitoes are few and far between. What we're trying to say is that autumn is perfect time to get out and enjoy a color tour, take in a late season festival or event, go camping or hit some of Michigan's numerous wineries and pick up a few bottles for holiday gifts or get-togethers.

MyNorth.com produced a great video a while back that takes you on a tour of Northern Michigan's wine country and we think it is worth a watch and will entice you to plan a visit. On that note we should point out that Absolute Michigan is giving away a pair of tickets for the Toast the Season wine trail event which takes place on the Leelanau Peninsula on November 14 & 15.

MyNorth.com Video: Sit Back and Tour Northern Michigan's Wine Country

Hoping to get one more wine tour in this summer? Or maybe you're envisioning those glorious fall days when wine is an excellent excuse to drive through our wine country. Sit back and get some ideas as we visit Chateau Grand Traverse (cgtwines.com) on the Old Mission Peninsula; Traverse City's urban wineries, Left Foot Charley (leftfootcharley.com) at The Village in Grand Traverse Commons (old state hospital grounds) and Black Star Farms (blackstarfarms.com) in the Mercato, also in the Commons (Black Star also has its winery just south of Suttons Bay); and Shady Lane Cellars (shadylanecellars.com) near Suttons Bay.

Enjoy watching the lush landscape as the vintners each tell us what makes them unique and what it is like growing and selling wine in Northern Michigan.

Also be sure to check out our monthly calendars on Absolute Michigan's home page as well as keywords Halloween, maze, pumpkin, cider and more!

Even the undead enjoy Michigan apple cider!

A Dubs (Alan) runs the blog Faded Detroit.

His sets include Detroit in Black & White, Faded Detroit: City wide and Tiger Stadium Demolition.

Dive into his Flickriver.

Leelanau Tarts (fo-lomo) by farlane

Old Orchard Brands debuts 'Very Cherre' premier line of cherry juice on mLive begins:

Move over exotic pomegranate, acai and mangosteen. The All-American tart cherry could be the next rage in superhealthy “superfruits.”

Old Orchard Brands is giving the simple pie fruit a chic makeover with its introduction of a premier line of juices called Very Cherre.

The Sparta-based fruit juice company will debut the 100 percent tart cherry juice product this week at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, J.W. Marriott and other Amway properties. There, Very Cherre — available in Pure Tart Cherry and three cherry blends — will be added to sauces, mixed in cocktails and sold in gift shops.

“I think it’s a superb product,” said Gerhard Schmied, vice president/director of food and beverage for the Amway Hotel Collection. “It’s from our own backyard. I can’t emphasize how important that is.”

Very Cherre juice is made from Montmorency tart cherries grown in the Leelanau Peninsula. The northern Michigan region is the biggest producer of the Montmorency cherries.

Read the rest at mLive and check out verycherre.com - kind of cool to see a private company promoting their product AND the region it's grown in! (especially since it's in Michigan!)

ART PRIZE 2009 by RichardD72

Michigan has taken the national stage with one eye on the ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids and the other on it's burgeoning and award winning wine industry which gaining credibility amongst wine experts and wine lovers. This is truly a positive and a definite 180 degree flip from most of the national news our state receives as of late.

ArtPrize garners national attention in the New York Times

The New York Times reports on the competition and the overwhelming positive response and impact on Grand Rapids in their article Eyes on the ArtPrize by Micheline Maynard. The article also takes note of several of the exhibits including some of the final top 10 entries. The winner of ArtPrize drew over 1,200 artists and has had about 32,000 people register to vote on the works. The winner will be awarded 250,00 with a minimum of $7,000 for the nine runners-up.

No matter who wins, the 17-day competition has spurred a lively debate in Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 with a tradition of interest in art. It is home to several museums and a college of art and design.

“Every conversation I’ve had here for the past two weeks has been about art,” said Dustin Dwyer, a correspondent for Michigan Radio, a public radio network, who is based in Grand Rapids and has reported on the competition since its inception earlier this year. “From that perspective, it’s a success. But are we rewarding good art? That’s up for question.”

Be sure to check out Absolute Michigan on Location - ArtPrize and the Absolute Michigan's ArtPrize 2009 Page.

Michigan wine continues to gain ground as a world class product

The 45th parallel yielding good wine from Michigan, ABC reports.

Other national news regarding Michigan wines and wine trails

Off the beaten wine trail: Explore four emerging regions - USA Today

Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan: The state's 56 wineries are spread across Michigan along four wine trails, but most of the best grapes are grown near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and its bays.

Exotic vacations may be closer than you think: Napa Valley-esque wine tastings - CNN

If it's wine you want, find an alternative to Napa Valley in Michigan's Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Here you'll discover more than 850 acres of land and more than 20 wineries for your choosing.

The area offers tastings and gourmet meals, and Kantrowitz says, "The region is particularly known for its great pinot blancs."

The new Napa Valley: Taste one of Obama's favorite wines at this Michigan winery - Examiner.com

The rumor is that Michigan is soon to become the new Napa Valley. With climate changes potentially affecting the California coastline, Napa vineyard owners are looking to Northern Michigan to grow their grapes.

Part of the appeal of Northern Michigan is the colder climate on the 45th Parallel where grapes for rare ice wines flourish. For more information on why wines do so well along the 45th parallel, read the Chicago Tribune’s story on this region.

Best North American Wine Destinations - Digital City

8. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City lends itself to making Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc, thanks to grapes that grow near the shores of Lake Michigan, offering a unique climate. The rest of the state's wines come from Michigan wine country, where you can also find rare fruit and ice wines.

According to Michigan Wines - The Official Website of Michigan's Wine Industry:

Michigan's wine, grapes and grape juice products and related industries ...

... produced nearly $790 million of total economic value to the State of Michigan in 2005

... paid more than $42 million in state and local taxes in Michigan, and an additional $42 million in federal taxes

... account for more than 5,000 jobs across the state, for a payroll of more than $190 million

Check out their collection of photos of Michigan's vineyards and wineries.

The week-long series of beer-centric events will be held at participating venues in Detroit, with satellite events at Metro-Detroit brewpubs. These events will consist of brewery tours, tasting flights, meet-the-brewer sessions, food pairings, and a wide array of other unique activities. Events will be hosted by Detroit Beer Week staff and the Detroit Beer Barons, a group of Metro-area brewery personalities.

“We wanted to stay away from the traditional ‘drink this beer, get a keychain’ –type promotions, and instead focus on events that give value to the consumer and to the venue hosting the event,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, principal organizer of the events, AKA Chief Imaginationer.

The grand finale of Beer Week is the Inaugural Harvest Festival, hosted by the Michigan Brewers’ Guild and Metrotimes on Saturday, October 24, in Eastern Market.

While the Guild is not organizing Beer Week events, they have given their full support and cooperation to the organizing committee. “When the Guild announced the Harvest Festival in Eastern Market, we not only saw an opportunity to promote Michigan Beer in southeast Michigan,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, “but to promote the Great City of Detroit, as well; and the Guild has been extremely supportive of our efforts, even including information about events on their website at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.”

The participating venues include Slow’s Bar BQ, Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub, Park Bar, Motor City Brewing Works, Traffic Jam & Snug, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit Beer Company, Wolfgang Puck Grille, Michael Symon’s Roast, 24Grille, and Fender’s Pub at the Omni Hotel.

A complete, updated list of events and information can be found Facebook.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

The Invitational Cookout portion of the festival features well-known chefs from throughout the Great Lakes Region, including:

• Chef Chris Pandel from The Bristol, Chicago
• Chef Matt Pietsch from Salt of the Earth, Fennville
• Chef Rob Hammond from Food Dance Café, Kalamazoo
• Chef Matthew Millar from New Holland Brewing Co., Holland
• Chef Chad Miller from Restaurant Bloom, Grand Rapids
• Chef Brian Perrone from Slows Bar BQ, Detroit (www.slowsbarbq.com)

“These chefs were hand-selected to compete in the PORKAPALOOZA Invitational Cookout because they share a common interest in the pursuit of culinary quality and a belief in championing local, sustainable lifestyles,” says Fred Bueltmann, Beervangelist at New Holland Brewing.

Each restaurant is asked to showcase at least one primary pork dish, as well as two regionally-influenced side dishes providing sourcing information that demonstrates the technique and provenance of their food.

The event will shine a light on some of the areas treasures, including not only the products available, but the creative energy of many local artisans and musicians. Well over 1000 people are expected to attend and organizers proudly practice earth-friendly ideals, showcasing the realities of sustainable living and entertaining.

Local beers and wines from New Holland Brewing Company and Fenn Valley Winery will make for pleasant pork pairings. New Holland will present Charkoota Rye – a smoked rye dopplebock brewed to celebrate PORKAPALOOZA and the art of charcuterie. They will bring a host of other beers including the autumn favorite Ichabod Pumpkin Ale, as well as Mad Hatter IPA, Full Circle, The Poet Oatmeal Stout and Dragon’s Milk barrel-aged ale. Fenn Valley, which is located adjacent to the fest site, will serve a selection of their favorite award-winning red and white wines.

Throughout the day, an impressive back-to-back line-up of entertainment will keep the toes tapping, including:

• Various David Teske
• 1:00pm Dave Boutette
• 2:00pm Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys
• 3:00pm HOG CALLING COMPETITION
• 3:30pm Ben Bueltmann & Pontchatrain
• 4:30pm Mark Duval & Two Track Mind
• 6:30pm Mountain Men
• 8:00pm Midtown Underground

Blankets, chairs and water coolers are welcome. The event is held in a grass field, so sturdy shoes are recommended. Guests are not allowed to bring food or alcohol into the event. All ages are welcome, but guests 21 and older will need to show ID to receive a wristband to consume alcohol. Special activities are also planned for the younger attendees.

Tickets are available now for PORKAPALOOZA and are $8 per person in advance ($12 the day of) with parking at $5 per car. Admission includes access to the unlimited live entertainment. Food and beverages are sold separately. Admission tickets are available online at http://pork.newhollandbrew.com or by visiting New Holland Brewing and other vendors to be listed on the website.

For more information about PORKAPALOOZA, contact New Holland Brewing at 616-355-NHBC.

Beautiful! by Pentax K1000 Gal

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) have teamed together with area restaurants for the third annual Old Mission Peninsula Wine & Food Celebration. The event takes place this Saturday (September 12) from 3-8 PM at Bowers Harbor Park on the Old Mission Peninsula.

A ticket includes a souvenir glass, wine tasting tickets and live music from the Northwestern Michigan College Community Concert Band. Menu offerings will range in price from $3-$10.

For further information, call 231.944.1300.
2008 Harvest Stompede051 by lpwines

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk and Wine Tour over the weekend of September 19 & 20. It's considered one of the most scenic running & wine touring events in the Midwest and is returning to the Leelanau Peninsula for the eighth year.

The race itself is the kickoff of the weekends festivities and will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 9 a.m. Designed for both serious and recreational runners & walkers, it's a great event for spectators as well. Race coordinator Nate Rousse says "This is a one-of-a-kind annual run sponsored by the Traverse City Track Club and hosted by the Leelanau Peninsula winemakers. The course winds through absolutely gorgeous vineyards and is open to the public only on race day."

The Harvest Stompede Wine Tour follows the race and offers a special pour and food celebrating the season at each of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association member wineries.

There are still some tickets available and you can get tickets and more information on the Harvest Stompede page at the LPVA web site. Also check out these slideshows from the 2007 and 2008 Harvest Stompede!

More than 150 beers from some of Michigan's finest microbreweries and brewpubs. Live music. Food available for purchase. Rain or shine.

The first-ever Michigan Brewers Guild U.P. Oktoberfest is coming September 12 . . . and it’s crossing the Big Mac bridge to do so! The excitement is taking over the heart of the Upper Peninsula and spreading!

Though Michigan craft beers have long been established in the Upper Peninsula, September 12 in Marquette unveils the first U.P. craft beer tasting event sponsored by the Michigan Brewers Guild. Set in the historic beauty of Marquette’s lower harbor at Ellwood Mattson Park, this singular beer event summons the great tastes of Michigan craft brews to the heart of the U.P. Just in time for Michigan’s craft brewers to unveil their fall-winter offerings, the U.P. Oktoberfest is sure to be the number one beer-lovers regional event this fall.

TICKETS

Purchase online or call 877-772-5425. For an updated list of ticket outlets please visit the MASH, at www.mbgmash.org. The cost to attend is $30 in advance, $35 at gate. Limited ticket availability. Advance ticket purchase encouraged. Includes 12 drink tokens. Additional tokens available inside festival. Must be 21 or over.

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

Love Cabernet Franc? Head to Old Mission Peninsula. The top three honors for the first-ever Michigan Cabernet Franc Wine Challenge were exclusively awarded to wines grown from the region.

The winner of the competition and the coveted Harding's Cup was Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery’s 2007 Artisan Series Cabernet Franc. Brys Estate also took the bronze third place medal for its 2007 Cabernet Franc. And, just down the road from Brys Estate, Two Lads Winery won the silver second place medal for its Reserved Cabernet Franc.

The Michigan Cabernet Franc Wine Challenge, held at the historic Park Club in downtown Kalamazoo in August, was the brainchild of Terry Stingley of Harding's Friendly Markets based in Kalamazoo. Twenty-two wines from 18 Michigan wineries and one wine from the Chinon region of the Loire Valley of France (all 2007 vintage), were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges.

"It was a great opportunity to taste an exceptional array of well-made wines from a stunning Michigan vintage," said Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi, who was one of the six judges for the competition. "It is so exciting to realize that we are on the ground floor of something huge for Michigan's future. It was not inappropriate to compare these wines to a classic French Chinon, but our beauties left the Chinon in the dust."

Photo credit: Patrick Brys

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival by M'Lynn Heartwell Mike Brenton from the Lansing City Pulse attended the wine fest. In Sampling the Champs he writes about the festival and the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition: This year’s Best of Class and Judge’s Merit winners included six wines from Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula and an Ice Wine from Fenn Valley Vineyards, south of Holland. It is a testament to the quality grape growing and winemaking in the Traverse City Region... Complete competition results are posted at www.michiganwines.com, but it is helpful to taste wines before purchasing. Fortuitously, the Traverse City Wine and Art Festival held its inaugural celebration on Aug. 22 at the Grand Traverse Commons. Twenty-two area wineries and several diverse restaurants rimmed the edges of a circus-sized tent, while wine devotees sampled many of the Gold Medal and Best of Class wines. Forming a perimeter around the tent was a juried fine arts show, featuring many artists recognizable from the East Lansing Art Fair. On a stage off to the side, Okemos’ own Thom Jayne & the Nomads entertained the crowd, along with other bands.

Buckwheat Zydeco at the Beer Fest II by Andy McFarlane Absolute Michigan's Cherie Spaulding braved the downpour at the beer festival. In If you brew it she reports: What occurred at The Village Saturday afternoon was no small feat. Had the sun simply offered her face in typical August fashion, hosting a Microbrew & Music festival would have been worry enough. Add to the challenge: rain, rain, rain. Still, not a grim face in the crowd. Smiles protruded from hooded hatters toting biodegradable koozies thermally insulating samples of amber ale and chocolate stout. Huddled and gathered beneath large and small tents, attendees dodged rain drops pelleting the lawn. Despite Mother Nature's drab set decoration, Traverse City's Microbrew & Music Festival proved to be a brilliant affair, as folks flooded the lawn of the old State Hospital grounds, sipping suds in the (sometimes) pouring rain... After Saturday's event, the only hard evidence we have is that nothing--not even cool wet weather--will stop Michiganders from their microbrews, music and good eats. And yes, they seemed happy. Northern Michigan's thirst to celebrate with friends and family can neither be quenched or denied. Rain or shine--if you brew it, they will come!

Click for more wine fest photos by M'Lynn, and Absolute Michigan also brought in photographer Jesamin Califf who has a great gallery from the inaugural TC Wine & Art Festival.

I had the good fortune to be involved with both events - the TC Wine & Art fest as an organizer and the TC Beer fest as a participant. While I have to admit that it was a lot more fun to be on the participant end, the most exciting thing about the week for me has been looking forward to what the week holds in 2010 and beyond.

Plans are already afoot to turn the week into a celebration of community, culture and the culinary offerings of the new foodie mecca that is the Traverse City area. Stay tuned!

Each summer, Mother Nature brings us hot, humid days and nights that barely cool off. Thankfully, Michigan-born businesses offer some relief in the form of sweet, refreshing treats.

Photo credit: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm at the Faygo Plant, October 2006 (Photo Courtesy of the Granholm Leadership Fund)

FAYGO

There’s Faygo, which has been making its colorful pop in Detroit since 1907. Started by Russian brothers Ben and Perry Feigenson, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works first offered drinks in fruit punch, strawberry and grape flavors. These flavors were inspired by frosting recipes that the men created when they worked as bakers. In 1921, the Feigenson brothers shortened the company name to Faygo. Faygo’s Web site has a more detailed history and recipes for adding Faygo to everything from ribs to cauliflower soup. Looking for some entertainment while you enjoy your pop? Check out the Faygo Boat Song (You Tube link) and the Faygo Kid (You Tube link). These old commercials may bring back some memories!

VERNOR’S

Are you in the mood for something a little less sweet? Perhaps you’d like a glass of ginger ale. Detroit pharmacist James Vernor invented Vernor’s ginger ale in the 1860s. With a close eye on quality, Vernor’s went from being sold only at a fountain in Vernor’s pharmacy to gaining fans in new markets in Ohio and New York. Now owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Vernor’s tells its story on the Vernor’s Web site. For a more indepth look, take a look at Lawrence L. Rouch’s The Vernor’s Story: From Gnomes to Now, a 2004 Michigan Notable Book. The Images of America series has published Vernor’s Ginger Ale by Keith Wunderlich, complete with factory photos, promotional images and shots of the company’s one-time mascot, the gnome. Both books are available at the Library of Michigan.

Cover to The Vernor's Story by Lawrence L. Rouch

POP VS. SODA

Not sure if you should call these drinks pop or soda? Check out The Pop vs. Soda Web Page, which shows that Michigan is clearly a green state. (On the site’s interactive map, green represents people who use the term “pop,” as opposed to “coke” or “soda.”)

Faygo Root Beer Takes Top Honors

Absolute Michigan would like to add to the article and point out that Bon Apetit has named Faygo Old Fashioned Root Beer as their favorite Root Beer.

Old-fashioned root beer is the newest restaurant drink trend—suddenly, it's on menus everywhere. What sets these sodas apart is that they're caffeine-free and usually sweetened with cane sugar, not corn syrup: Think root beer returning to its roots. Style varies from sweet to dry and from mild to zingy. The satisfying and complex flavors can come from cinnamon, vanilla, sassafras, ginger, licorice, cherry—and even wintergreen to balance out the sweetness.

They describe Faygo Old Fashioned Root Beer as being "Dry and crisp, with a frothy head, a good bite, and a long finish."

Saline Summer Sunflower Super Set...Sweet by Andy Tanguay

Throughout each month we post items of Michicentric interest to our Michitwitter page. In case you missed them here is a look back at just a few of those items for the month of August. If you find these interesting there are plenty more for you to check out. We encourage you to add any news items, events, links to vids, podcasts or whatever you find interesting about the Great Lakes State!

The photo featured in this post in from the Absolute Michigan flickr pool and is by Andy Tanguay. Andy has the following to say regarding his photo "Saline Summer Sunflower Super Set":

You know, I think a monkey hopped up on PCP could take a nice shot in this location. So here's mine...Ooo Ooo ooo Oooo ah ah ah.

A sunflower farm just west of Saline Mi at sun down. Literally miles and miles of blooming sunflowers right at their peak. The farmers are nice enough to post a sign saying help yourself to pictures, just don't take any flowers. The farmer came out to greet us. I guess all these go to feed...like bird seed and such.

We'd like to draw attention to two new excellent festivals that were held at the Grand Traverse Commons. Both the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival and the Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival were great successes and we encourage to check them out next year!

A Sampling from Michitwitter August 2009

The ongoing discussion of urban farming continues as mlive.com reports in - Food among the ruins: A compelling argument for urban farming in Detroit

Detroit may be the best positioned city in the world to become a totally self-sufficient city, according to investigative historian Mark Dowie.

In a piece this month for Guernica magazine, Dowie suggests that a combination of unique factors and opportunities make Detroit a prime location for urban farming to flourish.

With electric vehicles greatly gaining momentum as the future of the auto industry, Michigan is poised to reap big rewards and jobs. The freep.com reports - Battery grants could mean big job boost for Michigan

Michigan stands to get $1.36 billion of a $2.4-billion federal grant program designed to spur manufacturing of batteries and other components for electric vehicles in the United States, creating up to 6,800 jobs in the next 18 months and up to 40,000 in the state over the next 11 years.

The Freep also unveiled the much anticipated Chevy Volt and it's mind blowing projected m.pg. rating. Read - GM touts Volt with 230 m.p.g. city rating

The electric-drive Chevrolet Volt is expected to get a rating of at least 230 miles per gallon in city driving, General Motors Co. announced this morning.

The results come as GM pushes to bring the new technology to market in late next year. Later this week, the company is officially announcing its battery assembly pack plant in Brownstown Township.

The world lost a legend that had Michigan ties specifically in Kalamazoo. Read Legendary guitar-maker Les Paul left mark in Kalamazoo on mlive.com.

When Gibson Guitar's Parsons Street factory cranked out its last Les Paul guitar, Marvin Lamb had to have it.

Lamb started working for Gibson in 1956, at age 16.

He hand-drilled holes in the tops of early Les Pauls to screw in the stop tailpiece. He installed the first tune-o-matic bridges on the single-cutaway, solid-body guitars.

He sweated at 225 Parsons St., on Kalamazoo's north side, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Gibson employees made 200 to 300 Les Pauls a day.

Michigan's film incentive program is being debated and WZZM13.com brings us up to date in their article Bad for Michigan? Lawmaker wants to eliminate film incentive.

A battle over whether to keep Michigan's film incentives is about to begin at the state Capitol.

Tuesday morning, several production workers will rally in Lansing to show legislators that they believe the incentives are worth continuing.

Proponents of the film incentive program have strong views of why it needs to stay. Read Backers say talk of film credit cuts costing Michigan in the Detroit News.

Film executives and producers say talk in Lansing of reducing or eliminating Michigan's aggressive film tax incentive is causing Hollywood's bankrollers to hesitate before investing in the Great Lakes State.

Already, industry insiders say, the state has lost hundreds of millions in film spending to other states since talk of cutting or scrapping the credit surfaced late last year, a charge led by Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, chairwoman of the State Finance Committee. Others warn that cutting the credit could push business away from Michigan's fledgling industry simply because there hasn't been enough time to build a sufficient infrastructure -- studios and such -- capable of supporting long-term business.

Michigan rock-roll bad boy Kid Rock is pure Michigan and continues to put his money where his mouth is. Check out Kid Rock chips in $20K to rev up Arts, Beats & Eats in the Freep.

Kid Rock has stepped up with a crucial assist for Arts, Beats & Eats.

The Oakland County rocker has invested about $20,000 in sponsor funds via his fashion line, Made in Detroit, helping defray costs for one of the area’s signature fests.

AB&E, which runs Sept. 4-7 in downtown Pontiac, had lost more than $400,000 in funding this year, mostly because of Chrysler’s pullout from its title sponsor role.

Also check out the vid below, "Kid Rock: Detroit's angel?" from cnn.com.

In a move that dumbfounded local residents Peta announced that they want to commandeer Grand Haven's lighthouse to promote vegetarianism and the unethical treatment of fish. The Detroit News reports PETA wants Grand Haven lighthouses for fish empathy center.

Grand Haven's Lake Michigan lighthouses are the prime location sought by an animal rights group for its anti-fishing campaign headquarters.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has applied through a federal program to take over the structures and lighted catwalk that are frequently photographed for dramatic sunsets, thick winter ice and crashing waves.

The area gets nearly 2 million annual visitors, including anglers casting lines into the Grand River channel and heading out in boats for Great Lakes salmon.

"We want to renovate the Grand Haven lights as a memorial to the billions of fish killed annually by sport fishermen, as well as for their flesh (commercial fishing industry)," said Lindsey Rajt, manager of PETA's campaigns department. "We also want to make it a fun and educational place."

AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale made the Guinness Book of World Records in August. Read Ferndale cafe sets record for longest concert in the Detroit News.

A little cafe in downtown Ferndale has set a Guinness World Record.

AJ's Music Cafe was notified Wednesday that its 288-hour Assembly Line Concert, held in March to promote awareness of American automakers, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous concert by multiple artists.

Automakers recently saw some positive movement which is good news for Michigan. Read J.D. Power predicts U.S. auto sales will hit 1 million in August.

A leading automotive research company is predicting that U.S. monthly auto sales will rise above the 1 million mark for the first time this year in August, due mainly to the government's Cash for Clunkers program.

If you like apples 2009 is offering up a bumper crop. Check out Michigan apple harvest quite the treat in the Detroit News.

Branches of Michigan apple trees are bowing under the weight of the healthiest crop in at least 10 years.

Ideal weather conditions -- cool temperatures and lots of rain -- have apple growers anticipating one of the state's best seasons since the 1990s, according to the Michigan Apple Committee, and that could mean lower prices at the grocery store.

The Detroit News reports some good news for the Great Lakes in their article $1 billion proposed in 2010 for Great Lakes restoration.

Congress is poised to nearly double its funding commitment to the Great Lakes, adding up to $475 million for restoration that would deter invasive species, clean up polluted sites and create jobs in Michigan and the region.

Throughout the weekend, samples of the finest cider and perry (cider made from pears) from the states and provinces that border the Great Lakes will be available for tasting, while food vendors sell sweet and savory selections. Activities such as cider pressing, nature walks and the kids’ playground, will be open for family fun at Uncle John’s all weekend long as well.

The festival runs from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, with cider and perry tastings throughout the day at a cost of $10 per person, which includes a souvenir glass for the first 250 people, and 10 tasting tickets. Ben Watson, author of Cider Hard & Sweet – History, Traditions & Making Your Own (2nd Edition) and Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway, co-authors of From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries will be on hand throughout the day, selling and singing copies of their respective books.

On Sunday, the festival kicks off with an Antique Apple Tasting from 11am-Noon. Then, from 12:30-1:30pm, a Cider & Cheese Pairing will be held. Both sessions are hosted by Ben Watson and are limited to 50 individuals. The cost for each session is $10 per person. During the afternoon, from 1:30-3:30pm, learn from other non-professional cider makers at the cider makers’ roundtable discussion.

Those looking to partake in all the festival’s activities can purchase a special pass for $25 (limited to 50 people). Tickets can be purchased online at www.michiganvine.com/blog/tickets.

All profit proceeds from the festival benefit the Great Lake Cider & Perry Association (est. 2008). Find them online at www.GreatLakesCider.com.

Join the Great Lake Cider & Perry Association on facebook.

As always, the festival site will have a Disc Golf Course Designed by Stephanai Myers of Disc Golf Michigan. The festival site is also strategically located near various mountain biking trails and the Pine River, a National Wild and Scenic River, a world class blue-ribbon trout stream, and a renowned paddle sports playground. Kestelwoods restaurant, party store and campground is a convenient 6 minute walk from the festival grounds.

New to the Festival
New this year will be the addition of a beer tent, featuring some of the finest handcrafted brews from the great beer state, served up in a micro beer festival format. We're proud to announce our all new Farmers Market full of local produce and specialty baked goods.

Vendor Village
In Hoxeyville we understand the vendor village is the nucleus of any good festival. We always strive to feature the finest artisan, craft and food vendors from our region, with a focus on specialty foods with locally grown and organic ingredients.

Just some of the artists include:
Buddy Guy, Galactic, Bill Frisell Trio, The New Orleans All-Stars, Melvin Seals & JGB, Greensky Bluegrass, Great American Taxi, Ekoostic Hookah, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Steppin' In It, The Macpodz and many, many more....

Location
Located in Beautiful Northwest Lower Michigan in the Heart of the Manistee National Forest, The Festival Grounds are located just west of The Kestelwoods Store and Campground off M-37 in Wexford County (1 1/2 hrs N of Grand Rapids, 40 Min. S of Traverse City) This year the site has been expanded to 75 acres and features ample areas for shaded walk-in and car camping, and open and level fields for RVs and Campers. This year we have a new Venue area that will be home to the The Main stage, Vendor Village and a Beer Tent featuring some of the finest brews from the region.

About the Festival

The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival is being organized in order to create a landmark celebration of the wine, food and culture for the region. It will feature 22 wineries from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas along with a selection of Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants providing food & desserts. Art Center Traverse City will be coordinating a sampling of artists and arts organizations who will display and sell their work in booths ringing the tent. Music will be offered for the duration, headlined by Michigan's own Thom Jayne and the Nomads who play a truly unique blend of world and Celtic infused jazz. The music will be punctuated by original dance from the Michigan Dance Collective.

Saharan Caravan by Thom Jayne and the Nomads

"The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association is excited to be building a major wine festival that will showcase the amazing wines of our region against the beautiful backdrop of the Grand Traverse Commons. We feel that the blend of art, food and wine is a natural combination that highlights three things we do very well in Northwest Michigan," said festival chairperson Jaclyn Eikey. "With the addition of some really eclectic music and entertainment, I think it will be an experience like none other offered in our area. The proceeds from this year's party will help us build a festival that we feel will become one of the highlights of summer in the Traverse City area."

Tickets

Tickets are limited and can be purchased online for $20 per person and will be available for pickup on the day of the event. You can also pick them up at the following locations:

Bel Lago, Black Star Farms (All 3 locations), Bowers Harbor, Brys Estate, Chateau Chantal, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Fontaine, Chateau Grand Traverse, Cherry Republic Winery, Ciccone, Forty-Five North, Gill's Pier, Good Neighbor Organic, L. Mawby, Leelanau Wine Cellars, Left Foot Charley, Peninsula Cellars, Shady Lane Cellars, Silver Leaf, Tandem Ciders, Traverse City Convention , & Visitors Bureau, Turtle Creek, Two Lads, Willow Vineyard

Tickets purchased online will be available for pickup on the day of the event. They are nonrefundable but can be transferred to another name if you are unable to attend. YOU MUST BE 21+ to attend.

Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition

Be among the first to try winning wines from the 2009 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition and taste the breadth of quality from Michigan's vineyards. Sip a glass of wine while chatting with winning winemakers to learn more about their wines.

The Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center will host the 32nd Annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition, and a public Gold Medal Reception unveiling Michigan's top wines, on Thursday, August 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This year marks Kellogg's ninth year hosting the competition, which will bring together wine experts to judge their way through nearly 400 Michigan wine entries. Best of Class wines will be perfectly paired with delicious foods prepared by the Kellogg Center's chefs. Other double gold, gold and silver medal wines will be available for sampling, along with a generous array of culinary treats. The Gold Medal Reception is expected to bring out an audience of 350 supportive consumers, industry members and industry associates. Tickets for the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition Gold Medal Reception are $40 per person and are available through the Kellogg Center at 517-432-4000.

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

Adam Kolodziejski made his first batch of wine from wild grapes found along the Tobacco River. A biology major at Central Michigan University in 1968, Adam picked the grapes, threw some yeast on them and drank the juice. “It was really bad wine,” Adam laughingly grins.

More than 40 years later Adam has had plenty of time to fine tune his craft. We tasted several delicious, handcrafted wines made with Chambourcin, Chancellor, Vidal, Riesling, Baco Noir and Muscat in Adam’s impressive 2,500 square foot winemaking facility in Rose City.

The high elevation of surrounding Ogemaw Hills gives Adam plenty of airflow for his vineyard located on nearby farmland. While he patiently waits for his vines to mature and tries to outsmart the deer, raccoon and birds that ate his first harvest, he brings in grapes from Lemon Creek in Berrien Springs. Soon, a small vineyard will complement his Rose City tasting room in northeast Michigan.

Married to Nationally-Acclaimed Poet Nancy Kolodziejski, Adam says they are a match made in heaven. “I’m polish; she’s a blond,” he chuckles.

While Nancy focuses on the tasting room ambiance, Adam keeps busy managing his vineyard and crafting his wines. He also runs his successful, 39-year-old Admin Industries, manufacturer of industrial dock equipment and supplies, and holds a patent on the dock leveler.

Expect familiar and not-so-familiar wine varieties when you visit Rose Valley Winery. Adam is keen on growing cold-hardy grapes, including native-to-Michigan Edelweiss, St. Pippen and Frontenac. Above all, though, expect to meet one of Michigan's newest winemakers who is passionate for making great wine.

Rose Valley’s wines can also be sampled, along with several other Michigan wines, at the inaugural Tawas Uncork’d and Untap’d event at East Tawas Harbor Park on August 1 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival include 12 drink tokens and may be purchased online, at participating member breweries and select retail locations around the state or by calling 877-772-5425. You must be 21 or older to attend. Designated driver tickets are available online and at the gate.

The Michigan Brewers Guild once again encourages residents and visitors to the Great Beer State to celebrate Michigan Craft Beer Month (July) by visiting area brewpubs and microbreweries, purchasing Michigan craft beer at retail outlets and restaurants and attending regional celebrations like the 12th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival.

Click here for a list of other Michigan craft beer related events.

Visit the Michigan Brewers Guild on Facebook.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

When you visit Sandhill Crane Vineyards, you're likely to meet a member or two of the Moffatt family who run the tasting room, and possibly Vintner Holly Balansag, who is carving a creative niche as one of only a handful of female winemakers in the state.

Holly crafts wines that range from traditional European varietals, like Cabernet, to meads, ports and hard cider. Wines are made with fruits available in southern Michigan, including raspberries, blueberries, apples, honey and even maple.

"All of our wines are made from fresh ingredients, and none of the ingredients come from further away than two hours," shares Heather Price, director for the winery.

The winery recently unveiled Legacy, a limited-release wine that benefits the Legacy Land Trust (formerly Washtenaw County Land Trust), which conserves land in the Waterloo Recreation Area near Chelsea and to the west to Jackson. The winery is on the western edge of this area.

The wine, a dry slightly fruity blend of Chardonnay and Vignoles, is a perfect summer wine. Four dollars of each bottle benefit the land trust.

Ann Arbors Farmers Market by RichardD72

As the buy local revolution continues to build steam we are seeing more and more farmers markets popping up around the state. This is a great situation for such an agriculturally based state and it shows that there is not only a great demand for the products but also a desire to support our local farmers. More importantly we all get to eat fresher, tastier healthier food which once you try you will always buy given the option. Browse the paragraphs below for information on farmers markets and their impact around Michigan.

A great place to get started is the Grown and Produced in Michigan site from the MDA and visit the Michigan Farm Market and Agri-tourism Association (MI-FMAT) whose website states:

Agriculture is part of the heritage of Michigan and is the second largest factor in our economy. Michigan farm markets, organic farms, maple syrup producers, wineries and u-pick farms and orchards are all there to welcome visitors for fun on the farm. A tour of Michigan farms could include a creamery, cider mill, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, plant nursery or a tree farm. There is nothing like a day in the Michigan countryside for fresh air, fresh vegetables or maybe a little wine tasting at a Michigan vineyard. All of these are available in a very short trip and some Michigan farm markets are even open all year long. Don't forget seasonal treats like honey, cider and mushroom hunting.

Michigan State University hosts a great website with locations of markets around the state and also information on Michigan Food & Farming Association (MIFFS) and the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA).

Michigan Food and Farming Systems – MIFFS is a statewide, membership-based nonprofit organization whose purpose is to improve Michigan's triple bottom line: our economy, our environment and the social well being of our communities through sustainable agriculture initiatives.

The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) was formed in 2006 as a state-wide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers markets.

Also be sure to explore Michigan farm markets at Michigan.org and visit Taste the Local Difference which has a listing of farmer's markets in northwest lower Michigan and lets you know what's ready to pick all spring and summer long!

One way we're going to help you get local is with our Absolute Michigan Map. As one of our first projects, we've dug up some of Michigan's best local farmer's markets and laid them down on our Google map of Michigan. Just look for the jug of milk and apple icon (well, at least until we change it to something else).

You can also zoom in on the photo above - assortment by yodraws, check out the farmer's market slideshow in the Absolute Michigan pool or jump straight to Fulton Street Market on the Absolute Michigan Map.

For a ton more info and links on Michigan produce and farmers markets search Absolute Michigan keywords farmers market!

Have a suggestion for a farmers market to add? Post it in the comments!

So we present to you:

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town brought to you by the fine folks at the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. Consider organizing one in your area!

About Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

Fifteen years ago, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau created this event to increase community awareness of it's attractions and the tourism industry's impact on the area. So once again the doors are open for you to explore culture and creativity in mid-Michigan.

As Lansing celebrates its 150th anniversary, take this opportunity to enjoy attractions that highlight both Lansing’s unique history as well as its innovative and progressive future. This year they have included old favorites such as Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the Michigan Historical Museum, and added new hot spots like the FRAG Center, MSU’s Breslin Center, WKAR Studios and taste the new “Capital City Sundae” ice cream flavor at the MSU Dairy Store. You can view a complete list of the participating places to go and things right here.

How it Works:

For only $1 you can purchase a “passport” which allows you FREE admission to more than 60 area attractions, local businesses, and special activities on May 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. **Ages 3 and under do not require a passport. Get from place to place with CATA. For only 50 cents you will receive a stamp which will allow you to ride the Be A Tourist routes for the rest of the day for no extra charge.

Check out a slideshow of the Lansing area from the Absolute Michigan Flickr pool!

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

You won’t find a Riesling on the tasting menu at Domaine Berrien Cellars. Vintners Wally and Katie Maurer prefer crafting varietals less familiar in Michigan – and more familiar of the Rhône River Valley region of France.

One of our favorites is dry, smooth Marsanne. The French grape smoothly releases aromas of honeysuckle which complement the taste of shellfish, lobster -- and even hamburgers.

“It’s a white wine that goes with everything,” Wally shares.

Domaine Berrien Cellars is located in the Fruit Belt of southwest Michigan in Berrien County. Vineyards surround the winery and tasting room, with some of the oldest vines planted by Katie’s late father, Tom, who shared Wally’s passion for winemaking. Today, Wally and Katie grow a number of varietals on their 80-acre farm and are becoming known for both Rhône-style wines and dry reds, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc.

Another Rhône-style white wine we recommend is Roussanne, a tasty barrel-aged, complex wine that is lighter in body than Chardonnay. Only 10 cases are left, so contact Domaine Berrien at (269) 473-WINE to get this unique wine delivered to your door.

For red wine enthusiasts, we suggest the Cabernet Franc, the favorite of Wally’s late mother, Kathleen, who lost her battle to breast cancer. Try this medium-body, oak-aged, elegant French-style wine with grilled steak in your backyard this summer. In honor of Kathleen, the Maurers donate $1.00 per bottle to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) Festival of the Sun. For the past decade, Festival of the Sun and, more recently Festival of the Moon, has brought together friends, families, and neighbors from all over Michigan to the heart of Old Town. Celebrating the beginning of the summer season, revelers take part in Mid-Michigan’s premier wine, beer, and food sampling event and enjoy live music throughout the weekend.

"Old Town and the Festival of the Sun have both grown tremendously over the past ten years. A couple years ago the OTCA launched the Festival of the Moon and just last year, the Festival of the Sun expanded - almost doubling in size - to accommodate the large crowds. It's so exciting to see these festivals continue to grow, attracting more people to Old Town and raising money to continue the revitalization efforts," said past Festival Director Shannon Rolley.

Festival of the Moon will be held on Friday, June 26th from 6-11 p.m. This year’s festival continues the tradition of offering Bell’s Beer on tap and will include music by Thriving Ivory, Suburban Euphoria, and Alco. Attendees will receive a keep sake beer tumbler to use while sipping on select Bell’s Beers.

Festival of the Sun will be held on Saturday, June 27th from 2-10 p.m. Vistitors will be able to taste wine and food from all over Michigan and dance the day away to music provided by Ritmo, The Dewaynes, The Lash, and Hot Club of Lansing on the main stage or relax with a drink by the acoustic stage with music by The Pantones, Nervous but Excited, and Daughters of New Grass. Tickets include a complimentary “throw back” wine glass with designs from the past ten years.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.festivalofthesun.com or www.festivalofthemoon.com

Happy Memorial Day by lorainedicerbo

Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season in Michigan and the weather forecasts around the state look to be favorable. Businesses in sleepy towns are waking up, and community plans for festivals and ongoing summer fun are taking shape after weathering it through an extended winter.  

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the biggest travel holidays and this year will be no exception. With gas prices almost 40% lower than last year and MDOT halting road work for the holiday, travel is expected to be up this year. In fact according to AAA around 1.1 million travelers will be out on the road headed to and from their holiday destinations.  For many, this weekend is the first trip up north of the year and if you want to set up camp in one of our beautiful state parks there is still availability. Even if you are planning on sticking close to home for the holiday, we have found plenty of events happening all around Michigan.

Parades, Festivals, Reenactments and more!

Parades abound and if fudge is calling your name then head to Mackinaw City and honor our nation's Veterans at the biggest parade in Northern Michigan, the Mackinaw Memorial Parade. Held on Saturday, at 1:00pm this parade complete with floats, queen, and clowns is a family fun, must attend event. For events happening in your area please check with your local media outlets.

Step back in time and experience Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Become a part of living history as you travel through a microcosm of the American Civil War. Union and Confederate soldier re-enactors, civilians, musicians and historic presenters—all in period costume—are eager to immerse you in the life of this turbulent American era.

If your looking for something a little more cutting edge then check out Detroit's Electronic Music Festival or head to Marshall for the first weekend of their Renaissance Festival. You will find these events, other Memorial weekend events, and yet even more Michigan events happening throughout the year in the Absolute Michigan Calendar.

Since most of Michigan Memorial Day travel is done via the highways and byways why not check out a celebration of cars?  Northport hosts their 12th annual Cars in the Park on Saturday, with food, music, and prizes.  Manton combines their 14th annual Classic Car and Truck Show with a craft fair and in Frankenmuth visitors can enjoy a Ford classic car show featuring 125 vehicles, plus a gathering of hot air balloons.

Eat, Drink and be Grateful

For those who just want to kick back at home, support Michigan and grab your favorite bottle of Michigan wine, some fine Michigan made beer , stock up on the Faygo and fire up the grill. The Detroit News has a delicious looking recipe and basic grilling information in their article Grilled dishes add sizzle to Memorial Day weekend. For all you localvores we present Planked Great Lakes Whitefish with a Potato Chip and Parmesan Crust from Michigan-centric chef Eric Villegas. This recipe can easily be prepared on the grill and we recommend using Better Maid chips, Michigan cooking planks and any other ingredients the recipe calls for that you can purchase from Michigan based producers.

Another Villegas classic and a good Memorial Day twist would be to whip up Eric's Michigan White Shrimp & Smoked Whitefish "Gumbo" using Michigan white shrimp. Shrimp in Michigan? You better believe it! Russ Allen, after having transformed Belize and Ecuador from shrimp niche players to powerhouses returned to Michigan as a modern-day seafood equivalent of Johnny Appleseed and created an indoor shrimp farm in Okemos that is aiming to produce around 5 million pounds of shrimp per year.

Absolute Michigan Memorial Day Archives

Some articles worth revisiting on Absolute Michigan include one on poet Will Carleton's visit to Arlington Cemetery as well as Michigan's first Memorial Day from Michigan History Magazine. Also, do not miss the post about the Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Detroit from Michigan in Pictures.

Lest We Forget by scherbis

Last and Certainly not Least...

A visit to Wikipedia for insight to what this day truly stands for and why we all should take a moment, step back from our grills and give pause says it all. It is a lengthy page and we are posting just a blurb so we invite you to head over for further information.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each gravesite at National Cemeteries. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other family members who have died.

Pie eating contest by StormchaserMike Photography

Kim over at mLive posted about What foods make it a vacation? referencing Bon Apetit's United Plates of America that suggests:

• A slice of cherry pie from the Cherry Hut in Beulah
• A Bell's Porter from Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, gold medal winner at last year's world beer cup.
• Hot crunchy cheese Chips from Better Made Snack Foods in Detroit.

Kim thinks you might want to check out the Cherry Bowl Drive-in too (retro-awesome) and wonders what foods you think make it a Michigan vacation. Post below or click over to mLive and let her know!

I'm going to add Leelanau raclette, Best Cheese in America 2008 to my list. And some great Michigan wine!

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

Forty-five years ago, Bernie Rink planted grapes in northern Michigan. As a reflection of his own childhood on a vineyard in northern Ohio, Bernie believed the labor-intensive farming would instill good values in his five sons.

“Every time I sat next to my wife on the couch, I got another son,” Bernie jokes. “After the fifth one, I knew I needed to do something to put them to bed tired at night.”

At the time, wine grapes were not being commercially farmed in northern Michigan. Bernie tested 35 French-American hybrid varieties to determine which ones could survive the cold winter temperatures. Six varieties made the cut, and Bernie has kept things simple by handcrafting quality table wines from the same varieties ever since. The six include Bernie’s favorite de Chaunac, as well as Vignoles, Seyval Blanc, Aurore Blanc, Vin Blanc and Soleil Blanc.

“Everybody should be able to afford to put decent wine on their dinner table each night,” states Bernie, who opened Boskydel Vineyards in 1976. Three price increases in almost 40 years has kept Bernie’s wines under $10 a bottle.

Boskydel wines can only be found in the simple tasting room on Leelanau Peninsula overlooking Lake Leelanau. On your way, keep an eye out for the small sign hidden among the trees and the rusted mailbox at the bottom of the drive. Also, be sure to just take a friend or two as the self-proclaimed “Wine Nazi” does not encourage groups or crowds and allows only eight tasters at a time; and be prepared with cash or check, the only two forms of payment accepted at the tasting room.

On a sunny day, you may find Bernie sitting outside his entry door. Most likely, though, you’ll find him pouring wines from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. every day amidst his piles of books and the haphazard collection of faded newspaper clippings, artwork and favorite sayings covering the four walls. A notable family treasure hanging on one wall is an 1847 grape picking basket brought from Germany on the Mosel River by Bernie’s great grandfather, Martin Rink. One of our favorite posted sayings is, “I’m a prisoner in a wine cellar… don’t shend help.” (An intentional play on “send” of course!)

The result of Bernie’s vision and hard work years ago has paid off five times over. Bernie is proud of his five sons and believes the values he instilled in them as young boys gave them the tools for their success today. Amazingly, a smart, fatherly decision in 1964 ignited northern Michigan’s now booming wine industry. So, while you won’t find gourmet cheese plates or fancy wine décor when you visit Boskydel, you will find one of northern Michigan’s most respected winemakers.

into the vineyard by n.elle

Here's a brief report from the 3rd annual Northern Michigan Wine Summit at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City.

Moderator Eric Villegas of the television show Fork in the Road introduced the panel and talked about the challenge of selling Michigan wine to Michiganders. He wonders why what's in our backyard isn't attractive to us and why we don't fiercely promote and protect our amazing Michigan wines along the lines of how the French do.

Master Sommolier Claudia Tyagi referenced astronaut Jerry Linenger's observation of Michigan from space and how water will be the dominant asset of the future of our state as a wine region and in general. She also recommended the book Animal, Vegetable or Miracle.

Mark Esterman, wine buyer for Meijer, said simply that his goal is to sell more wine.

Elizabeth Schwietzer was born & raised in Detroit and is a Master Sommolier who now lives in Southern California. She touted the finesse of our sparkling wines & reislings of the area and says that she's hoping to take back a lot of information about our wines and get some placements. Michigan needs all kinds of champions like this to carry our wines to a wider audience. Elizabeth stressed the importance of having tasting room and wine store staff who can talk knowledgeably about our wines.

Linda Jones of the Michigan Wine & Grape Council hopes that everyone will pick up a copy of Michigan Wine Country Magazine. She also notes that April is Michigan Wine Month and that sales of Michigan wine rose 5% while wine sales as a whole were flat in Michigan and that 18 new wineries will be opening this year, making it a growth industry at a time when little is growing. There's a podcast you can check out as well. Linda noted that travelers might want to check out the Vino Bello Wine Bar at the Detroit Airport for their Michigan wine selection. She's calling for a culinary tourism push in Michigan, to which I can only say AMEN! Linda also says that we need more acreage, so if you have some land that is suitable for a vineyard, get busy!

Leonard Pennachetti of Cave Springs Cellars in Ontario started the Ontario's VQA. He noted that Canada has a little of the Great Lakes action as well. He notes that most of the New World's wine regions are very dependent on irrigation and are mostly industrial agriculture operations. While the whole issue of water is something that these regions will be grappling with, he also notes that these region's don't have the same terrior (a word to describe the special characters that geography and climate lend to wine)  that we do in our dynamic and changeable continental maritime climate. He thinks that we should look at creating a brand for the Great Lakes along the lines of what they've done in the Pacific Northwest, both for marketing the wine and for marketing the wine country experiences that we can offer as the Canadian wineries tie into Niagra Falls. Len noted that in Ontario they are now tracking the economic impact of locally produced wine ... something that Michigan's wine industry should really look at.

Rick Coates of the Northern Express asked when Meijer will start doing Saturday afternoon wine tastings. Mark said that if the Governor were here, he'd ask her. Mark added that Meijer is starting a wine steward program at their flagship stores to put knowledgeable people in the store. Rick also noted that the International Culinary Tourism Association is forming a Great Lakes chapter this year.

Claudia thought that setting people up who love our wines as that first point of contact is a great plan, because if you love something, you sell it better. She noted the cooperation between the Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas is inspiring. She expressed that a feeling that people in Michigan were waking up to the decline of our industrial past and looking for inspirational stories like the success of our wine industry.

Elizabeth teaches classes about wine and says that she tends to focus on regions when she gives talks and thinks that grouping wines from the same watershed makes a lot of sense.

Linda remarked that as our wine country spreads to northeast Michigan and other areas of the state, it becomes easier to sell promotional efforts to our legislators.

Someone (who might have been Andy Mcfarlane from Absolute Michigan and the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association) asked how our industry can make the case that the wine industry is worthy of funding Michigan. Len said that getting the message to the capital requires people on the ground and hard, business data. He says that winery owners have been instrumental in leading the charge in Ontario. He also suggests that while the tendency of a young industry is to try to everything,  focusing on signature varietals like reisling that do well here will help us promote and grow our recognition.

Shawn O'Keefe of Chateau Grand Traverse said that while our dry wines are great, there's nothing wrong with sweet wines. It's all about taste and what you like!

Jill James of Gills Pier said that Michigan needs to look at training that front line of tasting room and vineyard employees so that they can see this as a career rather than just a summer job. Linda said that there is some training through CVBs and other tourism industry organizations that can be customized.

At this point, lunch was served and I have to say that it's not all bad working when you get a tasty meal from the Great Lakes Culinary Institute along with a nice glass of wine!

Staton Lorenz of Meal Tickets suggested that if there's anything that's pure in Michigan, it's our foods. He suggested a standard for foods that would merit the seal of "Pure Michigan" - an interesting concept for sure.

Mark noted that the media is a huge partner in growing the industry and that we're not doing as good a job as California, Oregon & Washington is getting our story out and in making wine and wine culture accessible to the general population. Claudia echoed his call for "fam" tours for media and restaurants to spread the "gospel of the Great Lakes." Rick noted that that Amanda Danielson of Stella is working on a Wine Camp here in Traverse City.

Ready for the Harvest by lpwines

Wine takes center stage this month with Governor Granholm proclaiming April 'Michigan Wine Month'. The Governor was quoted in a recent press release regarding the continued positive growth and impact on Michigan's economy. “With eight new wineries slated to open this year, Michigan’s grape and wine industry demonstrates that our state is ripe for growth and opportunity,” said Granholm. “Michigan’s wine industry is an important component of the state’s $71.3 billion agri-food business sector and is vital to our tourism efforts.”

Having received numerous awards and adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the state's coffers each year, Michigan produced wines have become an important addition to the economy and connoisseurs alike.

Upcoming Wine Events
If you haven't done so, you owe it to yourself to get out and explore Michigan's various wine regions. Here is a sampling of upcoming events designed for both seasoned tasters and those wanting to learn more and experience first hand the excellent wines that our wineries are producing.

Michigan Wine Celebration - April 18-19 - Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail - www.pioneerwinetrail.com

Spring Sip & Savor - May 2-3 - Leelanau Peninsula Vintners - www.lpwines.com

Blossom Days - May 16-17 - Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula - www.wineriesofoldmission.com

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival - June 20 - Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail - www.miwinetrail.com

Michigan Wine Country Magazine
The 2009 edition of Michigan Wine Country is now available. The 48 page annual publication features news and information on Michigan’s world-class wines and wineries - including six new ones - plus maps, activities, events, information on the most recent vintage and new releases. Order your complimentary copy today.

If you can't make it out to the tasting rooms please take time to explore Michigan wine through Absolute Michigan's Michigan Wine section and the Michigan Wine & Grape Industry Council web site to learn about the excellent offerings that are produced right here in the Mitten!

Noteworthy Articles
Absolute Michigan has been working with Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway of Michigan Vine, authors of the Michigan Notable Book - Michigan Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries, to promote Michigan wine. The first series of articles provided to us focuses on each of Michigan's five wine trails and their most recent series titled Michigan Uncorked takes a closer look at the individual wineries that make up the 5 wine trails.

Chris Kassel of Detroit's examiner.com takes a look at Michigan Wine Month in relation to Michigan's current economic woes in - April is Michigan Wine Month: Woo hoo!

For work-challenged, slowly imploding Michigan, every month is whine month. But only one gets to be wine month: April.

That’s because Governor Jennifer M. (not for mole) Granholm has magnanimously declared April ‘Michigan Wine Month’ in a gesture she repeats with equal magnanimity every April.

This year, however, it can be viewed as a nod to one of the few industries in Michigan that is actually doing well. Sales of Michigan wine increased by 5% in 2008, possibly because everyone is home drinking since nobody is able to find a bank willing to loan them money to buy a car to drive to a job if they had one, which they don’t.

In this March 2008 article, Agriculturally Speaking... Celebrating Michigan Wines, Michigan Department of Agriculture director Don Koivisto writes:

If you haven’t visited one of Michigan’s 60 wineries and tasting rooms, spring is the perfect time of year to witness the transformation occurring in this growing industry. Tasting rooms are less busy and staff are delighted to have the opportunity to provide extra attention to visitors.

For example, in 2007, Michigan’s wineries won 800 medals in both national and international wine competitions. Additionally, it’s estimated that nearly 1 million tourists will visit Michigan wineries this year, generating an estimated $8.6 million in wine-related tourism expenditures. It’s this combination of excellence and economics that make Michigan’s grape and wine industry a standout.

Must See YouTube - "SENATOR MICHELLE MCMANUS' "IN TOUCH WITH NORTHERN MICHIGAN."

Michigan State Senator McManus speaks with Linda Jones of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council on the importance of those products to the local economy. March 2008, Part 1 of 3.

Check out all 3 parts at YouTube!