Wheresoever you go,
go with all your heart. - Confucius
by Church of One

Next Tuesday, February 14th is Valentine's Day - a day for lovers, sweethearts, paramours ... and chocoholics. Like it, love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is an annual tradition that will see over one billion valentines will be given out worldwide, 85% of those by women. However you choose to celebrate the holiday, consider making it a little more special with something from Michigan.

There's plenty of delicious Valentine's Day recipes from Pure Michigan at Michigan.org. The Food Network also offers up some culinary advice for Valentine's Day complete with a full Valentine's menu. Lansing's WLNS CBS channel 6 website has a complete Valentine Day section on their website where you can learn all kinds of useful information including (who knew?) that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. The folks at the Grand Rapids Press and mlive.com have some tips for Valentine's Day cooking with kids.

We have to remind you that February is National Cherry Month and cherries make a great and healthy way to bring the distinctive Valentine red into your celebrations. An affordable and tasty non-alcoholic beverage are cherry sparklers made with Michigan cherry juice and sparkling water.

On the adult beverage front, a whopping 95% of wine drinkers agree that wine makes a perfect gift, and you can't go wrong with a  Michigan wine or  Michigan beer! The folks at MyNorth offer a listing of Northern Michigan sparkling wines to set the tone for your celebration. While bubbles are big, beers can also be appreciated. Dianna at Promote Michigan has let us in on her Love Affair with Michigan Beer, which features all kinds of special and regular brews from Michigan's brewmasters. You can stay awake Ann Arbor Brewing's Espresso Love featuring coffee, cozy up to the Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale from Atwater Brewing or go a little lighter with Dragonmead's Redwing Raspberry Wheat. This is a great feature so definitely check it out!

Ginny, You Are My Shining Star by docksidepress

If you're left scratching your head over what to buy him or her, check out the 'Valentine's Day Gift Giving Guide' from WLNS.com.  Don't forget the furry friends in your life either! You can be a homeless pets Valentine when WXYZ-TV 7 in Detroit hosts their Annual Valentine's Day Telethon to support the Michigan Humane Society. Tune in or donate online with the Michigan Humane Society!

If that's not enough and you really want to get your Valentine on, check out Absolute Michigan keyword Valentine for food & gift ideas.

For a little eye candy, you should check out the Valentine slideshow from the Absolute Michigan flickr pool!

We also have a large number of Michigan web sites to check out (though if we're missing one, be sure to add a link to it).

Flowers & Florists - say it with flowers

Chocolate - there's also candy companies

Candles - lighting the way for romance for thousands of years

Jewelry -silver & gold, platinum and bronze, pick your favorite.

Wow, you actually made it to the end of this post - don't forget to buy yourself a little something for Valentines Day!

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Today on The Daily Michigan we're giving away a private tea cupping for up to 6 people, to include matcha ceremonial green tea at Light of Day Organics.

Founder Angela Macke has a background in Holistic health, as an RN, educator and horticulturalist and based on her own positive experiences in utilizing gentle, natural rhythms to restore balance. Angela believes that a holistic approach is the most effective way to restore optimal health and a sense of well being, and crafts her teas accordingly.

Light of Day teas are grown organically and biodynamically under the guidelines of the National Organic Program and Demeter Biodynamic, then hand-harvested, dried in a licensed commercial farm kitchen, and packaged with great care with teas blended small batches to promote consistency, to maximize freshness and for optimal nutritive benefit. Sign up below and check out the video from Angela below where she shows you how to brew an ideal cup of tea!

Click here to sign up

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Higher Grounds Trading Co., was voted one of the top Michigan businesses to watch in 2010 and has been a big part of  getting the nonprofit On the Ground off the ground. On the Ground is involved in a variety of projects including the Chiapas Water Project, which brings clean drinking water to coffee growing regions in Mexico; the Run Across Ethiopia, which raises funds for Ethiopian education projects including the construction of schools in Ethiopian coffee-growing communities; and their latest endeavor - the Run Across Palestine. The Run is scheduled for February 2012 and will take place in olive growing centers of Palestine. Funds raised will support the purchasing and planting of thousands of olive trees and provide scholarships for the children of Palestinian olive farmers. Learn all about them and donate at the link above.

The projects of On the Ground share a common theme: supporting the farmers who supply fair-trade, gourmet goods by building infrastructure and capacity in their communities, and Higher Grounds is offering up some great gifts to celebrate the On the Ground\'s projects:

• Coffees for Change support the Chiapas Water Project, which was founded in 2005 after a group of local (Northern Michigan) residents visited Chiapas Mexico and witnessed the illness and poverty perpetuated by lack of access to potable water.
• Seth & May's "New Flower" CD was inspired and written as part of the The Run Across Ethiopia.  Seth and May  played in the schools, learned songs and dance moves from the children, learned Ethiopian scales and melodies from incredible ethio-jazz masters,  shared our music along the journey, sang for the runners, played for the people and ultimately wrote an entire album inspired by the experience.
• Fair Trade Olive Oil benefits Palestinian olive farmers and celebrates the Run Across Palestine.
• Finally, their Coffee Cards are made by the Michigan nonprofit Paperworks Studio which are produced by artists who have special needs and disadvantages.

All you need to do to enter is to be on our email list - sign up in the blue box above! Here's a cool behind the scenes video of the recording of New Flower that you might enjoy!

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The 2011 Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival takes place Thursday, November 17th through Saturday, November 19th at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. It draws over 10,000 over three days, making it the largest food and wine festival in Michigan and one of the premier events of its kind in the Midwest. Classes, tastings from restaurants & food vendors and pairings are all structured to take the expert or novice deeper into the world of wine, food and other culinary delights.

The festival presents over 1000 beers, wines, ciders and spirits for tasting, and many are crafted in Michigan. While the festival started with a focus on wine, beer gets its due as well, with the Michigan Brewers Guild-sponsored Craft Brew Hall offering a chance to sample dozens of these full flavored brews and to meet the brewmasters.

Show Manager  Cathleen McDonald  explains that this massive variety of food & drink has been a huge asset, saying "The show has grown because the public loves the opportunity to sample wines, beer & spirits without having to purchase the entire bottle.  They can find that great everyday wine that they can purchase at the grocery store or try the products that they would only have dreamed about."

One of the many innovative & engaging features at the festival are the champagne, wine & beer pairings developed by Grand Rapids restaurants - multi-course meals presented by the chef. A number of restaurants are also providing "small plate" samples of their prize cuisine. There's more than just wine to be sampled at the Festival! An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. There's also seminars from presenters including winemaker John Concannon, wine educator and sommelier Michael Schafer, New Holland Brewing Company Beervangelist and Michigan Brewers Guild Past-President Fred Bueltman, author and Food Network  host Ellie Krieger and "The Fresh Chef" Amanda Leatherman.

Absolute Michigan is excited to offer FOUR free tickets to the Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival to one of our readers - just use the email blank at the top to get your name on our list and have a shot at winning. We'll notify the winner next Wednesday!

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Hard apple cider. Apple wine. Apple mead. Apple brandy. Apple vodka. Who knew apples could be so fun? Fifth-generation farmer Mike Beck of Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery makes good use of his apples.

Beyond your typical apple pie, apple cider and apple donuts, Mike also produces apple wine, apple brandy, hard apple cider, barrel bourbon cider and cyser. Mike’s barrel bourbon cider is a dry-style cider that ages in a bourbon barrel. His cyser is a blend of apple wine and Michigan honey. He’s also the first in the state to produce apple vodka, which is not just flavored vodka, but actually handcrafted from the apples.

“You’ll taste nice, subtle fruit notes,” says Mike in regard to his vodka.

Black Star Farms of Suttons Bay and Old Mission Peninsula makes apple brandy called, Spirit of the Apple. Handcrafted just as it was in the Colonial tradition of the Revolution, the brandy is a blend of the apple varieties Jonagold, Jonathon, Winesap, Rhode Island Greening, Spy and McIntosh. The delicious blend is distilled and then barrel-aged for three to five years, resulting in an artisan brandy that is fruit-forward to express the region’s apple bounty.

In Jackson, Sandhill Crane Vineyards crafts an Heirloom Apple wine and apple mead, both of which owner Heather Price recommends for mulling. Mulled wine is warmed and complemented with spices, such as cinnamon, light cloves and orange zest. It’s a great beverage for the holiday season.

Warm, chilled or room temperature, these apple products represent the essence of Michigan’s vibrant autumn flavors.

More about Michigan apples from Absolute Michigan!

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Kathy Siler of the Michigan Ag Council has a great article entitled In Search of the Great Michigan Pumpkin that notes that US Department of Agriculture’s statistics for 2010 ranked Michigan second in the nation with 7,400 acres of pumpkins planted. She also tells the centuries old legend of Stingy Jack, the Irish cheapskate who gave the name to the Jack-o-lantern and shares a lot information, including a recipe for Pilgrim Pumpkin Pie. While we are a big producer, the Kalamazoo News says that the 2011 pumpkin crop is a little smaller than usual, so today might be a good day to head to your local pumpkin patch!

The best listing we found is at Pumpkin Patches and more. Taste the Local Difference has a nice list of northern Michigan pumpkin farms and notes that in early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling. We'll explore that in the Absolute Michigan kitchens and report! Their Pumpkin page has more facts including:

• Pumpkins are a nutritious, low-fat, low-calorie food.
• They are high in potassium and Vitamin A and are also a good source of beta-carotene.
• Pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium, copper and cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.
• There are many varieties of pumpkins besides the standard Jack-O-Lantern and pie pumpkins. Some especially fun ones are Jack B. Little miniatures, white pumpkins, Australian Blues, and Atlantic Giants.
• Pumpkins were once believed to eliminate freckles and were used as a remedy for snakebites.

Click through for more and a slew of great pumpkin recipes including Pumpkin Butter, Pumpkin Nachos (seriously), Pumpkin Thyme Rigatoni, and Potage au Potiron, a delicious soup made in the pumpkin! Pumpkins aren't just for eating - some of Michigan's brewmasters have brewed up some pumpkin ales. Click that link for a list and don't forget about Jolly Pumpkin and their La Parcela Pumpkin Ale!

Of course the main use of pumpkins at this time of year is carving, and Michigan has some incredible artisans including "Pumpkin Ed" Moody, a specialist in giant pumpkin carving. Click the photo to see some of his work and also to learn about his new project, Karving for Kids that will allow Ed to carve for kids at Children's Hospitals around the country. You can see another astonishing pumpkin carver in action in the video below!

Much more pumpkiny goodness at Absolute Michigan keyword pumpkin!

As promised, here's a CBS News video of Michigan master carver Ray Villafane - this guy's work is jaw-dropping!

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According to the Michigan Cider Guild...

Yates Cider Mill by luna.nik

In America cider is more than 300 year old. It was brought to America by its early settlers and grew from those days to the popular drink it is today. In some respects it has changed little aside from its early days as a sweet substitute for water, cleansing agent preservative (vinegar) and of course for its fermentation qualities. Also see Cider on Wikipedia.

Why should I drink Cider?

For starters, it's really really good. This article suggests that scientists Brewing Research International have confirmed high levels of health enhancing antioxidants in cider, on par with red wine. A half pint of cider delivers the same amount of antioxidants as a glass of red wine.

What's with the Chickens?

A "guild" in permaculture landscape design is a strategically selected assembly of plant or animal species that boost the productivity of a central plant or animal element. If the central element is a apple tree for example, guild "members" would be selected that can improve the trees yield or reduce the work needed to manage it. In this case, the chickens are members of that guild and are used to control insect pests and also to help process the apple waste.

How do I get my Cider?

If you're interested in getting in on the cider game on the ground floor, check out How to Build a Cider Press from the Mother Earth News - it's a great feature that takes you step-by-step through the process of building a cider press for less than $50. There's a really simple recipe for cider on the appropriately named howtomakecider.com.

If you'd rather let someone else do the hard work, check out "Cider" on on Absolute Michigan, the listing of cider mills from the Michigan Farm Marketing & Agri-tourism web site, and "cider" at Real Time Farms (mostly Michigan links and photos). You'll also enjoy the feature on cider mills on Pure Michigan. They note that there are 37,000 acres of apples on 950 farms. Over 20 million bushels of apples are harvested every year, and apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop with an economic impact of $700 million every year! Learn more at michiganapples.com and the Michigan Cider Guild.

What can you tell me about Hard Cider?

John Adams claimed that his health and longevity was attributed to drinking a tankard of hard cider each morning before breakfast. While we're not going to go that far, we will say that Michigan cideries are doing a fantastic job of  producing tasty hard ciders. The blog Serious Eats lists 3 Michigan cideries that you should know about. We'll add a few more, two organic Michigan cideries, JK's Scrumpy Organic Farmhouse Cider and Good Neighbor Organic Cider and one that's just a few feet away from the world headquarters of Absolute Michigan, Left Foot Charley.

Something to add? Post it in the comments!

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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 of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.

2nd Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival
by Kc Jacoby Photography LLC

The Motor City is gearing up showcase craft brews & brewing with Detroit Beer Week, an eleven-day celebration of craft beer in and around the City of Detroit. It kicks off Thursday, October 13 and features all kinds of events all around the region.

The finale of the week is the annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival on Saturday, October 22.

It's one of four annual events from the Michigan Brewers Guild. They partner with the Metroit Tines to bring together about 50 Michigan craft breweries who will be presenting over 200 different beers for your sampling pleasure. This year's entertainment line-up includes alternative rockers The Beggars of Ferndale and Detroit's own DMZ along with another Detroit act, alternative country band Doop & The Inside Outlaws and DJ Dante LaSalle. Learn more about the event at

The festival runs from 1-6 PM, with Guild Enthusiast Members being admitted at Noon Admission to the Festival is $35 in advance or $40 at the gate which includes 15 drink tokens. Enthusiast memberships and tickets to the Detroit Fall Beer Festival can be purchased online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org or at select ticket outlets.

This is one of the hottest tickets in town and sold out days in advance last year. You'll want to purchase early, and Absolute Michigan has a shot for you to win a pair of FREE tickets that include Enthusiast access. All you have to do to be eligible to win is to have your address on our email list - sign up below!

To be eligible for a pair of passes to the Detroit Fall Beer Festival and to be entered in every one of our giveaways, just join our email list using the form below!

Last year we sent photographer Ken Jacoby on the arduous mission of photographing the Detroit Fall Beer Festival - check out his slideshow and have a look at this great video from our friends at Under the Radar Michigan.

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star of the vineyard by aimeeern

Michigan wines and wineries have been in the spotlight throughout the summer; and it’s not just in Michigan, it’s happening across the country. The reason? Michigan wines have been winning a significant number of top awards at regional, national and international wine competitions.

In January, Chateau Grand Traverse won a Best of Class award at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for their 2009 Lot 49 Riesling. This off-dry wine was produced from grapes harvested from a single vineyard -- located on a steep, west-facing slope on Old Mission Peninsula, in northern Michigan.

Judges evaluated more than 2,000 wines from around the world at the Pacific Rim Wine Competition, held in San Bernadino, Calif., in April, and declared a tie for Best Gewurztraminer: Tabor Hill Winery, in Buchanan, for their 2009 vintage, and Chateau Fontaine, on Leelanau Peninsula, for their 2010. Chateau Fontaine went on to win Grand Champion honors as Best White Wine of the competition.

Tabor Hill also garnered several top awards at other international competitions, including Best White Wine at the International Eastern Wine Competition, held in Corning, N.Y., for their 2010 Traminette, a hybrid variety similar to Gewurztraminer. Fenn Valley Vineyards, in Fennville, won Best of Class Riesling at the same competition, which accepted more than 1,400 entries in 2011.

Pinot Blanc is a relatively new varietal for Michigan vintners. Left Foot Charley, in Traverse City, is doing an outstanding job of producing wine from this sister grape of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The winery received a “Sweepstakes” award of Best White Wine at the Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition for their 2010 Pinot Blanc, Island View Vineyard. The Long Beach judging is one of the top international wine competitions in the United States.

With more than 3,000 entries from 15 countries, the Indy International Wine Competition, held in Indianapolis in August, is the largest independent wine competition in the nation. The 2011 judging was a gold mine for three Michigan wineries -- from three different regions of the state. Best Vidal was awarded to Sandhill Crane Vineyards, in Jackson; Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs won Best Chancellor; and Leelanau Cellars on Leelanau Peninsula won Best Flavored Port for their Raspberry version of this dessert-style wine.

Michigan’s wine industry continues to enjoy steady growth, with sales of Michigan wine outpacing sales of all wines in Michigan for eight consecutive years. Five new wineries opened in 2011, bringing the total number to 86 wineries using predominantly Michigan-grown grapes and other fruit. To learn more about the wineries and vineyards of Michigan, visit www.michiganwines.com to request Michigan Wine Country magazine, with maps and information about the wineries of Michigan.

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The festival features award-winning wineries throughout the state of Michigan and across the globe showcasing more than 100 varieties of wine including Chardonnay, Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rieslings, Sparkling, dessert wines and many more. A neat feature is that the festival's on-site retail store has select wines available for purchase at the event, by the bottle or discounted by the case. In addition to wine sampling, there are also a number of food vendors along with seminars covering wine, food and other topics of interest. You will also enjoy continuous live music and special exhibits and displays throughout the weekend.

The Wine and Food Festival at Meadow Brook Music Festival is sponsored by Palace Sports & Entertainment, Kroger, The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council and is a part of the Belle Tire Concert Series. Tickets for adults are $18 in advance and $20 at the door and include free wine samples, a complimentary wine glass, wine and food seminars, exhibits and live music. Designated Driver tickets may be purchased for $10 and admission is free for those under 21 years of age. Tickets are on sale now at Palacenet.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or on the day of the event.

Absolute Michigan has a pair of tickets for the Wine and Food Festival. To be entered for this and in every one of the Festival Summer giveaways, just join our email list using the form below!

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Strawberry season wrapped up in southern Michigan? Head north for more! Thanks to the varying differences in temperatures along Lake Michigan, growing seasons are frequently staggered from one part of the state to the next. And who doesn’t love strawberries? Favorite strawberry farms include Kiteley’s Farm in Charlevoix, Ware Farm in Bear Lake and in Amish country in southern Michigan.

So, what’s your favorite fruit and veggie growing right now? We’re digging cherries, blueberries, kale and cucumbers. Being enthusiastic fans of Michigan wine, we also have some favorite summertime sips:

Sharon’s sips: Black Star Farms Pinot Grigio, Chateau Grand Traverse Gamay Noir, Domaine Berrien Marsanne and Sandhill Crane Vineyards Vignoles

Lorri’s sips: Michigan Dry Riesling and Leelanau Cellars Fishtown White, and when feeling bubbly, L. Mawby's Detroit or Sex.

On a recent visit to Northern Natural Winery in Benzonia, we discovered organic hard ciders and fruit wines made with fruit from more than a dozen regional farms. These fruitier wines are for the sweeter wine drinkers; though, the hard apple cider is surprisingly dry and quite refreshing! Located at the juncture of US-31 and M-115, this newer winery offers a comfy respite amid farmland and close to the lakeshore. Just up the road, pick saskatoons, gooseberries, and raspberries in season at Putney’s U-Pick Berries farm.

Speaking of Northern Michigan and deliciousness, be sure to check out Mario Batali's take on the Northern Michigan food scene!

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The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival takes place on Saturday, June 18th from 1-10 PM at Weko Beach on Lake Michigan in Bridgman.

It's a showcase event that allows you to sample locally grown and produced varietals and wines by the taste or the glass from the wineries of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail: Tabor Hill, Contessa, Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley, Karma Vista, Lawton Ridge, Lemon Creek, Round Barn, St. Julian, Free Run, Hickory Creek, Warner and Founder's. Wrap this into a day filled with sun & sand, extraordinary cuisine from local restaurants, jazz, blues, R&B, and a dazzling sunset and you have one fantastic summer festival – ideal not only for wine aficionados but for the entire family! (there's even beach access for kids to play on beach all day!)

Click through for details & ticket information and be sure you're entered below for a pair of free passes to the festival!

All summer long Absolute Michigan is partnering with some of Michigan's most amazing festivals & events to give our readers FREE tickets and a chance to enjoy the food, music and celebration that is part of summertime in the Great Lakes State!

Corrine G. from La Porte, Indiana took home the pair of passes to the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival. She says she's been to Bridgman and Weko Beach many times. Her favorite wineries are St. Julian and Tabor Hill, and while her favorite Michigan wine changes according to the occasion and accompanying food, St. Julian Braganini Reserve Pinot Noir is her current favorite.

To be entered in every one of the Festival Summer giveaways, just join our email list using the form below!

Absolute Michigan will not share your email address with anyone. Period. Your inbox is safe with us. What we will share with you is a periodic but usually no more than weekly update, possibly including a special offer, potentially a prize or giveaway and definitely some great news about what is working and fun to do in the Great State called Michigan that we love!

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Short's Brewery in Elk Rapids

Join us on Sunday June 26th from 12 - 5pm for  the first ever tour of its kind in Northern Michigan - one designed specifically for the craft beer lover. With a heavy focus on tasting, the Great Northern Beer Tour will sample beer in the breweries, taprooms and even a hops field of some of the country's most accomplished and dedicated brewers. Set amongst the stunning backdrop of Northern Michigan and the Old Mission Peninsula, the Great Northern Beer Tour aims to inspire Michigan's craft beer lovers. With tastings conducted by the experts from four distinct and well-loved breweries, we will learn more than just the basics of making and enjoying craft beer.

We will start the tour by visiting the Short's Brewing facility in Elk Rapids for a tasting and lesson in brewing from one of Northern Michigan's most innovative brewers. Then we will head over to the Old Mission Peninsula where we will walk in a hops field and learn about the beautiful little clusters that have been flavoring beers for well over a millennia.

Happy Hour at Right Brain

Next, we will head to the Jolly Pumpkin restaurant to taste both Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak seasonal and annuals in a historic setting in the stunning Bowers Harbor on the West Bay. And we will top things off by visiting the eclectic Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City's Warehouse District. For a day filled with lagers, stouts, pilsners, IPA's, porters and a cask ale or two, call By The Bay Tours at 231.932.1065 to purchase tickets.

The cost is $65 per person which includes tastings at every stop, transportation including Traverse City hotel pick-up/drop-off, all tours and tasting information with goodies along the way. Additional tastings along with beer to go and merchandise will be available to purchase along the way.

For any questions, please email Bob at rlovik@hotmail.com. Cheers!

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You can download the guide as a PDF or pick it up at farms, markets and other places that feature local food across Northwest Michigan. A highlight is their Spend 10 Local Dollars Campaign, which encourages people to make a pledge to spend $10 weekly on local food products. Taste the Local Difference project director Janice Benson says:

"The guide helps people find local food, and combining that with a commitment by families to spend at least $10 each week on local food will significantly boost our local economy. We have a lot of great produce throughout the summertime, but we also have meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beverages, and much more that is available to us all year long."

DoF Asparagus by RichardDemingPhotography

You can get all the details and  make the pledge, search farm markets & businesses for all kinds of products, view tasty recipes and more at localdifference.org. Try some of these ways to make a difference in your community with $10 or more a week!

• Buying local meat, fish, eggs, and produce from your local grocer, restaurant, or farmer.
• Ordering a glass of local wine, cider, or other beverage that includes locally grown items at dinner.
• Ordering a menu item that includes locally grown items at a restaurant.
• Becoming a member of a CSA farm.
• Ordering food for office lunches and parties that includes locally grown items.
• Purchasing locally grown food products for holiday gifts and entertaining. (Jams, honeys, cheeses, dried cherry mix, salsas, etc.)
• Buying local cream for your daily coffees and local teas that include locally grown herbs and fruit.

We'll add one more - check out Absolute Michigan's Michigan Grown section and search for all kinds of great Michigan products that can help you help your neighbors!

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Driving Michigan is Absolute Michigan's new show that explores the state of Michigan and the people who are moving us towards the future. It's hosted by Seth Bernard, a musician of  Earthworks Music with a passion for Michigan. The video was shot by Ken Lake of Mythic Michigan.

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Cicerone Annette May

Amy writes that from the beginning, it was women who made beer (and made water safe to drink). The industrial revolution moved brewing from kitchen to factory, moving brewing & beer largely into the men's domain.  Fast forward to today when women in Michigan are moving back to the fore of the brewing & beer scene. This article looks at a few including Annette May, was the first woman to earn the title of Cicerone which equates to a sommelier for beer, Kristy Smith, part owner of  MillKing It! Productions and Sarah Sidelko, head brewer at  Motor City Brewing Works:

One of the reasons you don't see a lot of women brewers is because of the physical demands. Sidelko says she lifts 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of grain in a week, which is hard to believe given her slight build. But with a background in gymnastics, she's a lot stronger than she looks, she says, and can even out-lift some of the guys she works with.

On the side, Sidelko knows how to weld and build bikes, which has proved handy for understanding and fixing the brewing equipment.  Even with her strength and skills she sometimes finds sexist attitudes at brewer's conferences. "I've been assumed to be my boss's wife," she says. "I'd like to make brewing a more comfortable space for women."

...For her, beer is equated with the pleasure of consuming something that's been well- crafted. "I view beer as this sensual, lovely, artful experience. It's delicious," she says. "It's very interesting experimenting with beer.

We just got an email about the perfect event for this article! It's called "Michigan Women in Brewing" and it takes place on Monday, May 9th at 7 PM at the Redwood Lodge Brewery in Flint! They are bringing in female brewers & owners to talk about their work and will have beers from the attendees for tasting - click that link for details!

We'll close with Annette May telling you all about Michigan-made Atwater Block's Voodoo Vator Doppelbock!

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Not a Chardonnay fan? It's time to give the popular wine another taste.

Many non-fans of the dry white wine dislike the strong oak taste that is not actually a character of the grape varietal itself, but introduced during its fermentation process. A rising trend is to age Chardonnay in stainless steel tanks rather than in traditional oak barrels. The result? Unoaked Chardonnays with flavors that better express the true nature of the grape.

In Michigan, many winemakers are handcrafting steel-fermented Chardonnays, although popular oak-aged Chardonnays are still exploding through wine country. You can sample several un-oaked styles along wine trails across the state. Here are a few suggestions:

Old Mission Peninsula

On Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, try Unwooded Chardonnay at Bowers Harbor Vineyards featuring flavors of apple, pear and citrus. The $14 per bottle wine is fabulous on its own, though Vintner Spencer Stegenga suggests pairing it with sea bass or chicken enchiladas.

Nearby, winemaker Coenraad  Stassen of Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery is handcrafting another delicious option called Naked Chardonnay, which took a silver medal at last year's Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition. Citrus flavors lead the way to a crisp, clean finish. Watch for its release in the spring as previous vintages are sold out.

A brief, idyllic drive south, Peninsula Cellars crafts Unwooded Chardonnay with flavors of honey and citrus zest for $13.49.

Leelanau Peninsula

Across the bay on Leelanau Peninsula in Suttons Bay, Black Star Farms' Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay is a great food-friendly wine that pairs lovely with cheese, chicken and fish. The wine is $15.50, and according to winemaker Lee Lutes, "This may be the perfect expression of Michigan Chardonnay. There is no oak used in the fermentation or aging, so what you have is the pure expression of fruit and soil in one of the great grapes of the world."

Also along the peninsula, 45 North Winery of Lake Leelanau won a bronze medal last year for its Unwooded Chardonnay, which sells for $18. And, Chateau de Leelanau has a Chardonnay Sur Lie for $15.99

Southwest Michigan

In Baroda, winemaker Mike de Schaaf of Hickory Creek Winery is crafting his version, a tasty wine called Zero Oak Chardonnay, for $22 a bottle. In nearby Berrien Springs, Lemon Creek Winery has a $10 steel-fermented Chardonnay offering flavors of lemon and peach.

Southeast Michigan

Along the Pioneer Wine Trail in southeast Michigan, Burgdorf's Winery in Haslett took a silver medal last year for its steel-fermented Chardonnay, which sells for $21.99. Vintner Deb Burgdorf says, "A little hint of citrus makes it a wonderful wine to pair with fish or any seafood." Though, Deb also shares that she enjoys the Chardonnay on its own as a great summertime sipping wine.

Also along the trail, watch for the upcoming release from Lone Oak Vineyard Estate of Grass Lake. Winemaker Kip Barber describes the wine as soft and buttery with ripe melon flavors. When available, the wine will retail at $12.95.

So, what are you waiting for? Get to wine country and try a Michigan steel-fermented Chardonnay!

* Sur lie literally translates from the French as 'on lees'. 'Sur lie' wines are bottled directly from the lees without racking (a process for filtering the wine). In the case of great Chardonnay, such as Montrachet, this adds a toasty, nutty "hazelnut" quality and additional depth and complexity, especially on the finish. Chemically this can alter the oak flavor molecules increasing the integration, and making the oak seem less obtrusive to the palate. This is desirable because oak tannins are a polyphenolic acid, and can be harsh. This process can also give an added freshness and creaminess to the wine, and improve color and clarity. Muscadet is made in this fashion. The effect of the lees during bottle fermentation for at least 5 years on champagne is considerable. The "bready" toasty notes associated with some of the greatest sparkling wines made are the result of 'sur lie' aging.
~The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition by Jancis Robinson (via Wikipedia)

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Ready for the Harvest by lpwines

While Governor Snyder has made a lot of changes in his first few months in office, he joined his predecessor in proclaiming April Michigan Wine Month. Sales of Michigan wines in the state rose nearly 12 percent in 2010, while total wine sales increased just 4 percent. Michigan wine sales have outpaced total wine sales for the past 10 years, doubling the Michigan wineries' market share to 6.5 percent. In the past year alone, Michigan added 10 new wineries. New Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) Director Keith Creagh said:

"Michigan's 81 wineries welcome more than 1 million visitors to their tasting rooms each year and offer a truly Pure Michigan agri-tourism experience. Not only do these businesses offer a quality product and memorable experience, but our wine and grape industries also contribute nearly $800 million to the state's economy annually."

We have a ton of Michigan wine events and 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!

Upcoming 2011 Michigan 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. Know of one that's not here? Post it in the comments!

Michigan International Wine Expo - April 15 & 16 - Rock Financial Showplace, Novi

Michigan Wine Celebration - April 9 & 10 - Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail

The Michigan Wine & Food Showcase- April 11 - Radisson Bloomfield Hills

Spring Sip & Savor - April 30 & May 1

Blossom Days - May 14 & 15 - Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula

Great Lakes Wine Festival - May 21 - Michigan International Speedway

Leland Wine & Food Festival - June 11 - Leland

Festival of the Sun June 25, 2011 - Lansing Old Town

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival - August 20 - Traverse City

Meadow Brook Wine & Food Festival - August 27 & 28 - Rochester Hills

For a complete list of events celebrating Michigan Wine Month and wine in Michigan, visit www.michiganwines.com.

Michigan Wine Country Magazine

The 2011 edition of Michigan Wine Country is now available. It is an an indispensable guide to the wines and wineries of Michigan. The magazine contains maps and touring information, as well as a popular section on "what's new at the wineries. Order your complimentary copy today. While there we encourage you to join the Vintage Michigan Club and take advantage of the special savings it offers.

Here is an interview with Steve Scheffel, President of Goodrich's East Lansing about the growth of Michigan wines. Goodrich's is one of the leading sellers of Michigan wine. Find many more places to buy at absolutemichigan.com/Wine. Steve says he doesn't carry Michigan wines because he's a nice guy (although he is) but rather because the sell.

Also click here to check out a whole lot more Michigan wine videos!

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The perfect pairing. Peanut butter and jelly. Tom and Jerry. William and Kate. Travel along any wine trail in Michigan and you'll find another pinnacle of pairings: wine and chocolate. The cacao bean derives from along the equator, yet artistry of handcrafted chocolates is found copiously in Michigan. Here, we give you the dish on Michigan wine and chocolate pairings.

Shady Lane Blue Franc - Village Chocolatier chocolates

Northwest Michigan

On Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, find fabulous fudge by Dove Cottage of Clare at Brys Estate. The Brys tasting room team raves that the fudge pairs "most beautifully" with their Signature Red. Dark chocolate fudge is also featured among the "light appetizers" offered with private tastings in the barrel or cask room. And while the fudge is delicious with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the pairing with Signature Red reigns supreme. Vintner Eileen Brys says, "Dark chocolate and red wine is a match made in heaven."

Jaunt over to Black Star Farms' TASTES at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons for chocolate desserts, like the Chocolate Torture Torte with white chocolate bark and chocolate ganache, prepared by the chef of the Inn at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay. Pair with Sirius Cherry or Sirius Raspberry dessert wines for ultimate decadency. You'll also find heavenly, natural chocolates in the winery's tasting rooms. Infused with cherry and apple eau de vies (fruit brandies), the treats are made by Patricia's Chocolates of Grand Haven.

Wine and chocolate at TASTES

Over in Cedar at Longview Winery, experience Vintner Alan Eaker's wines followed by delicious Charles Layton Chocolate truffles made with the winery's cherry port. Afterward, head to Grocer's Daughter Chocolates in Empire for artisan Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate blended with Chateau Chantal's cherry port. And finally, a stop at Cherry Republic Winery in Glen Arbor is sure to delight you with homemade fudge and cherry-inspired wines.

Northeast Michigan

On the sunrise side in Alpena, Stoney Acres Winery offers mouth-watering, scrumptious truffles crafted by local chocolatier Danielle Mulvena of Speechless Chocolates. The creamy, rich chocolates are infused with the winery's cherry wine, raspberry wine, Silver City red wine (Merlot) or Thunder Bay red wine (Concord). In East Tawas, stock up on Village Chocolatier chocolates for pairing with your favorite Michigan wines.

Southwest Michigan

In Coloma in southwest Michigan, just a mile south of I-94, sink your teeth into sensual, silky balls of goodness at The Chocolate Garden. Favorites are decadent dark chocolates infused with Contessa Wine Cellar's Lago Rosso red wine and milk chocolates spiked with St. Julian's Solera Cream Sherry.

Chocolate Garden wine truffles

For nearby wine tasting, visit Contessa Wine Cellars and Karma Vista Vineyards, both conveniently located a brief drive north of this heavenly chocolate destination.

Southeast Michigan

In the Jackson region, Sandhill Crane Vineyards offers a covered-in-chocolate bottle of raspberry wine. Gently break away the chocolate, savor and pair with sips of this luxurious dessert wine. Also, the Moffatt family just announced new "baby cakes," chocolate cupcakes made with their raspberry wine by Oh Susanna Specialty Cupcakes of Jackson.

South of Jackson, near Michigan Speedway, Cherry Creek Cellars Old Schoolhouse is a winery and fudgery. John Burtka crafts the wine and his wife Denise crafts a new batch of fudge every week. Stop in for tastings of sweet to dry wines and tastings of fudge with flavors ranging from chocolate to vanilla and nutty. Wine and chocolate: a glorious pairing any time of year.

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Mack-in-touch Apples by ( Jennifer )

A month ago, Absolute Michigan participated in the the Creating Michigan Culinary Destinations conference (read our live blog) where the Michigan Culinary Tourism initiative was launched. For the video below, we spoke with Melody Johnson of the International Culinary Tourism Association, keynote speaker Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman's, Linda Jones of the Michigan Wine & Grape Council and a number of attendees to get a sense of what culinary tourism can mean for Michigan.

Check out the Michigan Culinary Tourism page for links to foodie tours and other resources.  We're also wondering about your thoughts on how culinary tourism can play a role in Michigan's future - let us know your thoughts and interesting culinary experiences in the comments!

This video features photos from several photographers from the Absolute Michigan pool: blondieyooper, richard deming photography, photoshoparama, oldog_oltrix, southen, detroit derek, trish p and jennifer. Stay tuned to absolutemichigan.com/Culinary for the latest on Michigan's booming epicurean industry!

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February is a great time to visit Leelanau County and Traverse City - the tasting rooms are less full, affording you a chance to slow down and enjoy the wine and conversation with winemakers and winery staff. Many of the wineries also offer opportunities to enjoy winter's beauty through cross-country and snowshoe trails.  There is also a special Glen Arbor Art Association "Art from Wine Country" event at the Homestead Resort on Friday night (February 4th). This event is open to anyone - click the link for details.

Here's a video that will give you a taste of Taste the Passion!

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All day today the Absolute Michigan team is at Creating Michigan Culinary Destinations, Michigan's first conference on Culinary Tourism. The conference was a hot ticket, and nearly 200 tourism industry stakeholders are getting ready to learn about Michigan's new initiative to increase tourism. You can learn all about the Michigan Culinary Tourism Inititative at that link and read on for updates as we have them!

Zingerman's Delicatessen by Ashley Dinges

1:30 pm The lunch keynote speaker is Ari Weinzweig of one of the giants of Michigan 's food scene, Zingerman's in Ann Arbor. Ari is definitely a fast talker, and related that he got started washing dishes at Maude's, and at that time, Tang and Space Sticks were his culinary adventures. He met co-founder Paul Saginaw at Maude's and -  5 years after opening a deli in a town that wouldn't support delis  at a location with no parking that people couldn't find - was hailed as a genius. Today the Zingerman's empire does $38 million in annual sales.

Ari says that (for him at least) all tourism is culinary. He relates  some "natural laws" from his book A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Building a Great Business that he thinks relate to building an authentic culinary destination. Natural law #1 is that an inspiring, strategically sound vision leads to greatness. He cautions that although  great visions come  from the heart, you need to develop your vision with enough richness and depth that people can understand what you're talking about. He shared a bit of the vision for the West Side Farmer's Market. With lines like "All these products have a story and none of them have traveled very far to get here," it's really clear that vision is a big part of what drives Zingerman's.

His 2nd law is "You need to give your customers some really compelling reasons to buy from you." He quotes Jim Hightower "Ain't nothing in the middle of the road but 2 yellow lines and a whole lot of dead armadillos." He  recommends that we seek to create offerings that have appeal for tourists AND residents to create a more resilient and dynamic customer base.

He closes with his belief that the customer experience is the most important thing. He breaks a recent study regarding employee attitudes toward their workplace into football terms: of the 11 players on a football team, only 4 know where the goal is, just two care who wins the game and all but 2 are just as likely to be  rooting for the other team as their own! Does this sound like your business? If it does, what can you do to change it? Ari suggests that maybe Michigan could steal a page from Hawaii and adopt the Ojibway word for welcome and become "The Aaniin State" ... because someone has to be the most welcoming place in country!

Cheers, ©n.wamsley

11:45 am - At the Building Lodging & Tour Packages session, Heather Price of Sandhill Crane Vineyards talked about the "Big Grape Bus" wine event they offer through the Pioneer Wine Trail in SE Michigan and all the pieces   - wine & food pairings, transportation, lodging and entertainment - that come together to create a compelling event. Steve Timmer of the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City echoed the importance of providing an all-inclusive experience and listed some of the things that his resort does including focusing on bringing local wines into their wine shop and even working with attendees on a cooking show.

One attendee (whose location shall remain nameless) wondered what to do when your area has little to offer in terms of culinary tourism. Steve suggested focusing on PR to invite food writers and the media and of course to leverage social media wherever possible. I asked him about if he had a sense whether today's traveler is more or less interested in packages. He said that while packaging remains an important part of travel marketing, he's finding that people are less interested in packages, preferring to design their own experiences. To me, that suggests that it's really important for all players in the culinary travel industry to make their services and offerings clearly available across a wide spectrum of media, including that most old-fashioned of media: making your friends and neighbors aware of what you do!

The Bar @ Hopcat by stevedontsurf

11 am The "Marketing Your Culinary Destination" featured Dianna Stamfler of Promote Michigan, Sam Porter of Porterhouse Productions and Paul Stermer of Fair Food Matters. An audience member asked Sam how he got his nearly 300 volunteers. He answered "It's all about fun. We take care of them pre and post event and engage them as partners to market and develop the events." He also suggested engaging your fans to help you grow your social media network. The audience seemed to agree that social media is a vital component of an overall strategy.

Dianna mentioned that it's the first-ever  Michigan Beer Week in Kalamazoo.  It's been developed  in conjunction with the Winter Beer Conference and bars, restaurants and retailers will be teaming up to offer beer tastings, tap takeovers, brewer meet-and-greets and other special events.

Charlevoix Michigan Peppers by DTWpuck

10  am Melody Johnson of the International Culinary Tourism Association was next up. She shared examples from all over the world of how everyone from third world nations on up the economic ladder are turning to culinary tourism as an economic driver. She cited rocketing technological advancements and our exploding interest in food as two prime drivers and talked about FLOSS (Fresh Local Organic Sustainable and Self-absorbed food). With  your average meal travelling 1500 miles, FLOSS is a concept that can  help keep food local.    Melody also gave a shoutout the the new "Boyne Appetit" marketing effort for Boyne City.

She showed three pictures - a museum, roller coaster and nice plate of food, and reminded attendees that food & drink IS an attraction as well, illustrating it with her discovery of Founder's apricot wheat - a beer that she had last night with dinner and very much enjoyed. It's not something you're likely to find outside of Michigan, so to have it again, she'll have to return. "The Michigan Experience" is what visitors are seeking - unique and memorable experiences that a tourist can brag about when he or she returns home.

9:40 am Steve Loftis of the Michigan Restaurant Association offered some thoughts about where Michigan's restaurants are and what will be on their radar in 2011. One of his recommendations is that restaurants look to younger/technologically savvy members of  their staff for  ideas on more effectively using technology to acquire new patrons, but also to work more with existing customers.  He also stated that "the L word" should be on everyone's mind as they work with their menu, trying to add more local offerings.

grits & bits (pre-syrup)
by jenny murray

9:15 am Linda Jones of the Michigan Wine & Grape Council opened the conference with an introduction to culinary tourism. One new resource for culinary tourists that she pointed out are the Michigan Foodie Tours.
The foodie tours feature local food and unique experiences from the whitefish and pasties of the western UP to the 200 restaurants of Ann Arbor.

7 am Last night I had a chance to talk with Melody Johnson, a founding member  of the International Culinary Tourism Association. Melody is the organization's Community Manager and helps partners develop collaborations and inititiatives to capitalize on their culinary tourism assets. She gave me a simple thought to frame the day: "You always need to keep in mind what your customers  want to be successful. When people are coming to Michigan, they are wanting Michigan. They want authentic culinary experiences, the flavors and experiences that they can only get here."

Although saying "It's the food, silly" may seem a little simplistic, as the nation's second most agriculturally diverse state, Michigan is in a unique position to tout itself as an unparalleled food destination. The local food movement has already started many on the path to promoting the strength and quality of Michigan food & drink and this effort will hopefully encourage many more to  "make it a Michigan wine/beer/fill in the blank."

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~wine~ by an EyE for perspective

It's probably fitting that the first app we review is from our friends over at Michigan By the Bottle. Their new Michigan By the Bottle app was released yesterday (Dec 14) for iPhone/iPad. The app was developed by Sutro Media and is available for download for $2.99 in the iTunes store.

At the heart of this app are profiles of all of Michigan's 75+ wineries that feature maps, photos, MBTB- ­â€recommended wines, contact information, tasting room policies and links to related articles, videos and podcasts on the MBTB website. One of the coolest features is that via the map, you can see what wineries are near you, check them out to see if they've got what you're looking for and then easily navigate to them using the iPhone's GPS. My company manages the Leelanau Peninsula wine trail, and with all the twists and turns of our trail, that feature alone is worth the $3!

Click the photos below for screen shots...

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Speaking of wine & northwest Michigan, following Lorri & Sharon's article we have a video about an upcoming Tweet & Taste from Michigan By the Bottle with sparkling wines from L Mawby winery that takes place Tuesday, December 14 at 7 PM!

Bowers Harbor Inn gets reinvented into two dining destinations

Old Mission Peninsula by laudu

Visiting various locales for book signings affords us the opportunity to discover new culinary destinations throughout Michigan. We're always on the hunt for good, in-season “eats” and a respectable Michigan wine selection. Knowing our adventures would take us to Bowers Harbor Restaurant for fabulous fare on Saturday night, and recalling our equally delicious meal at the Old Mission Tavern during our last visit, we opted for Bowers Harbor Inn.

When we arrived, we discovered two new signs promoting Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin restaurants. (Jolly Pumpkin? Don't they make ales?) Apparently, the Inn has been reinvented into two distinct dining destinations. Jolly Pumpkin is the name for a family-friendly dining spot. Exposed wooden beams and chunky wood tables and bar create a warm, cozy ambience to the hum of a well-attended restaurant. Artisan pizzas, Great Lakes perch and wood-fired baby back ribs are just a few offerings. Microbrews are made on site with fresh hops and within a state of the art, 5,600 square-foot brewing (and distilling) facility. Learn more here.

Desiring a slightly quieter vibe, we opted for Mission Table. To our surprise, an enormous captain's table filled the center of one room. Perfect for a party of 18 or small groups dining family-style, the table appealed to our sense of adventure. We promptly requested seats at the farthest end closest to the fireplace.

Perusing the wine list and menu, we noted the strong focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farms and fishermen. The featured Bonafide wines are produced by John Kroupa of nearby Peninsula Cellars winery. Check out the restaurant's list of regional food growers and providers.

Lorri selected Bonafide Dry Riesling. Sharon chose Unwooded Chardonnay by Bowers Harbor Vineyards (also on the peninsula) and paired it with fresh greens from Werp Farms topped with dried cherries and house cherry vinaigrette, followed by walleye atop sautéed Swiss chard, fingerling potatoes, parsnips and citrus beurre blanc ($24). Lorri dined on filet mignon with duck marinade, seasonal veggies and caramelized shallot sauce ($34). Content, relaxed and delighted, we departed back to our overnight accommodations just over the hill.

If you've never been to Old Mission Peninsula, you must. It's one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. We promise; you won't go home hungry with all the delicious dining options on the peninsula. (see Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and absolutemichigan.com/Old Mission for more!).

Now here's that Tweet & Taste video - check out this Leelanau.com article for more...

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In anticipation of the holidays, the tasting will feature two new sparkling wines from Black Star Farms: 2009 Be Dazzled and 2010 Bubbly Nouveau. Both wines are in their third vintage and the Be Dazzled incorporates both Brut and Demi-Sec styles, while the Bubbly Nouveau is an appetizer style sparkling wine that is fun & fruity.

The event will feature winemaker Lee Lutes and the winery's social media director Coryn Briggs and will last approximately 1 hour with a half hour to discuss each wine via twitter. Both wines will be for sale for $12.50 at all three Black Star Farms' locations and when both wines are purchased for the tasting a 20% discount will be applied. Wines can also be shipped around the state of Michigan as well as to various other states from their online store.

For more information contact, Coryn at 231.944.1311 or cbriggs@blackstarfarms.com.

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Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, authors of the award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries and The History of Michigan Wines. Learn more and get autographed copies of their books at www.michiganvine.com.

Don't let the warm, sunny weather fool you! The brisk holiday season is fast approaching. And, one of the best ways to kick off the holidays is on Leelanau Peninsula during the Toast the Season celebration the first two weekends of November.

Toast the Season by farlane

The spectacular northern Michigan tradition is a great excuse for a getaway before the hustle and bustle of the upcoming months. You'll bump right into the holiday spirit when you're handed a gift bag featuring local food & drink and an ornament upon your arrival. Then, enjoy the leisurely trek along the peninsula with a special wine pour, in your souvenir glass, paired with delicious food at 18 Leelanau wineries.

The timing of the event couldn't be better for stocking up on wines for holiday gifts, Thanksgiving dinner and seasonal get-togethers with family and friends. Our tip: be sure to visit L. Mawby Vineyards to get your bubblies for New Year's Eve, though as vintner Larry Mawby says, “You can enjoy bubbly any time, any day.”

Grab your significant other for a romantic getaway, or gather some friends for a mini-vacation. Two weekend options, November 6 and 7 or November 13 and 14, make getting there more feasible; and lodging packages by area B&Bs, resorts and hotels make planning super easy. Get tickets or more details about the event by visiting www.lpwines.com.

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Special Giveaway Alert!
As a sponsor of the 2010 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival we have the inside scoop on TWO chances to win tickets to wine events in the Traverse City region!

TOMORROW (Thursday, August 12) the Leelanau Vintners will be sending out an email and one person on their list will win TWO tickets to the 2010 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival on August 21st. Get on their email list at lpwines.com for a chance to win!

AT THE TRAVERSE CITY WINE & ART FESTIVAL ON AUGUST 21st festival attendees will have a chance to win three times: 2 tickets to the 2010 Leelanau Harvest Stompede Wine Tour in September, 2 tickets to the Old Mission's Romancing the Riesling and 2 tickets to the 2011 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival PLUS 2 nights at Holiday in West Bay in Traverse City!!

The 2010 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival takes place on August 21, 2010 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

The festival features 22 wineries from the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission and Traverse City along with food from Leelanau and Traverse City restaurants. The event was created by the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association to showcase the wine, art, food & music of our region. In addition to great food and wine, 3 arts organizations: Art Center Traverse City, Crystal Lake Art Center and the Leelanau Community Cultural Center have teamed up with the festival to create gallery tents featuring the work of over 60 area artists for show and sale.

Add a fantastic slate of live entertainment headlined by Michigan blues legend Larry McCray, reknown folk performers May Erlewine and Seth Bernard, Song of the Lakes Trio featuring Sue Wood and Michigan blues phenom Greg Nagy, a 2010 Blues Music Award nominee in the category of 'Best New Artist Debut'. The event will also feature original performance dance from several dance companies and more happenings to delight the eye and ear!

Advance tickets are $20 each, four for $60 or $25 on the day of the event. They are available online at traversecitywinefestival.com, area wineries, Turtle Creek Casino in Acme and the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau in Traverse City. Also cbe sure to consider some of the great packages offered by area hotels & resorts! Scroll down for a list of the wineries & restaurants in attendance and check out the video that Scott Allman produced on last year's festival.

Food & Wine

The photo is by Jesamin Califf - many more in her Traverse City Wine & Art Festival 2009 slideshow!

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Michigan Wine &
Food Showcase by KcJacoby

Twenty-five wine experts gathered August 3 in East Lansing for the 33rd annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition. Judges included five Master Sommeliers, and internationally known authors, winemakers and wine educators. Leading the group through the day was food and wine writer Christopher Cook, who judged at the competition for 12 years before becoming its superintendent in 2001. Cook is also a judge at wine competitions throughout the United States and abroad.

Don Koivisto, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, welcomed the judges to the competition. He noted there is strong recognition at the state level of the importance of the wine industry to the state's economy, and expressed his delight in witnessing the industry's rapid growth in the past decade.

There was a great showing of wines from areas throughout the state, with gold medals split evenly between the Northern and Southern growing regions. Silver medals were awarded to wineries from all major growing regions, including the Upper Peninsula where there are now three commercial wineries producing wines from grapes grown in Michigan.

The Michigan competition is a favorite for many of the judges, as they are eager to learn about the state's exciting, rapidly growing industry. Wayne Belding, Master Sommelier with The Boulder Wine Merchant, commented that "tasting such a broad range of Michigan wines confirmed my opinion that there is a rising tide of wine quality throughout mid-America."

Joe Borrello has judged at this competition every year but one since it was first held in 1977 … wedged between the horse and cow barns at the State Fairgrounds. Borrello says the competition - and the wines - have come a long way since then. "This year's judging was an excellent presentation of wines and what Michigan is capable of accomplishing," he said. Borrello is president of Tasters Guild International, which sponsored the Best of Class Dessert trophy, to be presented to the winning winery at a Gold Medal Reception at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing this evening.

Future wine.. by Daylily18

Veteran Judge Dr. G. Stanley Howell, formerly with Michigan State University's Horticulture Department, was the competition's superintendent for several years prior to Christopher Cook taking the helm. Howell has followed the growth of the Michigan wine industry closely and noted, "The red wines from the 2007 vintage were outstanding and are a portent to Cabernet Franc joining much renowned Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines in recognition of their excellence."

Forty-four of the state's 73 wineries entered a record 399 wines for this year's competition, which is open only to wines produced from Michigan grapes and other fruit. Gold medals were awarded to a wide variety of wines--from bone-dry reds to deliciously sweet ice wines--from all of Michigan's major grape-growing areas. At the end of the day, judges awarded the top "Best of Class" awards to eight wines from a group of 52 gold medal winners, including eight double gold.

The top award-winners

Best of Class Dry White: Black Star Farms - 2009 Arcturos Pinot Gris
Best of Class Dry Red: Bowers Harbor Vineyards - 2007 Cabernet Franc, Erica Vineyard
Best of Class Semi-Dry White: Black Star Farms - 2009 Arcturos Riesling
Best of Class Semi-Dry Red: Lawton Ridge Winery - AZO
Best of Class Sparkling Wine: Black Star Farms - 2008 Sparkling Wine
Best of Class Dessert Wine: Fenn Valley Vineyards - 2008 "42" Ice Wine
Best of Class Fruit Wine: Uncle John's Fruit House Winery - Franc N Cherry
Best of Class Rose': Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery - 2009 Blanc de Pinot Noir

In addition, Chateau Fontaine won a Judges' Merit Award for their 2009 Woodland White, a semi-dry white wine made from Auxerrois, a little-known grape variety in the United States, originally from France.

A complete list of medal-winning wines is available online from the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, which is administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. For more information about the wines and wineries of Michigan, contact the council online, or by phone at 517-241-4468.

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photo report by Ken Jacoby

Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival by KcJacoby

The Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival in late July presented the attendees with a multitude of obstacles. Air raid sirens, torrential downpours, and the overflowing Huron River on Friday night, the sweltering heat and spotty thunderstorms gave the attendees for Saturday a near identical experience. Mere weather was not enough to stop the dedicated people who attended the Summer Beer Festival from enjoying themselves.

Thousands of people came from all over the state to sample over 3,000 beers made from more than 54 breweries in the state of Michigan. Over 9,000 tickets were sold which was an increase from last years Summer Festival which has been contributed to the number of people taking interest in home brewing, and micro breweries located throughout the state of Michigan.

Each ticket included 15 drink tokens which provided 3 oz. samples of any of the vast amount of beer selections available. The festival also had a large amount of food vendors selling a variety of food from hot dogs to barbecue ribs to help compliment the many tastes of beer for the evening.

The Michigan Brewers Guild isn't stopping here with the outstanding success of these events either. Next up for the guild is the 2nd Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival (formerly U.P. Oktoberfest) which will be held on Saturday, September 11th, 2010 from 1:00pm-6:00pm at Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette, MI. Shortly after that they will be holding the 2nd Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival - October 23rd at the Eastern Market. Get details on both festivals from the Michigan Brewer's Guild.

View the slideshow bigger on Flickr.

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July is Michigan Craft Beer Month, and our 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 encourages you to visit brewpubs and microbreweries and to ask for and purchase Michigan craft beer at retail outlets and restaurants.

Another way to celebrate is at Michigan's oldest and largest beer festival, the annual Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti. The festival takes place  at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti Friday July 23rd from 5-9 PM andSaturday, July 24th from 1-6 PM. It will feature more than 300 different beers from more than 50 different Michigan breweries.

Advanced tickets may be purchased online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org, participating member breweries and select retail locations around the state or by calling 877-772-5425. Attendees must be 21 or older to attend. Designated driver tickets are available online and at the gate for $5 each.

Here's a video from Michigan Travel TV...

If you're interested in a more humorous look at the Beer Festival, here's Ypsi's Russ Mantooth reporting from the festival.

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

Visit the Michigan Brewers Guild on Facebook.

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