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.
Post a Comment