Valley Mist Vineyards of Michigan

     While visiting family and enjoying the sandy Lake Huron shore in Northern Michigan, we went to lunch at the local Mexican watering hole for grub and to escape the heat. The place-mat announced some new local wineries in nearby Rose City. What a nice way to beat the July heat! So we decided to check them out on the way home.

     What looked on the map as a short 30 minute jog (as the crow flies), thanks to no direct route and the twisting forest roads, took us more like an hour. But we found Valley Mist Vineyards just west of the Rose City town center, over the hill leaving town. Signs directed us up the driveway to the garage set behind the house.

     The garage housed a nicely decorated tasting room. Passing thru the tasting room would take one to the winery facilities, a high ceiling, clean, white room filled with large white plastic cylinders and 15 gallon glass carboys holding the precious fermenting wines "under construction". Off to the side was the bottling table, with a corking machine and labels askew on the table. The back wall metal shelving was loaded with full cases, ready for shipment.

     The tasting room is manned by Brad Moore, proprietor and winemaker. He and his wife, Elaine, started this venture only a few years ago. But, now he runs it by himself, his wife an inspirational memory as she passed this spring. He been dabbling in wine-making for years as a hobby while he was working. But then came retirement and they decided to plant 1,500 vines on the lands behind the garage in 2008. This summer will be his first useable vintage, divided between French-American varieties including Marquette, Brianna, Swenson Red, Cayuga White, and Frontenac.

     The winery was built in 2010 and bonded shortly thereafter. Brad's goal is to produce estate wines as well as highlight the local fruits and grapes. But for now, he's using purchased grape juices from California and local fruit. One remarkable treat was his version of Amarone. Made from a blend of juices from Verona, Italy from three indigenous varieties of Italian grapes. The berries were dried on straw mats for three months before pressing for the juice. Brad's resulting deeply colored, dry, red wine was rich and round in the mouth sitting on a gentle pillow of tannins.

     The riesling and pinot gris were honest to the varietal and nice drinking. Always experimenting, he also fermented fresh lemons into his own version of hard lemonade, "Lightning Bug Lemon Wine". Although I found it to be a little too intense and tart, he says it is his best selling item. Another white wine is made of the beautiful Edelweiss grapes from Alpena Michigan. "Northern Lights" displays the aromas of apples, apple blossoms and honey.

     He enjoys presenting wines you will not often see in your local grocery store. Always experimenting, you can taste what blending green apples with riesling or wildberries with a smooth shiraz and even chocolate strawberry!

     His labels are all done in-house and reflect a sense of humor and personal connections. The penguin on one label was an actual photo his son-in-law took while on duty at the southern tip of Chile. The whimsical label:  "The Swill of a Lonely Redneck Sailor" was also inspired by his son-in-law. Actually, it is a pleasant summer rose of white zinfandel and strawberry wine. Refreshing!

     Mr. Moore even extends his talents to making sweet, desert wines! Especially the Gabriel, touted as a raspberry chocolate port. Rich, with dense chocolate flavors and a long-lasting sweet finish, he serves it in small chocolate candy cup. What decadence .. Well, done!

Check them out! They are located at
Valley Mist Vineyards
Brad Moore, Proprietor
2742 Townline Road, Rose City, MI 48654
Phone: (989) 685 9096
http://www.valleymistvineyards.com/

Vino Argentino: a book review

I have long been intrigued by the mysterious lands of South America and the wines I've run across. I eagerly anticipated learning more when I ordered a new book: Vino Argentino: An Insider's Guide to the Wines and Wine Country of Argentina. This is Argentina as seen though the eyes of Laura Catena, the fourth generation to produce wine.

Catena's father is the famous wine-maker Catena Zappata, who is the Robert Mondavi of Argentina wines, in that he spent much time experimenting with planting in different areas of the country, with different varietals, and using different techniques, until he found what worked best. Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world.

I am familiar with Argentinian Malbec - a world-class red wine that can rival the best of French Bordeaux. But, I did not realize the contribution the very high altitudes (2,000 to 5,000 feet), intense sunlight and the dry, pourous, desert soils make towards a uniquely rich and intensely flavored wine that has soft, firm tannins that can allow it to age for decades.

Catena also introduces the many different regions of Argentina, their people, customs, culinary dishes - including a chapter on her favorite recipes like chimichurri and Dulce de Leche.

As a side, one of my co-workers is of Argentinian descent and, after briefly perusing the text, acclaimed he would bring me something. Next day he presented a small, foil-wrapped item. Turns out it was a cookie unique to Argentina of a cookie stuffed with dulce de leche (like caramel) and coated in chocolate. Yummers!

And wine, wine, wine .. especially the varieties that are uniquely Argentina: Bonarda and Torrontes. Catena writes that both have been shown to be different to similar grapes grown elsewhere in the world. Torrontes is the aromatic, delicately flavored white wine that reaches it's pinnacle in the more northerly latitudes of the Salta (North is closer to the equator and the rain forests), but high in the mountains, so the climate is very cool and exposed to more intense rays of the sun.

Catena also introduces some faces of Argentina wine: her life with her father and other respected wine makers of Argentina. A nice insight are her recollections of times spent with workd-renowned wine consultants Eric de Rothshilds and Michel Rolland.

The book is an easy read, but rather light - I wanted to know more! But, maybe that's my fault for my unquenching curiosity. Or, maybe that's what Catena was aiming for .. I now long to read more, more, more. And to try more wines from there, as I have a better idea what went into them. But, I want to know more about the people and the stories behind the wines.

And to travel! My co-worker has family there - I should visit! I want to experience the bustling French designed city of Buenas Aires, visit the snow-capped mountain vineyards, motor down the dirt roads of northern Salta, where herds of cattle may block your path and experience the barbeque and rich, grass-fed beef that is special to Argentina.

OK So maybe this book DID get to me - more than I had first suspected. Try it - you'll like it!