Contessa Wine Cellars http://www.contessawinecellars.com/
Our recent trip to Michigan surprised us with amazing wineries along the southern Lake Michigan area. The first stopping point was off I-94, exit 39 in Coloma—Contessa Wine Cellars. At the end of a winding drive uphill, sits an adorable A-frame house complete with multiple level decks for enjoying wine and the beautiful Michigan landscape. We tried several different wines before deciding on the Tres Tenores, a fabulous blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Wow! The blend was a perfect selection for my husband and me to settle on, since I prefer very dry and he likes it a little bit sweet. If you’re like me and drift toward the drier side of things, I highly recommend the Cabernet Franc.
We were also given a piece of homemade chocolate from the neighboring fudge shop to sample. Paired very nicely with their Merlot. Friendly staff, perfect setting for a fall day, and reasonably priced, great wine.
Our recent trip to Michigan surprised us with amazing wineries along the southern Lake Michigan area. The first stopping point was off I-94, exit 39 in Coloma—Contessa Wine Cellars. At the end of a winding drive uphill, sits an adorable A-frame house complete with multiple level decks for enjoying wine and the beautiful Michigan landscape. We tried several different wines before deciding on the Tres Tenores, a fabulous blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Wow! The blend was a perfect selection for my husband and me to settle on, since I prefer very dry and he likes it a little bit sweet. If you’re like me and drift toward the drier side of things, I highly recommend the Cabernet Franc.
We were also given a piece of homemade chocolate from the neighboring fudge shop to sample. Paired very nicely with their Merlot. Friendly staff, perfect setting for a fall day, and reasonably priced, great wine.
Warner Vineyards http://www.warnerwines.com/
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Probably the most impressive winery we saw along I-94 was Warner Vineyards—a 78 year old winery and one of the oldest in Michigan. You’ll be amazed that this wonderful treasure is nestled right in the heart of the business district in Paw Paw. Driving up to this lovely brick building and amphitheater creates the initial enthusiasm for stopping. But once over the covered walking bridge and winding back past the antique train car and rolling stream, you can’t wait to discover what comes next! Inside the tasting room, we were greeted by a very friendly host who served us five wine tastes for five dollars—what a deal. Although I preferred their 2 Cab Merlot, I compromised on the Veritas—a dry red table wine—for my husband’s sake. By no means was it a lesser wine. In fact, Veritas is a Michigan wine award winner. Starting out quiet, it explodes in your mouth with wonderful berry flavors and finishes very smoothly. We also sampled their homemade warm, mulled wine made with their Peach & Honey wine—a perfect comfort drink on a cool day. If the weather had been better and we hadn’t been in a hurry to make our destination, I could have stayed there all afternoon. If you have only time for one winery, this is the one! Plan on several hours.
12 Corners Vineyards & Winery http://www.12corners.com/
I only had time for one more winery on this trip, so I chose 12 Corners in Benton Harbor. I was not disappointed! This beautiful building nestled among thousands of grapevines houses an intriguing tasting room, an extremely large wine bar to accommodate a crowd, and many gift items and home décor ideas.
Although they have some tables on a tiny covered patio, I would like to see a big deck area overlooking the vineyards. And maybe that is in the future plans. I enjoyed all the dry reds I tasted. It was hard to choose. I took home a bottle of Merlot, which had some nice berry bursts and a flavorful finish. This place is large enough to offer food, which would make it an afternoon destination, rather than just a stopping point.
There are MANY wineries along this stretch of interstate, and I intend to visit more on my next Michigan trip! If you're looking for a great October wine weekend, the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is the place to be! http://www.MiWineTrail.com
I only had time for one more winery on this trip, so I chose 12 Corners in Benton Harbor. I was not disappointed! This beautiful building nestled among thousands of grapevines houses an intriguing tasting room, an extremely large wine bar to accommodate a crowd, and many gift items and home décor ideas.
Although they have some tables on a tiny covered patio, I would like to see a big deck area overlooking the vineyards. And maybe that is in the future plans. I enjoyed all the dry reds I tasted. It was hard to choose. I took home a bottle of Merlot, which had some nice berry bursts and a flavorful finish. This place is large enough to offer food, which would make it an afternoon destination, rather than just a stopping point.
There are MANY wineries along this stretch of interstate, and I intend to visit more on my next Michigan trip! If you're looking for a great October wine weekend, the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is the place to be! http://www.MiWineTrail.com
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