You might say I accidentally fell into my love affair with wine. I just never got into the beer scene during my college years, and my distaste stayed with me. For the next several years, I stuck mostly to mixed drinks, masking what hit my tongue like the grown-up version of a Fireball candy with either pop or sweeter mixes.
It wasn’t until long after college that I discovered my preference for wine - finally, an adult beverage that tasted soft, yet complex without burning my tongue or tasting too sweet. Still, short of Malbec or a mellow cab, it was only after I moved north to the Leelanau Peninsula that I knew I found my wine groove, even more so after having the fortune of working for the amazing folks along the wine trail. Gewürztraminer, Dry Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gruner Veltliner, laid-back pinot noirs, deeper reds that don’t burn my tongue, and the occasional Late Harvest Riesling...this is my happy place!
I’m no sommelier (whatever that means)—I just follow the arrows along M22 and let my nose and taste buds do the rest. Join me as we explore the fun, interesting, and unknown clusters of northern Michigan wine country, Leelanau style!
