  Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 840 Registered: 09-2005 |
In the past couple of years there have been a significant number of new wineries opening in Essex County to join the two more established area wineries, Pelee Island Winery and Colio Estate Wines. Some estimates state that in a few years Essex County should have over 20 wineries. Some of these include: Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Mastronardi Estate Winery Muscedere Vineyards Pelee Island Winery Pavillion http://winesofontario.org/html /winemakers.htm (see Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island) With winery-related tourism becoming more popular both in North America and around the world, I was wondering about Detriot-area wineries. Are there many, both big and small? What are their reputations? How are their tours? Much has been made of the "two-nation vacation" but spending a weekend visiting (and sampling) Windsor-area wineries one day and Detroit-area wineries the next, could be a popular draw for locals and tourists alike. | ||
Quozl Member Username: Quozl Post Number: 664 Registered: 07-2005 |
From 1973 through 1998 my Dad had a winery in Paw Paw. In 1980 he opened a winery in Dearborn that fermented grapes from the Finger Lakes region of New York but closed that also in 1998. Both wineries offered tours but the facility in Paw Paw had 200 acres of vineyards surrounding it and a beautiful tasting room. Initially he grew Niagara, Catawba and Concord grapes but later grew many French Varietals developed at MSU. The tours at the Dearborn winery stopped in 1987 following two break-ins. He later fermented a garlic wine in Dearborn that was used exclusively for Paul Newman Brands. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 4427 Registered: 10-2003 |
There was one in Clinton Township on Moravian but I think it closed up. Will find more on it... | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 843 Registered: 09-2005 |
Interesting. Looking at the www.michiganwines.com site, I have noticed that there are no wineries East of US 23. However, there appear to be 5 wineries between Jackson, Lansing and Toledo. http://www.michiganwines.com/T our_Maps/travel_and_maps.html That being said, there must be some smaller vineyards closer to Detroit that are not listed on that site. If there are not, I wonder why? Can the climates be that different (the Essex County wineries are about a 30 minute drive from Windsor)? | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2191 Registered: 12-2005 |
I seem to recall reading that vineyards often do better on western coasts. Hence the California wineries. There are many other factors of course. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 845 Registered: 09-2005 |
Michigan is certainly west-loaded when it comes to wineries (if the www.michiganwines.com site is a true reflection of Michigan wineries). Ontario's wineries appear to be located on north or south lake shores: http://winesofontario.org/PDFs /WineRouteMap07.pdf | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 9432 Registered: 10-2003 |
Lake effects have a lot to do with wineries as does the type of soil. Depending on the type of grape being grown soil has everything to do with how well the grapes will grow. The temperature in winter also affects the vine growth and natural sugars in the grape itself. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3312 Registered: 10-2003 |
St Clair Shores: http://www.redhatwine.com/ |
