Michigan Wines

Unlike the current weather in SE Michigan, I seem to be into a blizzard of blog posts. My in-laws came over for Christmas yesterday afternoon, and we shared a bottle of Firelands 2005 Isle St. George Merlot with dinner. I've never been a huge merlot fan (that's a story for another day), but I'm a convert with this wine. A dark luscious burgandy color, the big nose hits you with strong aromas of raspberries & cherries with faint hints of black pepper. The taste is soft and supple with a fruity initial taste of cherries, raisins, and faint cassis and ends with black pepper notes. If you want to taste a silky wine, this is it. 12.5% alcohol and I bought it at the winery in September for ~$13.

I've always been intrigued by the Firelands Winery. While home of Cedar Point and the ferry to the Bass Islands, I don't think of Sandusky, OH as being a huge tourist attraction, or a focal point for wine lovers. Yet, Firelands has done very well with a somewhat limited customer base in their immediate surroundings, and has become a tourist destination themselves. Their vineyard location on Isle St. George produces some very good grapes. I don't believe that they distribute their wines very widely beyond Ohio. At least, I do not see them in stores in the Detroit area. Lends hope that a winery just outside of Ann Arbor could be a successful endeavor.

This really should be the last post for 2006.

Regards,
a Wine Student