Gobble, gobble, bubble, bubble

Give thanks to Larry Mawby of L. Mawby Vineyards for crafting sparkling wines perfect for pairing with your Thanksgiving feast.Find L. Mawby (and M. Lawrence) bubbly in the Suttons Bay tasting room and in wine markets throughout Michigan.

~Sharon

Vibrant vineyards and cozy nooks

Autumn is crisp cool air, the fragrant blends of burning wood and falling leaves and, most decisively, vibrant Tuscan-colored vineyards.Gather friends for a wine tour through Michigan wine trails that weave through vineyards bursting with juicy golden and purple grapes prime for harvest. The season is ripe for your visit: bustling with activity and a bountiful of wines that appeal to all... dry, full-bodied reds and crisp, oaky whites to super sweet dessert wines and fruit-infused aperitifs.These cozy stops on and off the wine trails make it easy to prolong your stay:

Boathouse Restaurant, Old Mission Peninsula
Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay
Kevin's Tavern inside Warner Vineyards, Paw Paw
Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant, Buchanan
Sandhill Crane Vineyards, JacksonFar removed from wine trails, yet worth a visit:
Enoteca Campo Marzio, a cozy wine bar in downtown Detroit

~Sharon

And the winners are...

Twenty-four wine experts from around the world sampled 346 Michigan wines at the 31st Annual Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition in East Lansing on August 5. Samples included wines produced by 34 Michigan wineries from all regions of the state. The competition is only open to wines produced from Michigan grapes and other fruit.

Now, as you know, we believe you should drink what you like - regardless of competition results, rules and such. The only thing that counts is your own 'judging' of the wines. However, award-winning wines are usually a good place to start. So, take a look at the top-awarded Michigan wines:

Best of Class Dry White:
Chateau Fontaine: 2007 Dry White Riesling

Best of Class Dry Red:
Longview Winery: 2007 Rustic Red

Best of Class Semi-Dry White:
St. Julian Winery: 2007 Braganini Reserve Traminette

Best of Class Dessert Wine:
Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery: 2007 "Dry Ice" Ice Wine

Best of Class Fruit Wine:
Mackinaw Trail Winery: Razz Berry

In addition, Bowers Harbor Vineyards' 2007 Pinot Noir Rose won a Judges' Merit Award.

View the complete list of the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competion Results.

~Lorri

Divine dog days of summer

Spend the summer sipping the fruits of someone else's labor and kick back with a canine friend. It's time to hit the wine trails to discover wildly diverse wines, brews, brandies and more.At St. Julian alone -- our state's oldest winery -- there are at least 40 beverages, including many-times-over award winner Solera Cream Sherry. Domaine Berrien Cellars' Marsanne pairs perfectly with any dish you whip up on the grill, from burgers to seafood, and you can't go wrong with a Riesling or Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) from Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Chateau Chantal, Left Foot Charley or Longview Winery. Brys Estate's Gewurtzraminer is to die for and big bold Enigma from Cherry Creek Cellars pairs divinely with pastas to fillets.

Is your mouth watering yet? Slow down a bit this summer and gather with friends over Michigan wine. Along the way, you may even run into a friendly wine dog or two.

~Sharon

We're really not that sweet

We're still amazed at how often we hear people say that Michigan only makes sweet whites. Then again, we usually find out that these are people who haven't really tried Michigan wines.

Sure, Michigan produces a myriad of sweet wines - delicious ones at that! Our growing conditions, available fruit and demand for sweet would make the industry crazy for not producing them.

That does not mean, however, that the dry wines aren't that good - in fact, they're fantastic! Michigan wines - both sweet and dry - are beating wines from renowned wine regions in national and international competitions every year.

So, if you still believe that Michigan is for sweet wine drinkers only, then this is your year to re-discover Michigan wine country. Grab a copy of our book, From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries, and start your own journey through Michigan wine country.

~Lorri