MyNorth’s Dani Davis made a day out of two Northern Michigan events on Saturday, April 26th: she first sampled Leelanau Peninsula wine while touring Leelanau Peninsula’s Northern Loop—with stops at Blustone, Boathouse Vineyards, and more—, and then attended Short’s Brewing 10th Anniversary Block Party in Bellaire for a round of Michigan-made beer and a program of all-star, Up North musical performances.  The following is an excerpt from her MyNorth blog entry—follow the link at the bottom to read more at MyNorth’s Community Page.


In Northern Michigan, crafting wine & beer that are both well balanced and memorably flavorful requires the harmony of handpicked ingredients and years of acquired knowledge. For those of us who hold craft brew and locally-produced wine dear to the heart, there has never been a better time to live Up North. This past Saturday (April 26th) I had the great pleasure of raising a toast to the superb accomplishments of Michigan wine & beer with my long-time friend and Wee Bee Jammin’ Bee Keeper, Sarah Scarpace. We kicked off our day at the Leland Lodge, where we met with other Northern Michigan Media Makers to embark on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour. Like the better things in life our tastings were carefully picked and consumed modestly. Absolutely, we discovered a few crown jewels worth sharing.

GillsPier

Gill’s Pier Tasting Room

Until Saturday pinot noir was not a locally grown variety that I would recommend to a wine-seeking traveler in the tip of the mitt. Northern Michigan winemakers know the difficulty of producing a memorable red, and so now more than ever they strive to make impressive reds a conquerable challenge. When I chose the 2010 Pinot Noir for a taste at Boathouse Vineyard I didn’t know what to expect, so I expected nothing, but the first sip was music to my tongue! Bright, with notes of strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon and a touch of leathery tannin to round out its dimension. Certainly a wine I’d serve with grilled flank steak, rack of lamb, or duck confit. Even in the dreary gray day, Blustone was a feast for the eyes. Surrounded by 360 degrees of rolling hills lined with naked cherry trees and bordered by maples, the Blustone tasting room sat atop the orchard like a contemporary masterpiece. Inside we were offered a wine tasting experience to connect with the beauty andbounty before us. Buttery smooth and flavored like freshly picked summer strawberries, the 2013 Blustone Pinot Noir Rose lulled me into a daydream. Just one taste had me digging through my wallet. Sarah and I both left with a bottle, excited to uncork it on the next gorgeous spring day…

blustone spread

Blustone

Continue Here To Read About Dani and Sarah’s Visit To Short’s 10th Anniversary Party

Short's Brewing Anniversary party

Short’s Brewing Anniversary Party

 


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Photo(s) by Dani Davis