Simple Wine Making

Being Chicagoans, we’ve always enjoyed the changing of the seasons. Spring brings rebirth and summer offers the warmth of all that’s good about life. Autumn arrives in a blaze of color, while winter has its own quiet sense of beauty.

And so, in our travels, we tend to gravitate toward areas offering the best of all four seasons. We couldn’t have found a better place than Maine. Maine is mountains, lakes, and rivers - an outdoor sports enthusiast’s paradise. Maine is rugged picturesque coastline teeming with fresh seafood just waiting for you to sample. Maine is National Parks and trendy beaches. And Maine is a shopping and gastronomical delight.

Before we visited, a friend asked us, “Why Maine?” We responded that there are several good reasons to visit Maine. As we left after a one week visit, we agreed that we can’t wait to return some day. There’s literally a new discovery around every turn.

Are There Really Wineries In Maine?

Upon arriving in Portland, a charming port city about 100 miles from Boston, one of our first questions was directed to a farmers market vendor. Are grapes grown in Maine?

Yes. Grapes are grown here, despite a growing season 90 days shorter than Napa Valley. Numerous hardy varieties thrive here, along with several delectable types of fruit. We visited 7 wineries on this wonderful trip and enjoyed numerous well crafted wines, almost all produced from Maine grown grapes and fruit.

After enjoying Portland for a couple of days, we set out north from Portland up Route 302, just about 1/2 hour to Blacksmiths Winery, in Casco.

In the tasting room, we learned that Maine is well known for its blueberries. In fact, Maine is America’s largest wild blueberry growing state, and many make their way into Blacksmiths Winery’s Blueberry winem which is actually a blend of two wines. It is fragrant, off dry, and fruity, perfect for summer.

Blacksmiths also offers several traditional wine varieties, made from grapes imported from growers across the country. But we so enjoyed the blueberry, and the fact it’s born from Maine soil, that we sampled another “grown in Maine” wine, the Elderberry.

Moving to the Mid Coast area, our next stop is Maine’s very first winery, Cellar Door Winery and Vineyards, near Camden in the small community of Lincolnville. The winery is located on a farm that dates back to the 1790’s, complete with a vineyard, orchards, and fruit trees. Sticking with the Maine blueberry theme, we tried and proudly purchased the Blue Lobster Blue, and enjoyed it later with … what else … lobster and bleu cheese.

Next it was off to Union, just a few miles west from Camden harbor, for a stop at two wineries. Union is home to Savage Oakes Winery and Sweetgrass Winery and Distillery.

We were intrigued by Savage Oakes tagline: “Featuring Maine Wines From Maine Grown Grapes”. Owners Buddy and Holly Savage produce wine from nine different varieties of hybrid grapes, grown right on their 95 acre farm. On our visit, seven wines were available, all interesting and well made blends that highlight Buddy’s deft hand and passion for winemaking.

Sweetgrass opened their winery in 2007, focusing upon fruit wines and their award winning Back River Gin, with fruit brandies next on the agenda. It’s a picture book property, with a hiking trail that travels through the farm and overlooks the Medomak River Valley. Take advantage of the picnic area while enjoying a glass or two of their crisp and fruity Apple wine, or Bleujolais, a fruity and spicy blueberry offering. Of special note, the wine labels on their bottles are works of art in and of themselves!

All told, there are seven wineries in this beautiful state, each offering a unique experience for the wine travel lover. It was truly delightful to visit them all, and experience everything that Maine has to offer.

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With over 6000 wineries across the United States, there are ample opportunities for wine lovers to tour and taste. With the addition of several new wine trails across the country in the past few years, more and more people are enjoying visits to wineries. Did you know that every state in the U.S. now has at least one winery? There’s sure to be an interesting winery in your neck of the woods just waiting for you to sample and enjoy.

Before you travel to your local winery or the nearest wine trail, consider that your wine tasting experience will involve several of your senses. To get the most from your visit, and to help you more readily identify your favorite wines for a purchase, let’s talk about how to approach wine tasting in general. And while wine tasting shouldn’t be complicated or intimidating, here are seven tips to consider …

1). Limit Your Use Of Cologne Or Perfume: These scents, while generally pleasing, will affect your ability to pick up wine aromas. In turn, this will alter your ability to judge a wine’s true taste. And, these scents will affect the senses of your fellow wine tasters as well.

2). Have A Hearty Breakfast Or Lunch: Before embarking on a wine tasting journey, be sure you’ve had something to eat, but nothing too spicy or overly seasoned. Your taste buds should be neutral, and of course you’ll want something in your stomach so you don’t get tipsy.

3). Bring Bottled Water Along: Most tasting rooms will offer water with your tastings to help cleanse your palate. But if you’re visiting more than one winery, it’s a good idea to hydrate in between winery visits. Not only will this help keep your palate fresh, but will help minimize the effect of alcohol.

4). Call Ahead: Wineries will occasionally host large tour groups, and if so, it might not be the best time for you to visit. Staff might be overwhelmed and you might not receive the attention you might otherwise expect. A quick phone call in advance will help you schedule the best time for you and the winery staff.

5). Follow The Progression: Be sure to go with the flow at the tasting counter. Wines are poured, and tasted, from light to dry to sweet for a reason. For example, if you start your tasting with a big bold red wine, it will adversely affect your perception of a light, dry white.

6). Hold The Cheese: Sometimes a tasting room will offer cheese samples along with the wine tasting. Try to hold off on the cheese, because cheese will alter your perception of the wine’s taste. You can always pair up an appropriate cheese with your favorite wine later.

7). Keep An Open Mind: You may already have a definite opinion of what types of wines you enjoy. But keeping an open mind has its advantages! Try different styles. You might find a new favorite, and it’s a great way to learn more about wine.

Just about every winery will offer you a warm, friendly wine tasting experience. Have fun, ask questions, and compare notes with friends. Wine is meant to be shared and enjoyed, and what better place to do it than at that special small winery on a scenic wine trail.

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For over 100 years, southwestern Michigan has been a weekend getaway haven. With its ample wide beaches and charming lakeside towns, this part of Michigan known as Harbor Country continues to lure weekend visitors. Since the late 1970’s, it’s also been a popular destination for wine travel fans.

Southwestern Michigan is only about 90 minutes by car from greater Chicago. Interstate 94 takes a gentle north by northeast turn near the Indiana-Michigan state line, tracing the route of historic U.S. 12. Back in the 1930’s, this area established its link to Michigan tourism. The first town greeting you upon entering Michigan is friendly and walkable New Buffalo.

With its harbor and compact business district, New Buffalo has long attracted boaters and those seeking a weekend escape. Of the eight communities comprising Harbor Country, New Buffalo feels most like a true town and a defined destination. Waterfront development has been carefully planned and monitored, ensuring the charm of this community for generations to come.

Wineries and Wine Tasting Diversions

Just outside of New Buffalo’s business district is the famous Red Arrow Highway. This is the heartbeat of Harbor Country and southwestern Michigan. From the Indiana border north 25 miles to the waterfront community of St. Joseph, Red Arrow Highway invites you to stop and explore. You’ll find antique stores, farmstands, home spun stores, and most of all, winery tasting rooms. For just over two decades, these tasting rooms have introduced visitors to this area’s pride and joy - Michigan wines.

Just a short distance from Red Arrow Highway, majestic dunes and woodlands give way to rolling hills and valleys planted with lush grapevines. Local viticulturists credit a good part of their success to the area’s sandy, well drained fertile soil, hilly terrain and Lake Michigan’s help in creating a variety of unique microclimates.

Six Wineries To Visit

While there are about a dozen wineries in the area loosely defined as southwestern Michigan, we’ll focus on Harbor Country and the area between New Buffalo and St. Joseph. This is an exceptionally convenient tour, as the six wineries are in very close proximity to one another.

Let’s start our wine tasting at perhaps the most well known winery in this area, Tabor Hill Winery. This is a beautiful, tranquil setting, with the tasting room and adjoining dining room overlooking the vineyards. Nearly 40 years ago, Tabor Hill artisans discovered the premium grapes typically grown in France, Germany, and Napa Valley thrive equally well here.

We’ve always been partial to Tabor Hill’s white wine selections. We were especially pleased with the Lake Michigan Shore Dry Traminette, with it’s fruity floral bouquet. And don’t miss the approachable Tabor Hill White Heritage, an award winner that has been frequently served to White House guests through several administrations.

Less than a half mile down the road is the fascinating and ever evolving Round Barn Winery and Distillery. As the name implies, part of the facility is housed in an Amish built round barn, which is frequently used for weddings and special events. Not only can you sample wine at Round Barn, but distilled spirits and microbrews as well.

The other four wineries in this area are also quite near one another, making Harbor Country perfect for an afternoon of leisurely wine travel and tasting. Free Run Cellars, Domaine Berrien, Lemon Creek, and Hickory Creek all offer finely crafted wines that will appeal to even the most discriminating wine lover.

The other four wineries in this area are also quite near one another, making Harbor Country perfect for an afternoon of leisurely wine travel and tasting. Free Run Cellars, Domaine Berrien, Lemon Creek, and Hickory Creek all offer finely crafted wines that will appeal to even the most discriminating wine lover.

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