If Vines Could Talk

Meet Paula Camp and her partner, Mary, the dynamic duo behind Carriage House Ciders in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Paula's story is nothing short of extraordinary - join us as we delve into her journey of making major life changes, venturing into the world of cider production long after most people have retired, and crafting exquisite European-style ciders that will tantalize your taste buds. Get...

Welcome to Podcast #55, our first anniversary show! What better way to celebrate than with something sparkling? Jayme and I are raising a glass of bubbly as we dive into the fascinating world of sparkling wine production. Did you know there are seven different methods to make sparkling wine? So grab a bottle of Michigan bubbly, pop that cork, and join us as we explore the effervescent world of spa...

Guess who's back? Andrew Backlin, that's who! Today, we're diving into the latest buzz at Modales, his side hustle Backlin Wine Consulting, the thriving Michigan wine scene, and what the future holds. Let's uncork some juicy details and toast to what's to come! You can reach Andrew at backlinwineconsulting.com.

Today, Jayme and I have the pleasure of sampling three exquisite Michigan sparkling wines. First up is "Bedazzled," a crisp and dry bubbly white wine from Black Star Farms. Next, we have "Cows on the Beach," a 2022 bubbly Muscat from Chateau Fontaine nestled in the picturesque Leelanau Peninsula. And last but certainly not least, we'll be sipping on "Sparkling White&qu...

Dan Nitz is my guest today. Dan owns Arrowhead Vineyards and has started the Nitz Family Vineyards wine label. Arguably the largest wine-grape grower east of the Rocky Mountains, Dan cultivates hundreds of acres of vinifera, hybrids as well as a few acres of juice grapes. nitzwines.com

Jayme and I go full-geek and talk about anthocyanins and Brettanomyces. There's no doubt the science of wine is truly fascinating. Today we share some things we've learned - and some opinions - about these two very different topics. DISCLAIMER: Be sure to do your own research on topics we discuss, particularly when we talk about perceived medical benefits. Enjoy!!

Cody Kresta Winery is making great wine thanks to owner/winemaker David Butkovich and grower/assistant winemaker Robert West. Today we’ll talk about how both of these great winemakers came into the business, discuss their fabulous wines, and some of the secrets behind them. codykrestawinery.com

Jayme and I are tasting three Lake Michigan Shore Merlot. We have one each from Dablon, Karma Vista (now Filkins Vineyards), and Lawton Ridge. We thought they were, respectively, bold, elegant and vibrant. At the end of this episode is a short segment on my experience with decanting. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along. dablon.com, filkinsvineyards.com, lawtonridgewinery.com

Matt Goodell and Emily Goodell are the brother – sister team responsible for much of the operation at Amoritas Vineyards located in the Leelanau Peninsula. amoritasvineyards.com

Jayme and I discuss all of the reasons that Lake Michigan makes it possible for Michigan to be such a fantastic region for growing vinifera and therefore making fantastic wines. Pop open a bottle and listen along.

Nancie Oxley is my guest today. Listen in to this fantastic discussion with Michigan’s first female winemaker, and the head of winemaking at the state’s largest producer, St. Julian. If you have a question for Nancie, send it over to wines@stjulian.com . Check out the website at www.stjulian.com .

Jayme and I are tasting three white blends from the State of Michigan. Represented today are Cody Kresta and St. Julian in the Lake Michigan Shore and Rove Estate in the Leelanau Peninsula AVA. We were delighted with all three of these delicious and very different wines. https://codykrestawinery.com/ https://rovewinery.com/ https://www.stjulian.com/

Sherry Seston is my guest today. Sherry is probably the newest winemaker here in the Lake Michigan Shore. Her husband Tim and she moved to South Haven from Wisconsin a year ago. In that time they’ve opened a B&B, planted grapes, and started building a winery. Sherry also seized the opportunity to make wine last fall, and her debut vintage release happens this Saturday at the inn. www.mivintage...

Jayme and I talk about legal requirements for wine bottle labels in the United States. We also share our opinions on what we’d also like to see on labels. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along. Here's a resource you can use for reference: https://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-label-usa#

Welcome to podcast #42. Kristy Wenz is my guest today. Kristy is a wine and wine travel writer who is no stranger to Michigan wine and the Lake Michigan Shore. She hasn’t just written about our wineries; she has actually worked at two of them. Listen in as we talk about all things Michigan and learn about our unique and special connection. You can read Kristy’s work at her website, https://kristys...

Jayme and I are tasting three Viogniers from the Lake Michigan Shore, and specifically, all from the same area east of Baroda. The Wineries? Domaine Berrien Cellars, Modales, and Stranger Wine Co. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along as we talk about these and even suggest one for breakfast! www.domaineberrien.com www.modaleswines.com www.strangerwineco.com

Tom Knighton is the founder and owner of Blustone Vineyards located on the Leelanau Peninsula northwest of Traverse City. Tom and his team have a beautiful site and equally beautiful wines. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along. www.blustonevineyards.com

Jayme and I are sharing things we look for when we visit a tasting room. We hope this offers insight for you to consider for your next world-class experience. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along.

Meredith George is my guest today. Meredith owns the St. Joe Wine Shoppe, located in the Market in downtown St. Joseph Michigan. Relatively new to wine, Meredith shares about her time at Dablon, her thoughts about Michigan wine, and her support of women winemakers. Listen in as we also cover a broad spectrum of other topics. www.stjoewineshoppe.com

Today's special episode is Amy Birk from Domaine Berrien Cellars returning to the podcast to share a few of her library wines. Listen in as we taste recent vintages of her Wolf’s Prairie Red, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with older versions of the same wine. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and listen in to this captivating discussion. www.domaineberrien.com

Kacey Wierzba and Maddie Vint are my guests today from Shady Lane Cellars located in the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City, Michigan. Listen in as the two remarkable winemakers talk about their passions, vineyards and wines. We’ll also hear about numerous awards, the history of the property, and two special dogs, Lola and Frankie. If you have questions for Kacey or Maddie, you can send them to...

Jayme and I discuss the four types of winemaking – and in particular, the fermentation process – for red, white, rose’ and orange wines. We also share some of our favorite varieties. Pop open of Michigan wine and follow along.

Maxx Eichberg of Stranger Wine Company is my guest today. Maxx and his partner Sidney purchased the vineyard from James Lester – known as the Avonlea vineyard – just 3 years ago. Listen in as we talk about the history, Maxx and Sidney’s unique ackground, regenerative practices and future plans for Stranger. www.strangerwineco.com .

Jayme and I are tasting three amazing Michigan Chardonnays. We have one each from Ciccone, Chateau Chantal and White Pine – each representing the three main Michigan AVAs. We also talk briefly about Riedel glassware and wild turkeys – the bird, not the drink. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along. https://cicconevineyard.com/ , https://www.chateauchantal.com/ , https://whitepinewiner...

Welcome to podcast #32. Brent Kroll is my special guest today. Brent is the Founder and Sommelier of Maxwell Park Wine Bar in Washington DC. With strong Michigan roots, Brent brings a great perspective about Michigan wine. His wine bar recently won special recognition by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, who dubbed the place “Not your typical buttoned up wine bar.” Also, a very special thanks to Miranda F...