Iowa State Fair Wine Experience Photos
The Wine Experience at the Iowa State Fair was held August 9th to 19th on a hilltop on the 445 acre Iowa fair grounds in Des Moines. According to Mike White, viticulture specialist at...
Author: Mark Ganchiff
“Locavores Drink Local” at Kendall College Photos
On July 30th, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance hosted “Locavores Drink Local” at the Kendall College River Works Campus in Chicago. Illinois varietals were paired with foods...
Illinois Harvest Report from Chicago Sun Times
Today’s Chicago Sun Times reports that Southern Illinois’ grape harvest was adversely effected by a combination of spring frost and summer drought during 2012. Barb Harp of Two Oaks Vineyard in Southern Illinois told...
Are California Wine Production Figures Show Biz Hype?
You have probably heard that California “accounts for nearly 90% of American wine production.” The reason that the “90%” figure has become accepted as fact in the wine industry could be because that’s the...
Four Daughters Wins Top Honors at Cold Climate Contest
The 2011 LaCrescent from Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery in Spring Valley, MN won the Governor’s Cup at the 2012 International Cold Climate Competition in St. Paul. The Minnesota Governor’s Cup, a large silver...
Minnesota’s Tom Martell Passes on August 12th
Tom Martell, a Board Member of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association for 10 years including president from 2005 to 2011, passed away on August 12th at the age of 64. In a message to...
Cab Sauv Ice Wine No Sweat for Lemon Creek Winery
Michigan is the largest Midwestern wine producer with a climate that produces temperatures predictably below freezing. So one would think that Michigan is in a position to be a leading ice wine producer....
Michigan Wine Expanding Out of State, Traverse City Eagle
Expanding on a topic covered in Midwest Wine Press, The Traverse City Record Eagle reports that Michigan wine is gradually gaining market share outside Michigan. The grape acreage table in the story...
Fenn Valley Reports “Great Year for Reds”
In his always informative newsletter articles (yes, Fenn Valley still sends a paper newsletter), Doug Welsch of Fenn Valley Vineyards in Michigan, reports modest crop losses this year. He is also very optimistic about...
2012 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition Report
The 2012 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition results were announced this week. The top award-winners are: Best of Class Dry White: Chateau Fontaine – 2011 Pinot Blanc Best of Class Dry Red: Shady Lane...