A Trail worth following

Looking for a fun, spontaneous activity to fill the seasonal void before the holidays?  ThePioneer Wine Trail beckons. The trip comprises eight south-centralMichigan wineries comprise the “trail,” all within an easy day tripfrom the Lansing area.

These wineries boast many medal-winning wines and are attracting loyal followers.  Geographically,the northernmost winery on the trail is Burgdorf’s Winery, east ofHaslett, and the southernmost is J. Tree Vineyards, near Blissfield. Inbetween, six other wineries span from Dexter on the east side to Albionon the west. Many of these wineries source some of their grapes andfruit from a variety of growers around the state, so you’ll be enjoyingwines made from grapes grown in regions ideal for maturation of thevariety.

All medal references are based upon results of the 2010and 2011 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition, the most significantjudged event limited to Michigan wines.

Consider starting the tour just around the corner atBurgdorf’s Winery. Drawing upon their extensive science andagricultural backgrounds, Dave and Deb Burgdorf not only create grapewines, but also bottle a variety of fruit wines. Featuring as many as30 wine selections, there is something for every palate — plus,customers can even arrange to make their own wines. The 2007 Morado, asweet red wine made from Concord grapes, won double gold at theMichigan Wine and Spirits Competition, a rare honor for any winery. Orconsider the gold medal-winning 2009 Niagara, a sweet white wine, orthe double gold-medal-winning Perfection, a blend of black raspberryand tart cherry.

Next, head south on US 127 to Chateau AeronautiqueWinery, located at the edge of a runway at Williams Aero Estates, nearLeslie.  Founded by DeltaAirlines international pilot Lorenzo Lizarralde, Chateau Aeronauticfeatures an elegant tasting room and wood deck, which provide a perfectsetting for enjoyment of classic vinifera wines such as Chardonnay,Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, CabernetFranc and Merlot. Wine styles range from bone-dry to port-style sweet.

Not far away is Sandhill Crane Vineyards, aptly named tohonor the nearby sandhill crane rookeries. Notable wines include goldmedal-winning 2008 Sur Lie Chardonnay and  2010 Vidal  Blanc, along with silver medal-winning 2008 Legacy (a dry blend of Chardonnay and Vignoles), 2009 Chardonel,  Moulin Rouge, 2006 Port in a Storm, 2008 Late Harvest Riesling, 2009  Blushing Crane, 2009 Serenade and Raspberry Rose.

Head south across I-94 to Grass Lake and linger at LoneOak Vineyard Estate, where you might enjoy the raspberry winecreatively labeled “LOVE” after the winery name.  Itfeatures 12 estate-grown European grape varieties, and vineyardmanagement practices follow a unique path. The vines are trellised justthree inches from the ground, for maximum absorption of ground heat,protection from cold weather at night and protection from winter killduring the dormant season.  LoneOak features dry through sweet wines, including Pinot Noir, CabernetSauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewurztraminer, as well as a redraspberry dessert wine. Look for wine dinners and entertainment on mostSaturday nights.

Winding down the road to Tecumseh, you’ll encounterPentamere Winery, with its “urban” setting in an historic building indowntown Tecumseh. Sourcing grapes from a variety of vineyard sites,  Pentamerenot only offers a range of nearly 20 wines covering dry red through themost delectable “ice wine,” but also offers fruit wines, spiced wine(to drink warm in front of a fireplace on a cold winter evening) andeven wine jellies.

The next stop is the Pioneer Wine Trail’s southernmostwinery, J. Trees Cellars, on Main Street in Blissfield. Michigan StateUniversity viticulture grad Jon Treolar’s wines have shown well incompetition, including silver medals for 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine,2008 Dry Riesling and 2008 Chardonnay. Visit J. Trees Cellars’ Facebookpage for up-to-date information and comments regarding selections, suchas Fuji Ice Cider and 2010 House Red.

Heading back home on Highway 223 toward John and DeniseBurtka’s Cherry Creek Cellars, you’ll need to make a decision: Visittheir winery and tasting room located in an 1870 schoolhouse off ofUS-12, or stop at their second tasting room location off I-94 nearParma?  Either way, visitorshave an opportunity to sample a vast array of wines, including goldmedal winners such as Cherry Port, Jazz and La Mia Famiglia, doublegold-winning Raceway Red (remember Michigan International Speedway isjust around the corner), and silver medal-winning 2008 Montage, WoodDuck White, Dry Riesling, 2007 Lynn Aleksandr Cabernet Sauvignon,Michigan Cherry and Summer Breeze. Visitors will also enjoy thewell-stocked merchandise shelves, featuring a variety of cherry-basedproducts, coffees and fudge.

The wine trail journey ends at Sleeping Bear Winery,which also happens to be the home of the Bad Bear Brewery and a greatTaste of Michigan store, featuring a wide variety of food and non-fooditems. The wine selection is broad, covering a range of wine styles,including several fruit wines. Notable wines include double goldmedal-winning Vignoles, and gold medal-winning Bear Lake White,Edelzwicker and Winedog Boardoe. As long as you are there, don’t forgetto check out the brewery side, where guests can enjoy pizza andsandwiches in the brew pub while sampling from the seasonally rotatinglist of fresh beers and ales.

Enjoy the journey.

For more information about the Pioneer Wine Trail,sponsored events, and links to the wineries’ web sites, visitwww.pioneerwinetrail.com. 

In vino veritas