I don’t think that I over indulge but I do love to drink wine and, the finer the wine, the better. Maybe I am not a true connoisseur but I do know what I like. I have drunk my way through some of the best wines from Europe, South America and Australia and, of course have more than a passing relationship with the produce of California. However, until recently, I was totally ignorant on the subject of Michigan wines.
Until, I happened to come across a magazine advertisement for a Traverse City Winery Tour. At that time, I was only vaguely aware of where Traverse City was located and I had no idea that there were wineries in its vicinity. Or, did I? When checking out Traverse City online, I found that it is mainly in Traverse County Michigan but also spills over into Leelanau County. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered something from a bottle label mentioning the Leelanau Peninsula so; maybe, there is a winery somewhere near Traverse?
The Leelanau Peninsula AVA
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a part of our country that has been designated as a (wine) grape growing area by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the US treasury Department. As of 2012, there were 206 such areas across the country. The Leelanau Peninsula is but one of these. Wineries and other interested parties may petition the TTB for their geographic area to be designated as an AVA.
What Is The Main Type Of Leelanau Wine?
The soil and climate of the Leelanau Peninsula are ideally suited to growing the white grapes of the type used to produce fine Riesling style wines (even famed “ice wine” can be produced here). Vineyards will also be found on the area’s other peninsula – the Old Mission Peninsula. Both these peninsulas lie on the 45th Parallel – as do other world renowned wine making areas.
Beware, You May Need More Than One Traverse City Winery Tour
Not only are all the wineries located in extremely scenic countryside but there are eight of them on the Old Mission Peninsula and twenty one on Leelanau and all are unique in their own way. For the wine buff, we are looking more at a wine trail than a single, short Traverse City Winery Tour. You really should take your time and savor them all.
You can take the standard itinerary Traverse City winery tour or request the friendly experts at Traverse City WINE AND BEER TOURS to arrange a special set of tours taking you to every winery you may wish to visit. Browse their website for full details.
