Jayme and I are conducting a blind tasting of three Pinot Gris, or Pinot Grigio. Those three come from Pasqua in Italy, Elk Cove in Oregon and Dablon, here in Baroda, Michigan. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and listen in.

In episode #6 I interviewed Bill Schopf, the owner of Dablon, a beautiful winery and tasting room perched on a hill overlooking acres of vineyards. Today Rudy Shafer is my guest. Rudy is the operations manager at Dablon who oversees all vineyard and winery operations. Hear more detail about what’s happening at Dablon and find out about Rudy’s special past-time passion. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and listen along.

Today we close out the series about Michigan grapes. Jayme and I talk about the important place the Concord has in our history. We also discuss other juice grapes, hybrids and vinifera varieties, including Niagara, Catawba, Delaware, Baco Noir, Vidal Blanc and Chardonnay. Follow along with your favorite bottle of Michigan wine.

Lemon Creek Winery celebrates 40 years of business this year. Listen in as Kait Lemon and Jerardo Bocanegra talk about everything from nearly two centuries of history in the area, farming operations, the winery and wines, the tasting room and some of the celebrations planned for the year. In addition to social media, you can contact the winery at [email protected].

Today Jayme and I are tasting three red blends from the Lake Michigan Shore – all from the Baroda region. We have Big Chill Red from Chill Hill, Vineyard Red from Round Barn Winery and Producer’s Cut from Dablon. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along! www.chillhill.net www.roundbarn.com www.dablon.com

Dave Miller and his wife Sandy own and operate White Pine Winery with their tasting room located in downtown St. Joseph Michigan. Dave is one of our veterans here in the Lake Michigan Shore. Join us for a deep dive into grape growing techniques and grape varieties and hear more about the great wines Dave and Sandy are serving up at their tasting room. Pop open a bottle and follow along. See their website at www.whitepinewinery.com.

Jayme and I continue our conversation about grape varieties and today focus on those most commonly found in the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula AVAs. Two points to call out. Late in the episode we discuss the vinifera variety Gewurztraminer. It is an offspring of Savagnin Blanc - not to be confused with Sauvignon Blanc. We also talk about pairing Gewurztraminer wine with pumpkin pie, something quite appropriate for this holiday season! Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and follow along.

Gunnar Olson is the owner and winemaker at Baroda Founders Winecellar. Join us as we talk about all the things going on at Baroda Founders, and as we take a trip down memory lane to talk about Gunnar’s dad, Leonard Olson, and his pioneering contributions to the Michigan Wine industry.

Today Jayme and I are tasting three Cabernet Sauvignons, one each from Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley and Lemon Creek. https://www.domaineberrien.com/, https://www.fennvalley.com/, https://www.lemoncreekwinery.com/. To enhance your listening pleasure, we've edited out all of the long pauses between our observations, smells and sips! Enjoy.

Lauren Kniebes is one of the owners of Lazy Ballerina Winery located in beautiful downtown St. Joseph Michigan, at 321 State Street. Lauren and her partner Melanie have the distinction of being the first woman owned winery in the Lake Michigan Shore. Visit their website at www.lazyballerinawinery.com. Pop open a bottle of Michigan wine and listen in to this fun interview.