Michigan Archives - Cherry Wine

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Wyldewood Cellars

Monday, April 15, 2013

From a Family Farm to the World Stage of Wine
Founded in 1995, Wyldewood Cellars began as a heartfelt mission to make the family farm profitable — and evolved into an internationally recognized winery with over 600 international awards and titles to our name by 2022.

This family-owned venture was started by Dr. John Brewer, his wife Beth, and his sister Merry Bauman. What began as a passion project rooted in science, agriculture, and nostalgia has grown into one of the Midwest’s most awarded wineries.

Leading the Elderberry Movement
Our journey began with the wild elderberries that grew abundantly on our mother’s ranch in Eastern Kansas. In 1988, even before the winery opened its doors, we began cultivating elderberries commercially. What some called a “noxious weed,” we saw as a goldmine of potential.

In collaboration with Kansas State University, University of Missouri, and local farmers, we pioneered elderberry farming as a sustainable, alternative cash crop. Our efforts culminated in hosting the first International Symposium on Elderberries in 2013, and the development of four new elderberry varieties — including Marge, the first successful cross between European and American plants.

Hardy, productive, and suitable for machine harvesting, Marge is paving the way for large-scale elderberry production in the U.S.

Science Meets Craft
With two professional wine judges and winemakers on staff — Dr. John Brewer and his nephew Shawn Ramos — we blend scientific precision with creative flair. John’s background in science and winemaking laid the foundation for quality, consistency, and innovation in every bottle.

A Taste of Wyldewood
The best part of visiting our winery? Free wine tastings — every day during regular business hours. No appointment needed, just come in and sip! You’re guaranteed to find something that suits your palate, whether you love sweet, dry, fruity, or bold.

Wyldewood Cellars — From the Farm to You
From our family roots to your glass, every bottle tells a story of passion, perseverance, and purpose. Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the novelty, or just a really great glass of wine — welcome to Wyldewood.

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Chocolate Shop Wine

Friday, January 18, 2013

Chocolate Shop, the ultimate “Chocolate-Lover’s Wine,” is a deep, ruby-red wine blended with rich, velvety chocolate. Chocolate Shop provides you with a romantic, indulgent wine experience like no other.

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Volcano Winery

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Aloha! Wine tasting in Paradise is just a sip away at Volcano Winery. We’ve been creating unique wine and fruit blends on the southern slope of Mauna Loa Volcano on the Big Island since 1986, making us the United States’ southernmost winery.

We gather local tropical fruits like the yellow guava and the jaboticaba berry and blend them with traditional wine grapes to create local wines inspired by volcanic fire and the bounty of the island. Our location near the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park lets us make vibrant wine that captures the playful spirit of Hawaiian paradise — and our relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

In fact, our fruit -blended wines were so unique that the federal government (BATF) had to come up with new category designations to classify them!

We’ve seen many changes in our 25+ years, but the commitment to produce special, award-winning wines made with Aloha has always remained in our hearts.

If you plan on visiting the winery, you can enjoy a tasting with one of our fun and knowledgeable staff members and even drink wine by the glass out in the picnic area. Come relax and sip into “Hawaiian time.”

We’re open every day except for Christmas, from 10 to 5:30. Aloha!

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Peninsula Cellars

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Peninsula Cellars is a family-run winery founded by the Kroupas, a pioneer family of northern Michigan cherry farmers. The winery and their centennial farm, where they grow millions of pounds of apples and cherries every year is located on the Old Mission Peninsula just north of Traverse City, Michigan. The peninsula juts out into Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. This gives the region its distinct microclimate that makes it perfect for growing high-quality orchard fruit and wine grapes.

“Our philosophy toward winemaking has always been very minimalistic, allowing the regional expression of the fruit to come through. The sun, the rain, the wind, and the soil, all under the watchful eye of the grower, are what make our wines so good.” – The Kroupas

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Eden Specialty Ciders

Thursday, December 1, 2011

At Eden Specialty Ciders (click for video), our mission is to produce high-quality, boutique ciders and wines from traditional and heirloom apples produced in Vermont orchards.

Eight pounds of apples go into the making of each 375ml bottle of ice cider. Our ice ciders have won many ice cider gold medals and been recognized by Food & Wine, The Art of Eating, Wine Spectator, Culinate, Eatocracy, Serious Drinks, Edible Manhattan, and “Martha Stewart Living Radio.”

Our customers are discerning chefs, sommeliers, and wine shop owners, wine drinkers, sweet-wine lovers, foodies, gift-givers, and also people who just love Vermont.

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Chateau Chantal

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The unlikely story of Chateau Chantal began in 1974 when a former priest married a former nun and followed their dream of building a European-style winery chateau.

The Begin family — Robert, Nadine, and daughter Marie-Chantal — opened the doors of Chateau Chantal in 1993. The sprawling 65-acre estate is built across a rolling hill in the center of Old Mission Peninsula, with stunning views to the east and west of Grand Traverse Bay, and features a B&B along with its vineyard estate.

They began running the estate as a cherry orchard ten years earlier in 1983, and Chateau Chantal is well-known for its creative approach to its award-winning fruit wines and grape wines under the direction of head winemaker Brian Hosmer. Today, daughter Marie-Chantal Dalese serves as Chateau Chantal’s President & CEO.

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Latah Creek Wine Cellars

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Latah Creek Wine Cellars (click for video) is a family-owned Washington winery that has quietly built one of the most consistent and approachable portfolios in the region since its founding in 1982. At a time when Washington wine was still emerging, founders Mike and Ellena Conway set out to craft wines rooted in balance, complexity, and everyday enjoyment—and more than four decades later, that philosophy still defines every bottle they produce.

Today, Latah Creek remains a true family operation, with second-generation winemaker Natalie Conway carrying the tradition forward while introducing fresh ideas.

While the winery is widely recognized for its Merlot, its most popular offerings lean toward highly drinkable, fruit-forward wines like Pinot Gris, Riesling, and the locally beloved Huckleberry d’Latah. The portfolio spans dry and sweet styles, making it especially appealing to both traditional wine drinkers and those newer to wine or exploring fruit-driven profiles.

Beyond the wines themselves, Latah Creek stands out for its welcoming, unpretentious approach. Their goal has always been simple: create wines that pair beautifully with food, but are just as enjoyable on their own—and keep them priced so they can be part of everyday life, not just special occasions.

Latah Creek represents exactly what makes smaller, family-run wineries worth discovering: consistency, character, and wines designed to be enjoyed, not overthought.

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Maydelle Country Wines

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Using products available from Texas soil, each batch of fruit wine here at Maydelle is kept small. Most of our wines are produced in less than 300-gallon batches, keeping creation on the small scale, allowing what really matters to shine through: the fruit.

Instead of stomping on the same old grapes, we go out on a limb, creating wines that are pleasant to drink and downright FUN.

Maydelle wines made from lemon and lime have become our trademark, but you’d be hard pressed to find a fruit we don’t like. We also produce blackberry, elderberry, peach, and many more fruit and specialty wines.

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Black Star Farms

Friday, September 16, 2011

Black Star Farms is a premier winery and estate nestled in the heart of northern Michigan’s Traverse Wine Coast.

In 1998 founding partners Kerm Campbell and Donald Coe began the transformation of an 120-acre equestrian facility into a world class winery and agri-tourism destination, capturing the essence of the surrounding land and lakeshore. The property was named Black Star Farms after the stylized star in the marble foyer of the estate house.

“As farmers, we draw our livelihood from the fertile Michigan soil, embracing the challenges and rewards of growing premium grapes in this unique region. As winemakers, we’re privileged to capture the essence of our vineyards in every bottle, offering a distinct taste of northwest Michigan’s terroir.

“With their breathtaking landscapes, pristine waters, and ideal grape-growing conditions, the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas are more than just our home—they’re where we find inspiration every day.”

Michigan native Lee Lutes has been the head winemaker at Black Star Farms since its founding in 1998.

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