Tag: Michigan Wine Collaborative

Announcing the 2025 Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Competition

Michigan Wine Collaborative, Michigan Wines, Taste Michigan Governor's Cup Competition, winery

The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is excited to announce the 2025 Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Competition results. This event represents Michigan’s only statewide industry driven wine competition and is an opportunity for the Michigan wine industry to unite, engage, compete, and celebrate the premium wines representative of our wine industry.

Dr. Analisa Lappanen of Golden Muse Winery in Baroda, Michigan, one of the few women-owned wineries in the state, is passionate about vintage and antique hats and the Belle Époque era of Paris, France. Photo by Jane Simon Ammeson.

Partnering with the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) for the official third annual Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Awards in 2025, MWC is thrilled to announce the exciting results from the competition. BevTest spent April and May conducting a series of professional blind tastings to rate and rank a set of Michigan-produced wines, meads, and ciders at the BevTest Chicago testing facility.

Chateau Fontaine won two of the five coveted Governor’s Case awards for best white wines in the state. 

The final tasting results with all wine’s scores, medal ranks, constructive criticism, Best of Category, Governor’s Case Winners, and Governor’s Cup winners can be found on the Taste Michigan website now.

The Michigan Governor’s Cup winner for 2025 is Cherry Creek Cellars, of the River Raisin Wine Trail with their 2023 Charamar Collection Pinot Noir. This wine ranked the highest out of 154 entries from 33 wineries submitted to the competition.

White Pine Winery has a tasting room in downtown St. Joseph. Photo courtesy of White Pine Winery.

We are pleased to announce the following award categories and corresponding ‘Best of Category’ awards:

  • Vinifera Red: Cherry Creek Cellars 2023 Charamar Collection Pinot Noir (Platinum Medal)
  • Vinifera White: Golden Muse Winery 2023 Nadar Chardonnay (Gold Medal)
  • Hybrid Red: White Pine Winery NV Dune Shadow Red Blend (Gold Medal)
  • Hybrid White: French Valley Vineyard 2023 Vignoles (Gold Medal)
  • Fortified: St. Julian NV Solera Cream Sherry (Gold Medal)
  • Sparkling: MAWBY NV Grace Brut Rosé (Platinum Medal)
  • Rosé: Verterra Winery 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Gold Medal)
  • Sweet/Dessert (R.S. ≥5%): Bel Lago 2023 Late Harvest Riesling (Gold Medal)
  • Cider: Two K Farms NV Harrison Cider (Gold Medal)
Photo courtesy of French Valley Vineyard.

Governor’s Case Winners (top 5 red, top 5 white, top sparkling, top rosé):

Lemon Creek Winery, established by the Lemon family as a fruit farm in 1855, remains in the same family. Photo courtesy of Lemon Creek Winery.

Wineries and wines with their medal ranks are now listed on the Taste Michigan website. In partnership with the Taste Michigan brand, MWC will be coordinating events and promotional opportunities for the winning wines of the competition including a prestigious award ceremony where we will gather to transfer the Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Trophy from Verterra Winery to Cherry Creek Cellars.

The official trophy will be housed at the 2025 Best in Show winner tasting room for one year. MWC provides personalized plaques to signify each year’s winner. This physical award is becoming an iconic part of tasting rooms around the state for the wine industry and consumers alike.

Two K Farms 2021 Bellenoir Red Blend was one of the Governor’s Case Winners this year. Photo courtesy of Two K Farms.

MWC is excited and honored to be able to market Michigan wine through this event via retail and restaurant marketing projects, Taste Michigan campaigns, media opportunities, and more.

Big Little Wines.

We would like to formally thank our membership for making these events and projects a reality and invite the whole of Michigan wine producers and grape growers to consider joining our organization as well as suppliers and vendors to the industry, educators, members of the trade, and all other industry affiliates and supporters. We have many opportunities available for membership and sponsorship of our organization with each allowing us to continue producing projects to increase and reinforce the Michigan grape and wine industries.

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Cellars.

Join or Sponsor the Michigan Wine Collaborative Here!

The Michigan Wine Collaborative is the voice of the Michigan wine industry. Our mission is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry by supporting wineries, growers and other businesses and individuals connected to the industry – today and for future generations.

For more information, contact us by reaching out to info@michiganwinecollaborative.com or send us a message on social media.

2024 Field to Vase Dinner $50 Discount

Elegant dining, Gourmet, Michigan Wines, Uncategorized, winery

The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is thrilled to announce a second partnership with Certified American Grown for the 2024 Field to Vase Dinner at Creekside Growers in Middleville, Michigan on Saturday, September 15.

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Creekside Growers, this Field to Vase Dinner promises to be an unforgettable evening celebrating the artistry of local wine paired with the beauty of locally grown flowers, the bounty of Michigan’s agriculture, and the culinary delights that highlight the best of local produce. Guests will dine amidst the blooming fields, enjoying a farm-to-table meal that showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients.

Farmhouse Deli. Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Deli.

Michigan Wine Collaborative member wineries Modales, Domaine Berrien, and MAWBY will be providing the wines for the dinner. prepared by Chef Christine Ferris of Farmhouse Deli in Douglas, Michigan.  Guests will delight in a curated menu that emphasizes local and sustainable ingredients, and of course expertly paired with local and sustainable wines.

https://lpwines.com/The featured wines are produced with 100% Michigan fruit grown in Southwest Michigan by Modales from the Fennville AVA along with Domaine Berrien in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA and MAWBY representing the Leelanau Peninsula AVA.

Southwest Michigan is home to two of the state’s AVAs with Fennville being the oldest AVA in Michigan and the third to be established in the United States. Modales calls Fennville home. Their commitment to sustainable and regenerative agriculture and to the people who make the finished wines possible shine through in each glass of wine produced on the estate.

Their neighbors to the south, Domaine Berrien, are the first and only Rhone Rangers not only in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA but the entire Midwest. Specializing in the Rhone Valley varietals, Syrah, Viognier, Rousanne, and Marsanne, Domaine Berrien also hosts a wide array of vinifera and hybrid varieties.

Representing Leelanau Peninsula AVA is another significant producer, MAWBY, who planted its first vines in 1973. MAWBY is the authority on sparkling wine production in Michigan. For 50 years MAWBY has helped Michigan sparkle. With an emphasis on classic production techniques, sustainable farming methods and quality customer service.

These three producers are coming together to provide a variety of wines for Field to Vase that will represent the diversity and prestige of the Michigan wine industry. Just like the flowers and the food, the wine will be 100% local as well as expertly paired.

“This collaboration of agriculture, artistry, and passion will prove to be a vibrant experience that guests of the dinner will cherish for years to come.” Says Emily Dockery, Executive Director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative, “We hope that these guests will form an emotional connection with Michigan wine that inspires them into planning trips to Michigan wine country regularly and emboldens them to demand local wines at their favorite wine shops, retailers, and restaurants.”

Tickets for the Field to Vase Dinner at Creekside Growers are limited and expected to sell out quickly. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary event. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Eventbrite page.

About Certified American Grown. Certified American Grown is a diverse community of cut flower and foliage farmers from across the

United States. As the voice for domestic farms, CAG works towards sustainability and prosperity through a unified voice, effective advocacy, and strategic promotion. Certified American Grown flower and foliage farms participate in an independent, third-party supply-chain audit to verify both origin and assembly of the flowers and foliage grown. When it appears on bouquets, bunches, packaging or signage, the iconic brand mark instills consumer confidence in place of origin. For more information about Certified American Grown, visit americangrownflowers.org.

The Michigan Wine Collaborative is the voice of the Michigan wine industry. Our mission is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry by supporting wineries, growers, and other businesses and individuals connected to the industry – today and for future generations.

For media inquiries and more information, contact us by reaching out to info@michiganwinecollaborative.com or send us a message on social media.

Special savings of $50 on the dinner.

Voting Michigan Wine Collaborative Members and Premium Vintage Michigan members are eligible for exclusive discounts on admission to the dinner. Those members will be emailed instructions for purchasing discounted tickets. Feel free to CONTACT US for that code or Join MWC OR Vintage Michigan to unlock benefits and discounts all year long!

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