Telling Michigan’s Best Stories
For delivery concerns or to stop receiving this publication please call 800.804.5788, email customercare@mlive.com, or go to http://michigans-best.com.
Join us as we explore Michigan to find the best our state has to offer. Follow along as we travel to find and tell stories about Michigan’s best adventures, foods, events, nature, innovations, businesses, and communities. Your source for feel-good, positive Michigan news. Find us on MLive.com/MichigansBest and our social channels.
you don’t want to miss this
MLiveMIBest #ITriedMIBest MLive.com/MichigansBest
WHERE TO FIND MICHIGAN’S BEST CONTENT MLive | www.mlive.com/michigansbest Facebook | facebook.com/MLiveMIBest Print | every Sunday, around the state Instagram | @mlivemibest Twitter | @mlivemibest
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
10527237-03
GRAND RAPIDS | KALAMAZOO | MUSKEGON | 10.15.23
When we chose the stories for this edition, all the events and dates were accurate. As always, find the most-up-to-date information on the business/event/activity website, Facebook page or other direct information source.
Wine MI Best
[LOOK INSIDE] Highlighting the wonderful world of Michigan wine
Guide
Here’s why Michigan wines are the best,
unique and tasty
s SPONSORED Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail
Have you ever wanted the opportunity to try various wines and experience authentic wine making? How about tasting the unique grapes that grow right on the Lake Michigan lakeshore? Well, Lake Michigan Wine Shore Trail is the place for you.
tretching from Buchanan to Fennville to Kalamazoo, the trail is made up of fifteen quality wineries that each offer a different experience upon arrival. The trail is split into four different regions – north, south, east and central. “The wineries are clustered in those different areas so it’s good to pick and choose which area you want to visit,” said director Michael Moyer. “So, it’s possible to stop in an area, try a few wineries and then go hit another spot.” Ready to make the trip? Here’s all the reasons why you should try the wines along the lakeshore. The large variety of wine styles and tastes Whether you like your wines on the sweeter side or the drier side, there’s a wine for you on the Wine Shore Trail. Each winery has its own specialty and brings a fresh, new vibe to wine and wine tasting. “Some wineries take a different approach to the kinds of styles of wine that they make,” said Moyer. “You get this huge diversity of wines that you can get. We use a tremendous amount of varieties but also a variety of different sweetness levels and different price points. There’s something for everyone.” The trail’s variety includes sparkling wines, Rieslings, blends of merlot, cabernet and so much more. You’ll have to visit to find out! GRAPES ALONG THE LAKESHORE With most of the vineyards a close distance to Lake Michigan (ten miles close!), the
elevation, slopes from the sand dunes, well drained soils and a moderated climate thanks to the lake make for perfect grape growing conditions. “We can grow grapes that you can’t grow in other parts of the country,” said Moyer. “Across the lake in Wisconsin, they can’t grow what we grow. Even down in Missouri, if you go further south, [they can’t grow] because they don’t have the moderating effect of the water.” Because of the unique climate that Michigan and the lakeshore provides to wineries and vineyards, growers are able to dodge harsh winter conditions that often times are catastrophic to grape vines. The Wine Shore Trail is also able to make wines that are not able to be made everywhere
INFO To plan your perfect wine trail experience and to learn more about each winery, visit miwinetrail.com
like Rieslings, Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Francs. Those wines have been the backbone of wine industry for centuries and they can be made right on the lakeshore. The trail is composed of producers that want people to try their styles and enjoy themselves along the way. The Michigan wine market has had an exceptional increase in the perception of state-made wines but has a way to go – with your help, you can get them there. “Of course, we love it when people walk out with wine in hand,” said Moyer. “But we really want to build loyalty. We want them to come back and visit and look out for us at their own marketplaces. We want people to talk about how awesome Michigan wines are.”
you don’t want to miss this
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Telling Michigan’s Best Stories Join us as we explore Michigan to find the best our state has to offer. Follow along as we travel to find and tell stories about Michigan’s best adventures, foods, events, nature, innovations, businesses, and communities. Your source for feel-good, positive Michigan news. Find us on MLive.com/MichigansBest and our social channels.
MLiveMIBest #ITriedMIBest MLive.com/MichigansBest 10527238-03
SPONSORED Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail
Wine tasting pairs well with fall color… and snow-covered vineyards
I
October is the busiest time of the year for wine tasting in northern Michigan, where people flock to the 40-plus destinations along the Traverse Wine Coast to sample the fruits of another delicious harvest. Yet, as popular as it is to sip a Sauvignon Blanc on a sun-splashed patio overlooking a forest of fall color, this is far from the only time to visit a winery. In fact, you might enjoy a winter wine tasting experience just as much.
nstead of fall color, picture naked vines blanketed in snow and fresh flakes softly falling. Imagine warming yourself with a mug of mulled wine or snuggling by the fire with a glass of your favorite fullbodied Merlot. “It’s so peaceful and romantic that it’s like a Hallmark movie,” said Sherri Campbell Fenton, managing owner at Black Star Farms, which has a winery and inn in Suttons Bay and a tasting room on Old Mission Peninsula.
“We often in the winter will have people come up for a couple days and they don’t even leave the property. They do a little wine tasting, a little napping, a little snowshoeing. It’s a great opportunity for people to get away from it all and come up and relax.” Never gone wine tasting in the winter? Here are just a few of the things that make the snowy season special: Shorter lines in the tasting room – Because so many people love to visit wineries in the fall, there can be lines in the tasting rooms. Servers sometimes don’t have the chance to pause and get to know the customers. In the winter, on the other hand, tasting rooms are more laid back, yet still fun and festive. “When there’s not a line of people, we spend more time talking about the wines. We spend more time just chatting,” said Kasey Wierzba, head winemaker and general manager at Shady Lane Cellars, off picturesque M-22 between Traverse City and Suttons Bay. “We get to interact in a more casual way with guests.
MICHIGAN’S BEST | 10.15.23 | 2
“Amongst all the wineries up here, you’re going to find a more relaxed atmosphere and an experience that is just not as rushed.” Vineyard adventure – Winemaking is an agricultural endeavor, and many tasting rooms on the Traverse Wine Coast are on the same property as the vineyard. That means there’s a lot of outdoor space that in many cases is open for visitors to explore. At Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on Old Mission Peninsula, for example, there’s a 1.5-mile winter trail that loops through the 155acre site, starting at the winery and going down through the vineyard and back up. The trail is open for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Likewise, Black Star Farms offers complimentary snowshoes and more than 3 miles of trails where you can pair a winter workout with your wine tasting. And Shady Lane has 5 kilometers of trail groomed for both classic and skate skiers at a range of skill levels, with a separate trail for snowshoeing. “The landscape is completely different in the winter,” Wierzba said. “The stark vines and the blanket of snow underneath is always a beautiful sight to see. “There’s something about strapping on a pair of skis or snowshoes that makes a winter winery visit really special and adventurous.” Winter delights – After gliding through the vineyard, you can warm up by the fire. At Brys Estate, for example, there are fire pits just outside the tasting room doors where you can savor the winery’s hot spiced apple cider. On Souper Saturdays
from Jan. 6 - Feb. 24, Brys Estate features a rotating soup menu to warm guests. The soups also make a fine pairing for a variety of wine specials. “If you’re thinking of a really idyllic winter wine getaway, Brys Estate is definitely a great location to visit,” Sherri Campbell Fenton, said Taylor Scott, managing owner at Black Star Farms digital marketing & events manager. “As soon as you enter the estate, you see sleepy vines covered in snow. Then, our brick and wood tasting room is very cozy and lends itself to a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy a glass of our estate-grown reds that we’re well known for.” At Shady Lane, there’s a cozy winter menu of bites including soups, charcuterie boards, hot cocoa, coffee and even tableside S’mores you can make with a little burner.
It’s so peaceful and romantic that it’s like a Hallmark movie.”
continued | pg 3
continued from | pg 2
For guests staying in the 10-room inn at Black Star Farms, winter is primetime for Raclette cheese dinners. You get to combine meats, vegetables and melted Raclette cheese to create your own personalized meals using an electric tabletop grill. Aside from the regular joys of winter at the winery, the season also brings a variety of special occasions for your calendar. Here are a few more ways to get into a winter wine-tasting mood:
• Black Star Farms hosts a variety of seasonal events including a Dec. 2 Brunch with Santa and a New Year’s Eve wine dinner on Dec. 31. The winery’s Snowshoes, Vines & Wines events on most winter Saturdays are really popular, too, with soup and mulled wine to warm you after a trek around the vineyard trails. • New this year at Black Star Farms, Sunday brunch is available at the winery’s full-service, on-site restaurant, Bistro Polaris. The eatery this winter will host an assortment of wine-paired dinners, cooking classes and a cocktail program showing guests how to make drinks using Black Star brandies. • Many destinations on the Traverse Wine Coast take part in Traverse City Restaurant Week, Feb. 25 – March 2. For example, Brys Estate will offer discounted wine flights and cheese and charcuterie boards that week. Reservations are encouraged.
• Shady Lane has two ticketed events to check out this winter. A “Three Vices Tasting” event on Jan. 13 features a coffee roaster, chocolate importer and winemaker serving up spectacular wine, chocolate and coffee pairings, with a jazz trio for dessert. And on March 15, the winery invites you to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with an Irish dinner feast and live music. Shady Lane also hosts live music from 5-8 p.m. every Friday in the tasting room, with no cover charge.
Beyond the vineyards, the Traverse City area offers a wealth of winter activities to supplement your wine tasting excursion. For example, you can paint yourself into a magical Norman Rockwell scene by going ice skating on outdoor rinks in Traverse City, Leland, Suttons Bay or Elk Rapids. You also can discover a new eatery or relax at a winter watering hole with igloos and fire pits. And
you can browse the charming small towns of the Traverse City area, ski the TART Trails network or hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “Everyone always goes to the dunes in the summertime, but going out there and hiking it or snowshoeing it in the wintertime just adds a whole new perspective to that landscape,” Wierzba said. “It’s another way to be in awe and appreciate our beautiful state. “There is so much to offer up here in the winter.”
Searching for that perfect item? Go to classifieds.mlive.com
Classified PETS & FARMS
Bands/Music Lost & Found Personals
Investments Stocks Money to Loan
Dirt & Gravel Farm Equipment Livestock & Feed
Antiques Appliances Garage Sales
EL
E B R ATIN
40
C
FINANCIAL
G
ANNOUNCEMENTS MERCHANDISE
YEARS
TUB-TO-SHOWER CONVERSIONS
TUB LINERS
TUB & SHOWER REPLACEMENTS
THE PERFECT FIT. RECREATION
TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYMENT
REAL ESTATE
BARGAIN CORNER
Boats Campers Snowmobiles
Cars Trucks Vans
Homes for Sale Apartment Commercial
Business Bargains Items $1,000 or Less Wanted to Buy
Jobs General Help Services
With hundreds of custom designs for showers or tubs, a one-day install† and a lifetime warranty‡ ... it’s no wonder 2 million happy customers have trusted Bath Fitter with their bath remodels. Contact us today to book your FREE consultation!
24
SPECIAL OFFER
Morkies & Morkie Poo’s puppies Also Shih-Tzus. Sweetheart Personalities. HEALTH GUARANTEED Siamese Kittens Avail. 1-616-443-6004 REDUCE PRICE Toy Golden Doodle Puppies Shots, Dewormed & Vet Checked. Call Karen 989-426-3866 or 989-965-4278
Local sports news on mlive.com/sports
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION
CLASSIC ANTIQUE
WANTED VEHICLES
WANTED- Porsche 356 or Jaguar XKE or Alpha Romeo in Rough Or Poor Condition From 1950-1974 Call or Text Gary 234-521-1600
Local sports news on mlive.com/sports
AN AUTO SALVAGE Wanted cars, trucks, vans. Running or not. Top dollar. 616-819-9334
Find more stories on mlive.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIR
10747565-03
616 485-2847
grhandyman.wixsite.com/website
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act, the Michigan Civil Rights Act, and the Grand Rapids Municipal Code which 8make Acres NWto Mecosta Countyit illegal advertise any prefPrime HuntingorLand, Great erence, limitations discrimination For Home Orcolor, Camp Site. sex, Has based on race, religion, Well, Electric, Concrete Slab national origin, handicap, familial & Septic Tank. $56k Call Don status, age, marital status, source of 352-400-2211 For Appt or lawful income public assistance recipient status, or an intention to AWESOME OFFER on your make any such preference, limireal estate within 24 hours. tation or discrimination. Familial DEBARTOLO REALTY, status includes children under the 616-459-3581 age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not know ingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. To report discrimination, call the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity of the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777. The HUD TTY telephone number for the REPLACEMENT WINDOWS hearing impaired is 1-212-708-1455. AND
FARM ACREAGE
OUR BENEFITS
One-Day Install†
Find more stories on mlive.com
GLASS BLOCK BASEMENT WINDOWS NEED Lifetime Warranty NEW WINDOWS? K&S Services 231-722-8511
10749034-03
0% INTEREST
OR SAVE 10%*
Easy to Clean
Seamless Wall
Lifetime Warranty‡
1-833-684-1826 X-XXX-XXX-XXXX
bath-fitter.com/local
WINDOWS
Belanger Builders Handyman Service ESTABLISHED 1987 Let’s Explore the possibilities LICENSED MASTER BUILDER
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
†
‡
Tub-to-shower conversions and fiberglass replacements typically require a two-day installation. Lifetime warranty valid for as long as you own your home. *Offer ends 1/31/24. All offers apply to a complete Bath Fitter system only, and must be presented and used at time of estimate. Minimum purchase required. Terms of promotional financing are 24 months of no interest from the date of installation and minimum deposit. Interest accrues from date of purchase, but is waived if paid in full within 24 months. Monthly payments are required during the 24 months, and making only the required monthly payments will not pay off the amount financed. See representative for details. Qualified buyers only. May not be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases. Valid only at select Bath Fitter locations. Offers and warranty subject to limitations. Fixtures and features may be different than pictured. Accessories pictured are not included. Plumbing work done by P.U.L.S.E. Plumbing. MD MPL #17499, NJ MPL #10655, DE MPL #PL-0002303, MD MPL #82842, VA MPL #2710064024, IA MPL #18066, OH MPL #37445, WV MPL #PL07514, MI MPL #8111651. PA HIC #PA017017, NJ HIC #13VH03073000, WV HIC #WV053085, MD HIC #129346, VA HIC #2705155694, MD HIC #122356, VA HIC #2705096759, IA HIC #C112725, WV HIC #WV038808, MD HIC #129995, VA HIC #2705146537, DC HIC #420213000044. Each Franchise Independently Owned And Operated By Bath Saver, Inc, LLC, Iowa Bath Solutions, LLC, Ohio Bath Solutions, LLC, Mid Atlantic Bath Solutions, LLC.
10739736-05
PETS & FARMS
MONTHS
MICHIGAN’S BEST | 10.15.23 | 3
a GRAND RAPIDS, MI
MICHAEL KRANSZ | mkransz@mlive.com
Self-serve wine bar, bookstore opens in Grand Rapids airport
self-serve wine bar and bookstore opened spring 2023 at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The shop called Ink by Hudson serves up local Michigan wines and offer a catalog of bestsellers, small press titles, classics and more. Set to open in the area located after the security screening checkpoint just before Concourse B. “Ink by Hudson will be a unique spot for passengers to sit back and enjoy their travel experience,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “As our passenger numbers continue to grow, we are excited to welcome them with a book and a glass of wine, along with a distinctive assortment of gifts and travel necessities.” As of reporting in January 2023, construction was underway on the new shop. The self-serve wine portion of the shop is in partnership with Michigan Wine Collaborative. Michigan Wine Collaborative is a nonprofit based in Traverse City with a mission to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry through support of wineries, growers and other businesses and people connected to the industry.
Hudson operates more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist locations across North America. In addition to wine and books, the new Ink by Hudson will also feature toys, stationery, gifts, travel essentials and more for sale. Ford Airport officials say they offer a variety of restaurants, shops and amenities, including Founders Brewing Co., The Great American Bagel, Starbucks and more. More concessions will open in 2024 after the completion of the newly expanded Concourse A, Ford Airport officials said. That $110 million expansion to accommodate passenger growth will widen and lengthen Concourse A and see eight new passenger gates added to it, bringing the concourse’s total to 15. Ford Airport officials say the remaining renovation work is expected to be completed by early 2024.
What can we do together? Can we build stronger, healthier communities? Can we make health better by making it better for everyone? Can we impact today and inspire tomorrow?
corewellhealth.org/we-can
10722291-02
MICHIGAN’S BEST | 10.15.23 | 4