Wine Wednesday: Wine from Michigan

This is a terrible photo of these wines, but it is the only one I quickly snapped because I honestly didn’t think I would blog about wine from Michigan! While visiting family on our trip to Chicago, I was surprised, delighted, and an instant fan of both of these wines from the Lake Michigan Shore.

It’s a good reminder that great wine can grow in places that are not well-known wine regions!

First up, there was the Contessa Reserve Chardonnay, which, with notes of oak, vanilla, apple pie, and a nice acidity on the finish, was delicious. I would have probably guessed it was from Napa, had I not known. I drank it with shrimp in a lime-cilantro sauce, and it was a great pairing. This wine is a good seafood wine and since what “grows together goes together” would probably go well with trout and other freshwater fish.

The second wine we tasted was the Free Run Cellars Syrah, a 2012 that went with my salmon main course. Again, I was wowed out how delicious the wine was; what did expect?! Dark, rich berries and spice were the hallmarks of this wine, and just as I love fruit with salmon (salmon with Zinfandel and cherry recipe!) I thought the wine was a spot on pairing.

I hear that Lake Michigan wine country is also a gorgeous place for a getaway. The Pure Michigan commercials get me every single time, so perhaps a wine tasting adventure in Michigan should be on our list of places to visit!