Category Archives: Michigan

Warren Raftshol: Peripheral Persistence

Posted on September 29, 2014 by intoxreport

Whenever I stop in to see old Warren Raftshol in Leelanau’s answer to Area 51, I’m sort of overwhelmed; I feel both wildly lonely and strangely optimistic. He hangs on inside his wayward depot despite the odds, and Warren—whose sculpted … Continue reading →

Posted in Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan, MIDWEST | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Inside The Scatterbrain Of Sean O’Keefe

Posted on September 18, 2014 by intoxreport

(Part One of a two part interview with Chateau Grand Traverse VP Sean O’Keefe; both parts appear in Heart & Soil: Grand Traverse Wine Country, set for release Dec., 2014) ‘Scatterbrain’ is his word, not mine.  Actually, Sean O’Keefe is … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, Old Mission Peninsula, Riesling | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grand Traverse Distillery: Taking Their Best Shot

Posted on August 26, 2014 by intoxreport

It’s an interesting question in any case: Does appellation play the same role—or any role—in defining a liquor’s quality as it does a wine’s? Or is it purely marketing schtick? I ask because a wine’s regulated place-of-origin is intimately woven … Continue reading →

Posted in LIQUOR, Michigan, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Wearing Their Hearts On My Mitten: Michigan Wine Competition, 2014

Posted on August 15, 2014 by intoxreport

I certainly hand it to the grape council that represents my Mitten: They are one sincere bunch. Such punkling puns aside, I mention this because The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council held its 37th Michigan Wine Competition on August 5, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruit Wines, Lake Michigan Shore, Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan, MIDWEST, Old Mission Peninsula | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Adam Satchwell: Cracking The Lychee Nut

Posted on August 5, 2014 by intoxreport

This may come as a surprise to those of you who have seen me strip naked in a restaurant to attract the attention of a laggardly server or wear a ‘Kill White People’ hoodie to a Klan rally or hire … Continue reading →

Posted in Gewurztraminer, Michigan, MIDWEST | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Turning On The Pigott Spigot In The ‘City Of Riesling’

Posted on July 30, 2014 by intoxreport

For a place that bills itself as the City of Riesling, Traverse City spends a lot of time sleeping with the enemy.  For example, browse the tree-lined heart of the shopping district and look for chocolate covered grapes at Riesling … Continue reading →

Posted in Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan, MIDWEST, Old Mission Peninsula | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Michigan Wine Month, 2014: The State Of The Ouch

Posted on April 29, 2014 by intoxreport

It’s basically May and there’s still snow in the vineyards.  In fact, there’s still snow in the forecast.  The leaden ice sheet that lingers over Grand Traverse Bay is bizarre; this stretch of water, generally South Pacific turquoise at this … Continue reading →

Posted in Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Tone-Lōc Discovers A New Michigan Afro-Disiac

Posted on August 30, 2013 by intoxreport

Alright, dig it: The girls all jockin’ at the other end of the bar, Havin’ drinks with some no-name gwar When they know that I’m the star. So, I got up to find out what made them bitches blotto, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, MIDWEST, Moscato | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When It Comes To Michigan Wine Jobs, Outsourcing Is A Four-Letter-Word

Posted on August 17, 2013 by intoxreport

Every year around this time, I rummage through the big ol’ steamer trunk in my spooky, spidery cellar.  Moving aside the mothballs, I dig beneath the silver-buckled, bright green St. Paddy’s Day top hats, the 4th of July Uncle Sam … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, MIDWEST | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Dueling Digits: Michigan AVA Vs. Michigan AVA?

Posted on August 5, 2013 by intoxreport

Michigan’s shape has been compared to a mitten so often that our nickname is ‘The Mitten State’.  Colloquial claptrap, my good people.   What kind of mitten has an Upper Peninsula?  And if you think that the Yoopers don’t count, next … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, MIDWEST | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments