Category Archives: MIDWEST

Larry Mawby’s Sparkling ‘Detroit’: Feel Our Pagne

Posted on September 23, 2011 by intoxreport

If you were born south of Eight Mile or spent your formative years in Motown, you’re pretty versed in Detroit history—and, with a high school drop-out rate cresting 70%, it’s probably not something you  learned during  Fourth Hour. You know … Continue reading →

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

I’ve Done the Mead Deed. Yes, Indeed.

Posted on September 13, 2011 by intoxreport

What do honey mead and Margaret Mead have in common? They’re both interesting, but nothing you’d let near your lips. Or so I thought until I honeyed up to a home-mead batch that I did after getting sick of passing … Continue reading →

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

Michigan Wine: The Stats Are Stellar, Suckers

Posted on September 11, 2011 by intoxreport

Controversy has surrounded wine competitions for years, and as the landscape changes, things aren’t getting any better. For example, in 2006, Wither Hills winemaker Brent Marris was accused of creating special blends for competitions while his lesser wine ended up … Continue reading →

Posted in GENERAL, Michigan, MIDWEST | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Michigan Pinot Noir: Progress of a Work in Progress

Posted on August 30, 2011 by intoxreport

They’ve discovered dinosaur bones in the Arctic, so maybe producing decent red wine in Snowball Michigan isn’t so far fetched after all—maybe it’s merely acknowledgement of evolutionary precedent. Okay, that’s an exaggeration.  Certain brave and ballsy Michigan vintners have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, Pinot Noir | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Michigan’s Rieslings: Quality on Ice

Posted on August 29, 2011 by intoxreport

Among the endless ‘doh’ moments experienced by Michigan’s frost-bitten, hard-scrabble winemakers is that the grape they grow best, riesling, accounts for less than two percent of retail wine sales nationwide. Consumer ignorance is perfectly excusable since riesling is vinified in … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, Riesling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Michigan Meritage Merits Mention

Posted on August 27, 2011 by intoxreport

The term ‘meritage’? Not. First, if you’re going to invent a word, why make it one you have to teach everyone how to pronounce?  Second, if you’re going to combine two words to make a third, why use two words … Continue reading →

Posted in Cab/Merlot, Michigan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Harbor Vineyards and the Dialectics of Cherry Wine

Posted on August 27, 2011 by intoxreport

Plato, Third Century, BC: “Nothing more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God. Now, wanna argue about it…?” (Okay, this is Plato paraphrased—he didn’t tack on the argue part.  But I’m sure he would have; the crusty old … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruit Wines, Leelanau Peninsula | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why is This Michigan Red Singing the Blues?

Posted on August 24, 2011 by intoxreport

The red wine grape that’s proving a breath of fresh air to windswept  Leelanau Peninsula has a big problem: Not only have you never heard of it, once you have heard of it, you probably can’t pronounce it, and once … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan | Leave a comment

2011 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition Results

Posted on August 24, 2011 by intoxreport

But first: More me time! As summer fades and I reminisce about my illustrious career as a wine journalist, I find that over twenty years, I have racked up nearly a thousand exquisitely written columns. Impressive, non?   I’d pat myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, MIDWEST | Leave a comment