Those of us who live in the Napa and Sonoma area get spoiled rotten with great wine, and often take it for granted. But what about people living in other areas of the country? We forget that the rest of the country appreciates wine just as much. Many states play host to a number of great wineries that produce all sorts of wonderful and exciting varietals. It seems like new regions are sprouting up all over the place, from Virginia to Maine and Michigan.This week, we'll explore one of Michigan's biggest wineries, St. Julian. They are located in Paw Paw, but have tasting rooms throughout the state. With a rich history that stretches back to the early part of the century, they have been focused on making wine for a long time. In the past decade or so, they have tightened that focus and are starting to produce a lot more single vineyard wines.With a rich history, St. Julian still produces some on the long-time favorites, including Sholom Kosher Wine and a very popular Raspberry wine known as All that Razz. Over the past 15 years, St. Julian has focused on producing a new line of single varietal wines. The grapes come from the best vineyards in Southwest Michigan, producing top quality wines. In 1999, Braganini Reserve Meritage was "born" establishing a small lot production of dry, single varietal wines. As excitement from the President and Winemaker grew, St. Julian now has over 15 Braganini Reserve wines ranging in many different winemaking styles.St. Julian also hosts many events at their location. From winemaker dinners for club members, to food and wine pairings, and special dinners at their other locations, you can always find something new and exciting happening there. Tastings are only $5 per person, and include a nice glass that you can keep as a souvenir. They have five locations that stretch from Paw Paw, to Frankenmuth, Union Pier, Dundee, and South Haven. All locations are open for tastings from 10 AM to 6 PM depending on the time of year. For parties with more than 8 people, they do require reservations to accommodate the large group.Learn more about St. Julian at their website.
