Lake Michigan Shore AVA

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Lake Michigan Shore AVA
Wine region
Type American Viticultural Area
Year established1983, amended in 1987 [1]
CountryUnited States
Part of Michigan
Sub-regions Fennville AVA
Climate region Continental
Soil conditionsSandy [2]
Total area1,280,000 acres (5,180 km2) [3]
Grapes produced Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chancellor, Chardonnay, Chelois, De Chaunac, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Müller-Thurgau, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Syrah, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles, Viognier [4]
No. of wineries15 [4]
Lake Michigan Shore AVA Lake Michigan Shore AVA.svg
Lake Michigan Shore AVA

Lake Michigan Shore AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southwest Michigan. Located in the state's traditional "fruit belt region", Lake Michigan Shore is the oldest modern commercial grape region of the state and home to a majority of Michigan vineyards and half of the state wine grape production. Vineyards in the region date back to 1867.

Contents

Climate and geography

The AVA boundaries include the smaller Fennville AVA and extend as far as 45 miles (72 km) inland from the lakeshore; however, the climate and glacial moraine soils are relatively similar throughout. The "lake effect" off of Lake Michigan tempers the northern climate. Lake Michigan Shore AVA has a warmer growing season, as much as two weeks longer than the Leelanau Peninsula AVA and Old Mission Peninsula AVA, both of which are in Northern Michigan. [4] The hardiness zone is 6a except near enough to Lake Michigan in Berrien County where it is 6b.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leelanau Peninsula AVA</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fennville AVA</span>

The Fennville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Allegan County, Michigan. Entirely contained within the larger Lake Michigan Shore AVA, the Fennville AVA borders Lake Michigan on the west, the Kalamazoo River on the north, a game reserve to the east, and the Black River on the south. The soil in the Fennville area is different from surrounding areas, primarily glacial sandy soils. The area's climate is moderated by the nearby Lake Michigan, and few days in the summer growing season exceed 90 °F (32 °C). Grape growers in the area have had success with both Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca wine grapes. The hardiness zone is 6a.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cayuga Lake AVA</span>

The Cayuga Lake AVA is an American Viticultural Area around Cayuga Lake in Upstate New York. The boundaries of the AVA include portions of Cayuga, Seneca, and Tompkins counties. Most of the vineyards in the AVA are planted in the shale soils of the hillsides on the western side of Cayuga Lake. Vineyards are planted at a range of elevations above the surface of the lake, up to 800 feet (244 m) higher. The steep hillsides and the lake together form a unique micro-climate in autumn that helps extend the growing season by preventing cold air from settling and producing frost. The Cayuga grape variety was created in this region by researchers at Cornell University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Ledge AVA</span>

The Wisconsin Ledge AVA is an American Viticultural Area in northeast Wisconsin along the Niagara Escarpment in Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Calumet, Outagamie, and Brown counties. Certified by the United States Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on March 22, 2012, it covers an area of 3,800 sq mi (9,800 km2) and is the second AVA designation wholly in Wisconsin, following the Lake Wisconsin AVA established in 1994. The state's third is the gargantuan Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA which also covers land in Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. After 7 long years, and 4000 hours, Steven J. DeBaker of Trout Springs Winery was granted his petition to the TTB for establishment of the Wisconsin Ledge AVA. It became the 203rd AVA in the US, including just under 2.5 million acres making it the 12th largest AVA in the US. Today, there are 24 bonded wineries that lie within the AVA with over 400 acres of vines planted.

References

  1. "§9.79 Lake Michigan Shore" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  2. "Lake Michigan Shore Wine". Wine Searcher. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. "American Viticultural Areas by State". Wine Institute. 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lake Michigan Shore (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008.

42°12′N86°06′W / 42.2°N 86.1°W / 42.2; -86.1