TRAVERSE CITY — Vineyard managers in northern Michigan are expecting a solid grape crop harvest, with one calling the quality of this year's grapes "exceptional."
Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on Old Mission Peninsula, near Traverse City, is on track to finish picking grapes around the middle of November after good weather during the growing season, said Coenraad Stassen, Brys' vintner.
"This summer was so amazing," Stassen told told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. "We've had a couple cold spells and a lot of rain, but the fruit is holding up nicely. This is probably some of the best fruit I've seen in quite some time."
Lee Lutes, the head winemaker and managing partner for operations at Black Star Farms, north of Traverse City in Suttons Bay, said its grape crop "for the most part, has been exceptional."
"We pulled in a lot of the pinot varieties: pinot blanc, pinot gris," Lutes said. "We pulled in a little chardonnay for sparkling."
Michigan is home to more than 13,000 vineyard acres and about 3,050 acres are devoted to more than 30 varieties of wine grapes, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Wineries across the country — like many other businesses — have had to deal with the financial impact of the coronavirus, which has restricted travel and forced many people to reconsider their spending.
Black Star Farms isn't catering to big groups this year, said Lutes, who added that out-of-town groups coming to its tasting room include a larger proportion of serious buyers who are loading up on product.
"They may not be able to get in another couple of months because they'll be back in their permanent residences," he said. "I think what makes us all nervous is just the uncertainty. The flu season coming on, the election and everything else. There's a bit of uncertainty."
The Link LonkOctober 27, 2020 at 06:46PM
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Northern Michigan vineyards expect solid grape crop in 2020 - Crain's Detroit Business
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