10/10/2006 This weekend, my wife participated in the Reeds Lake Triatholon in Grand Rapids. My reward for going along and being her sherpa during the event (and the rain) was to be able to stop at some wineries on the way home. In the end, the only winery we visited was Cherry Creek Cellars at exit 127 on I-94 west of Parma. A word of advice: do not get confused and turn into the first paved driveway after exiting the freeway, you'll end up pulling into the parking lot for a new adult entertainment establishment. Since this isn't that kind of blog, we beat a quick retreat and found the correct gravel driveway. The winery/tasting room is housed in a smallish metal shed nestled in the midst of several vineyards. A two-year old vineyard of chardonnay beckons as you walk around the side of the building towards the tasting room door, which is framed by a trellis covered with some red grape vines bearing bunches of ripening grape clusters. Inside, the nicely furnished tasting room is on the small side. The tasting bar curves along the side of the room and will comfortably allow 6 people to belly up for some tastin'. I say 6 because while two other couples came in while we were tasting. While everyone still had some elbow room, I was glad that we were in the middle of a purchase when a 3rd couple walked in--eight would have begun to be crowded. The young guy behind the bar looked way too young to serve wine, but he was very knowledgable about the wines and how the winery operated. Did not catch his name, but he was a very pleasant server. A second bonus was that a lot of winery equipment was scattered around the back of the building, since harvest and crush season is rapidly approaching, so I got to salivate over a big rotary bladder press.
We enjoyed the visit, especially their dry red wines. The 2002 Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Enigma (100% cabernet sauvignon) were quite good. The Cabernet Franc and Enigma were surprisingly dark, lucious flavor bombs made from 100% MI grapes. Very reminiscent of CA cabs instead of the weaker MI cabs that I've experienced before. Made in the French style with all three spending time in 100% French oak.
I was not quite as impressed with the whites--more vegetable and barnyard flavors. There were also a number of semi-sweet grape and fruit wines. The apple was rather good, but the cherry and cranberry were far too sweet for our tastes.
I'd recommend visiting Cherry Creek Cellars. For those not traveling along I-94, they have a second tasting room in Cement City near the Irish Hills area and the Michigan International Speedway. The Parma site is the mothership, started 4 years ago when the winery was founded. Due to the increased tourism traffic near Cement City, that site brings in more income, but the wine is made at the Parma site. While they wait for their grapevine plantings to mature, they source their grapes and juice from other Michigan vineyards. I've got to make another trip when the winemaker is around to be able to pick his brain. He definitely knows how to make good reds from MI grapes (the recent accolades at the MI Wine Festival bear this out). This is a winery that has bears keeping an eye on in the future.
Regards,
a Wine Student
