3 Michigan Vineyards Named the Best by Reader’s Digest
Michigan vineyards are glorious, especially in the fall months, but that’s really true any time of the year. Now, three Michigan vineyards have been named among the best in the country by the experts at Reader’s Digest. Take note of these special vineyards, if you’re looking to do some wine tasting or just exploring of your favorite parts of the state.
Michigan Vineyards and the History of Wine
If you’ve ever wondered where the word “vineyard” came from, it dates back to many centuries ago. “The French tradition of wine making is what led English speakers to adopt a French term for ‘grape plantation,’ although in South Africa it is called a ‘wine farm,'” Vocabulary.com notes. “Around 1300, the Old English term wingeard was replaced with the word vineyard.”
As for the history of wine, the delicious beverage of course dates back centuries and there are even plenty of references to win in the Bible. Don’t you remember Jesus changing water to wine? “Vitis vinifera was being cultivated in the Middle East by 4000 BC and probably earlier,” notes Britannica. “Egyptian records dating from 2500 BC refer to the use of grapes for wine making, and numerous biblical references to wine indicate the early origin and significance of the industry in the Middle East.” Cornell Uniersity also notes that, “Wine making made its way to Greece, where it permeated all aspects of society: literature, mythology, medicine, leisure, and religion. The Romans took vine clippings from Greece back to Italy, and centers of viticulture soon developed in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the rest of Europe.” So, if you’re a wine fan, know that you adore something that’s been around nearly since the beginning of time.
As for the Michigan vineyards to visit, the experts at Reader’s Digest suggest Black Star Farms, with three locations in the Traverse City area. “Part of Michigan’s Traverse Wine Coast, Black Star Farms has tasting rooms and vineyards on both the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula,” they note. Reader’s Digest also suggests visiting the French-inspired Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn, located at 15900 Rue Devin in Traverse City. “Stop into the tasting room, which is open daily and has a bevy of wines available, or consider a special event option like outdoor jazz concerts, cooking classes, or a wine dinner,” they note. Finally, they also rave about Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery located at 3720 Atkins Road in Petoskey, noting, “It sits in the Petoskey Wine Region, which offers a fun passport to visit each of the 14 wineries on the trail.”
