The winemakers of Michigan’s Great Southwest proved themselves to be exceptionally worthy competitors when the industry gathered recently in East Lansing for the 2018 Michigan Wine Competition. In fact two members of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail managed to score more than 30 medals each including some of the highest honors bestowed by the panel of judges.
St. Julian Wine Company and Lemon Creek Winery both wracked up impressive wins in all categories, but most member of the local wine trail and others located in the region shared in the prolific show of force for the ongoing growth of the entire industry in our area.
The Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University played host to the wine competition which drew a total of more than 415 wines from wineries in every corner of the state including the Upper Peninsula.
Among the 20 wineries along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, 125 medals were amassed, and that number balloons to more than 14o when you include medals awarded to wineries in the region that are not yet members of the trail.
Three of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail wines picked off the Best of Class category. they included:
- Category – Semi-Dry Red Wine went to Lawton Ridge Winery for their AZO Red
- Category – Dessert Wine went to St. Julian Wine Company for Solera Cream Sherry
- Category – Fruit Wine went to St. Julian Wine Company for Sweet Nancie Peach
There were also half a dozen Double Gold winners, 21 Gold Medal winners, 82 Silver Medal winners, and 40 Bronze Medal winners.
For a complete list of the winners and wine categories, you can click the link below…but I have also pulled out the winners from Michigan’s Great Southwest and shared them here for you.
- Double Gold and Best of Class St Julian Winery Solera Cream Sherry NV
- Double Gold and Best of Class St Julian Winery Sweet Nancie Peach NV
- Gold and Best of Class Lawton Ridge Winery AZO Red 2017
- Double Gold Fenn Valley Vineyards Riesling 2017
- Double Gold Lawton Ridge Winery Harvest Select 2016
- Double Gold Lawton Ridge Winery Rosé 2017
- Double Gold Lazy Ballerina Winery Cranberry NV
- Double Gold Lemon Creek Winery Northern Lights Late Harvest Vignoles 2017
- Double Gold St Julian Winery On the Town NV
- Gold 12 Corners Vineyards Merlot 2016
- Gold Braganini Reserve Chancellor 2015
- Gold Braganini Reserve Late Harvest Vidal Blanc 2017
- Gold Braganini Reserve Late Harvest Vignoles 2017
- Gold Braganini Reserve Viognier 2017
- Gold Braganini Reserve-Mountain Road Winery Mountain Road Riesling 2017
- Gold Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Rudy’s Red 2017
- Gold Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 2017
- Gold Karma Vista Vineyards Marquette 2016
- Gold Lemon Creek Winery Cabernet Franc 2016
- Gold Lemon Creek Winery Pheasant Run Red NV
- Gold Lemon Creek Winery Silver Beach Sauterne NV
- Gold Tabor Hill Winery Grand Mark NV
- Gold Tabor Hill Winery Merlot 2016
- Gold Tabor Hill Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2017
- Gold Warner Vineyards Dry Rosé NV
- Gold Warner Vineyards Veritas NV
- Gold Warner Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine NV
- Gold White Pine Winery Chardonnay Reserve 2017
- Gold White Pine Winery Dune Shadow Red NV
- Gold White Pine Winery Lady Slipper Rosé 2017
- Silver 12 Corners Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2016
- Silver 12 Corners Vineyards Vidal Ice Wine 2017
- Silver Braganini Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
- Silver Braganini Reserve Chambourcin 2016
- Silver Braganini Reserve Gruner Veltiner 2017
- Silver Braganini Reserve Merlot 2016
- Silver Braganini Reserve Riesling Dry 2017
- Silver Braganini Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017
- Silver Braganini Reserve Tempranillo 2016
- Silver Braganini Reserve Tempranillo Rosé 2017
- Silver Braganini Reserve Traminette 2017
- Silver Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Chambourcin 2016
- Silver Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Chambourcin Rosé 2017
- Silver Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay 2016
- Silver Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery La Crescent 2017
- Silver Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Seyval Blanc 2017
- Silver Cogdal Vineyards/Little Man Winery Charlie’s Choice NV
- Silver Cogdal Vineyards/Little Man Winery Sweet Inspiration NV
- Silver Contessa Wine Cellars Merlot 2016
- Silver Crane’s Winery Late Harvest Riesling 2017
- Silver Crane’s Winery Riesling Reserve 2016
- Silver Fenn Valley Vineyards 42 Ice Wine NV
- Silver Fenn Valley Vineyards Blanc de Noir NV
- Silver Fenn Valley Vineyards Late Harvest Vignoles 2015
- Silver Free Run Cellars Dry Gewurztraminer 2016
- Silver Free Run Cellars Pinot Blanc 2017
- Silver Free Run Cellars Pinot Meunier Rosé 2017
- Silver Hickory Creek Pinot Gris 2017
- Silver Karma Vista Vineyards Gunzan Rosé NV
- Silver Karma Vista Vineyards Merlot 2016
- Silver Karma Vista Vineyards Syrah 2016
- Silver Karma Vista Vineyards Syrah Reserve 2015
- Silver Lazy Ballerina Winery Single & Ready to Mingle NV
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Carmenere 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Chardonnay 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Chardonnay Reserve 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Compass Rosé NV
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Gewurztraminer 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Grand Lacs Rouge NV
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Kerner 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Lighthouse Red NV
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Lighthouse White NV
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Malbec 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Meritage 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Merlot 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Pinot Blanc 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Riesling 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Riesling Semi-Sweet 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Semillon 2017
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Shiraz 2016
- Silver Lemon Creek Winery Vintner’s Reserve 2013
- Silver Moonrise Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
- Silver St Julian Winery Catherman’s Port NV
- Silver St Julian Winery Cock of the Walk NV
- Silver St Julian Winery Late Harvest Riesling Reserve 2017
- Silver St Julian Winery Late Nights NV
- Silver St Julian Winery Michcato NV
- Silver St Julian Winery Red Blend Reserve Cap Drain #3 2016
- Silver St Julian Winery Reserve Riesling 2017
- Silver St Julian Winery Reserve Unoaked Chardonnay 2017
- Silver St Julian Winery Sweet Nancie NV
- Silver Tabor Hill Winery Chardonnay 2017
- Silver Tabor Hill Winery Pinot Gris 2017
- Silver Tabor Hill Winery Rosé 2017
- Silver Warner Vineyards 2 Cab Merlot 2013
- Silver Warner Vineyards Cab Franc NV
- Silver White Pine Winery Merlot Reserve 2016
- Silver White Pine Winery Mirage Reserve 2016
- Silver White Pine Winery Pinot Grigio 2017
- Bronze Braganini Reserve Albarino 2017
- Bronze Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc 2016
- Bronze Braganini Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2017
- Bronze Braganini Reserve Chardonnay 2016
- Bronze Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery Tri Vina 2016
- Bronze Contessa Wine Cellars Chardonnay 2015
- Bronze Crane’s Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2017
- Bronze Fenn Valley Vineyards Capriccio NV
- Bronze Fenn Valley Vineyards Meritage 2016
- Bronze Fenn Valley Vineyards True Chardonnay 2017
- Bronze Fenn Vallley Vineyards Merlot 2016
- Bronze Free Run Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
- Bronze Free Run Cellars Meritage 2016
- Bronze Hickory Creek Viognier 2017
- Bronze Karma Vista Vineyards Stone Temple Pinot 2016
- Bronze Lawton Ridge Winery Collage 2016
- Bronze Lawton Ridge Winery Semi Sweet Riesling 2017
- Bronze Lazy Ballerina Winery Blueberry Blonde NV
- Bronze Lazy Ballerina Winery Cherry Kissed Red NV
- Bronze Lazy Ballerina Winery On Pointe Bubbly Rosé NV
- Bronze Lazy Ballerina Winery Peach NV
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Blanc de Blanc NV
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select 2016
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Grands Lacs Blanc NV
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Pinot Grigio 2017
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Pinot Noir 2016
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Riesling Semi-Dry 2017
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Ruby Rosé NV
- Bronze Lemon Creek Winery Seyval Blanc 2016
- Bronze Moonrise Cabernet Franc Rosé NV
- Bronze St Julian Winery Red Blend Reserve Cap Drain #2 2016
- Bronze St Julian Winery Reserve Pinot Grigio 2017
- Bronze St Julian Winery Social Butterfly NV
- Bronze St Julian Winery Sunset Michcato NV
- Bronze Tabor Hill Winery Cabernet Franc 2016
- Bronze Tabor Hill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
- Bronze Vineyard 2121 Miss Fortune NV
- Bronze Vineyard 2121 Reserve Chambourcin 2016
- Bronze Vineyard 2121 Reserve Merlot 2016
- Bronze Warner Vineyards Warner Brut NV
- Bronze White Pine Winery Riesling Reserve 2017
Here’s the link to the full list of all winners from around the state:
https://www.michiganwines.com/docs/Competition/2018-medal-winners.pdf
