When Bill Schopf’s Dablon Vineyards Winery & Tasting Room burst onto the scene half a dozen years ago, the face of the Michigan tasting room ambiance and experience changed dramatically, and as he celebrates the 6th Anniversary of that crowning moment, he’s also marking the 12th Anniversary of the first planting of Dablon wine grape vines in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Schopf, who majored in English literature at Princeton University, is a great storyteller and he loves to tell anyone who will listen that Michigan holds great potential as a world-class wine producer, something his team is working on every single day as they work to overcome the perception that Michigan wines are sweet and cheap. Unlike many other winemakers in the state, Schopf has crafted his vineyards in the image of those found in the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions of France, growing great wines for the region.
To mark the 6th Anniversary of the Dablon Tasting Room and 12th Anniversary of the first plantings, Schopf has penned a letter to fans and supporters of Dablon, telling the great story of how it all began, his philosophy and mindset, and what he’s working to accomplish for the industry. I am sharing it here with you now:
To our friends,
We began in the spring of 2009 planting the Burgundy varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was the first step on a long, creative and increasingly wondrous journey. At first we just planted vines and tended to them. As they matured we built an underground winery, outgrew that in two years and then built our present production facility. We started to make Estate wine with a small 2011 vintage followed by magnificent 2012 and 2013 vintages that many of you have enjoyed.
Our team was excellent as they learned to take the best of European grape growing techniques and apply them to the unique terroir of our vineyards. For me it was the most creative effort of many creative efforts I have made in film, law, business, and otherwise. Pulling together the talent to grow the grapes and make the wine; working with the team to select the varietals and vines we could grow to achieve world class quality; dancing an unpredictable dance with Nature to keep our vines alive and grow our grapes in the face of her polar vortexes, killing frosts, pests, etc. – she is indeed a beautiful, unpredictable and sometimes fierce dance partner.
Every year we have planted new vines and made new vintages of wines. We now grow 17 different varietals and make 26 wines with those grapes. We always are thankful for and respect what Nature has done for us, we admire the wisdom of our vines and we appreciate our opportunity to be laborers in the task of taking the energy of the sun, the air that we breathe, the rain we need, and the soil under our feet and turning it into these wonderful grapes and wines.
In May of 2015 we had planted our vines, grown our grapes, made and aged our wines and were ready to present them to the world. That is when we opened our Tasting Room. As most of you have seen, it is a facility that allows you to see where the grapes are grown and where the wine is made as you enjoy the result in a very comfortable space. And when you come to the Tasting Room we are trying to present you with an experience and environment that matches the quality of our wine.
Michigan can grow world class grapes to make world class wine and that is our core message. We learned through the Tasting Room and Wine Club that a lot of people supported us in our efforts. As importantly, we have made a lot of friends. We see you frequently as friends do, and you care about Dablon and provide your advice about the wine and the experience.
The last year has been challenging, but you have supported us, enjoying our expanded patio in the summer and igloos in the winter, and we will support you, providing the best wine, environment and experience that Dablon can and will create.
With thanks,
William Schopf
You can find Dablon Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room at 111 W. Shawnee Road in Baroda, as well as at select restaurants in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and many fine retailers. Bill always suggests, “If your favorite restaurant does not offer Dablon wines, ask they why not, and encourage them to do so for the enjoyment of you, your family and friends.” Learn more online at this link:
