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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2008 > December > 01 > Entry
Ohio-Michigan rivalry moves from gridiron to vineyards
The final score wasn’t quite as lopsided as the deeply satisfying 42-7 result from the real Ohio State-Michigan game — this rivalry was far more good-natured than the football version — but the first-ever “Ohio vs.Michigan Wine Clash 2008” produced some fun and illuminating results nonetheless.
Check out this Slow Food Columbus blog entry on the “wine clash.”
The event was sponsored by Slow Food’s Columbus chapter and by Slow Food’s Huron Valley chapters, and organized by Andrew Hall, a Columbus-area wine enthusiast who figured conducting the competition right around the time of the Buckeye-Wolverine game would spice things up a bit.
Here’s what Hall had to say about the competition:
Both Ohio and Michigan share a centuries-old tradition of viticulture which was wrecked by Prohibition but has re-emerged in recent times. From the Ohio River Valley to the upper shores of Lake Michigan, growers and winemakers are working hard to create unique and quality wines. In light of the growing concerns about the carbon footprint of transported products, this event was created to showcase these local efforts and in the context of one of our storied local rivalry. On November 16th and 17th, groups of judges convened in Ann Arbor and in Columbus to judge over 60 selected wines from Michigan and Ohio. This is the first purely consumer-selected judging of wines in either state. It is also unique among competitions in being limited to wines from grapes exclusively from those states.
The overall quality was enlightening even to those of us who were experienced. The two states have nothing to be ashamed of … Buying local — a worthy goal on its own — doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. . … Also of note, three of the five winners are all below $20/bottle and all are below $30. Wines of both states do represent value.
Here’s a list of the categories and the winners:
— Sparkling Wine: Shady Lane Cellars Blanc de Blancs 2000 (MI)
— Aromatic White: Ferrante Winery “Golden Bunches”Riesling 2007 (OH)
— White Wine: Black Star Farms “Arcturos” Chardonnay sur lie 2006 (MI)
— Pinot Noir: Black Star Farms “Arcturos” Pinot Noir 2006 (MI)
— Red Wine: Kinkead Ridge Revelation 2006 (OH)
Hmm. By my count, Michigan “won.” Time to check for stuffed ballot boxes …
By the way, many Ohio wineries have special events scheduled for December.
If the full list of wineries and the wines entered into the contest does not appear below, click on “continue reading.”
Bel Lago Vineyard ( MI) http://www.bellago.com
Auxerrois 2006 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Domaine Berrien Cellars (MI) http://www.domaineberrien.com/
Vignoles 2006 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Black Star Farms (MI) http://www.blackstarfarms.com/
Arcturos Cabernet Franc 2005 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Arcturos Chardonnay sur lie 2006 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Arcturos Pinot Noir 2004 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Brys Estate (MI) http://www.brysestate.com/
Pinot Grigio 2006 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Signature Red 2005 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Signature White 2005 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Fenn Valley (MI) http://www.fennvalley.com/
Cabernet Franc 2006 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Capriccio NV (Lake Michigan Shore)
Chateau Fontaine (MI) http://www.chateaufontaine.com/
Pinot Noir 2006 (Leelanau Peninsula)
White Riesling 2007 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Woodland White 2007 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Forty Five North (MI) http://fortyfivenorth.com/
45 White 2007 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Gill’s Pier (MI) http://www.gillspier.com/
Riesling 2006 (Leelanau Peninsula)
Chateau Grand Traverse (MI) http://www.cgtwines.com/
Dry Riesling 2007 (Old Mission Peninsula)
L. Mawby (MI) http://www.lmawby.com/
Blanc de Blancs NV (Leelanau Peninsula)
Left Foot Charley (MI) http://www.leftfootcharley.com/
murmur 2006 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Lemon Creek Winery (MI) http://www.lemoncreekwinery.com/
Pinot Noir 2005 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Peninsula Cellars (MI) http://www.peninsulacellars.com/
Gewurztraminer 2005 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Manigold Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2006(Old Mission Peninsula)
Island View Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2006 (Old Mission Peninsula)
Shady Lane (MI) http://www.shadylanecellars.com/
Blanc de Blancs 2000 (Leelanau Peninsula)
St. Julian (MI) http://www.stjulian.com/
St. J Riesling 2006 (Michigan)
Tabor Hill (MI) http://www.taborhill.com/
Red Arrow NV (Lake Michigan Shore)
Wyncroft (MI) http://www.wyncroftwine.com/
Avonlea Vineyard Riesling 2005 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Avonlea Vineyard Chardonnay 2005 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Avonlea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 (Lake Michigan Shore)
Debonne Vineyards (OH) http://www.debonne.com/
Reserve Riesling 2007 (Grand River Valley)
Ferrante Winery (OH) http://www.ferrantewinery.com/
Signature Series Pinot Grigio 2006 (Grand River Valley)
Golden Bunches Riesling 2006 (Grand River Valley)
Golden Bunches Riesling 2007 (Grand River Valley)
Firelands Winery (OH) http://www.firelandswinery.com/
Gewurztraminer 2007 (Isle St. George)
Pinot Grigio 2007 (Isle St. George)
Harpersfield Winery (OH) http://www.harpersfield.com/
Chardonnay Cuvée san Chêne 2007 (Grand River Valley)
Pinot Noir clos mes amis 2007 (Grand River Valley)
Harmony Hill (OH) http://www.hhwines.com/
Serenade 2006 (Ohio River Valley)
Kinkead Ridge (OH) http://www.kinkeadridge.com/
Revelation White 2007 (Ohio River Valley)
Revelation Red 2006 (Ohio River Valley)
River Village Cellars Syrah 2006 (Ohio River Valley)
Riesling 2007 (Ohio River Valley)
Maple Ridge Vineyard (OH) http://www.mapleridgevineyard.com/
Chardonnay CADUS 2005 (Grand River Valley)
Pinot Noir 2004 (Lake Erie)
Pinot Gris Grand Reserve 2004 (Grand River Valley)
Markko (OH) http://www.markko.com/
Chardonnay Reserve 2004 (Ohio)
Pinot Noir 2003 (Lake Erie)
Meranda-Nixon Winery (OH) http://www.meranda-nixonwinery.com/
Traminette 2006 (Ohio River Valley)
Raven’s Glenn Winery (OH) http://www.ravensglenn.com/
White October Chardonel 2007 (Ohio)
Ravenhurst Champagne Cellars (OH) http://www.ohiowines.org/Wineries/ravenhurst_champagne.htm
La Terre Riche Grand Cuvee NV (Ohio)
Busch-Harris Refectory Cuvee 4 Cabernet Sauvignon (Ohio)
South River Winery (OH) http://www.southrivervineyard.com/
Karma 2005 (Grand River Valley)
Pinot Noir 2005 (Grand River Valley)
Riesling 2007 (Grand River Valley)
St. Joseph’s Vineyards (OH) http://www.saintjosephvineyard.com/
Pinot Noir 2006 (Grand River Valley)
Pinot Noir “No Oak” 2006 (Grand River Valley)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Ohio wines
Comments
By Dick Kinkead
December 4, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Haven’t been to Michigan yet, but I can surely vouch for the effort and resulting quality of KINKEAD RIDGE. Ron and Nancy fight (the Ohio gov’t) for winemakers’ rights by putting the Ohio River Valley on the viticulture map and keeping it there with topnotch wine year after year.By Nancy
December 1, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
I couldn’t resist… to the tune of Cheer Cheer for Old Notre Dame… Cheer cheer for Kinkead Ridge vines… Ripen, baby, make some great wines! Send the grape team out to pick Let’s go for some really high Brix! We never weaken throughout the fall We make the wines that win medals, all While our dear winegrower Ron Yearns for the best vintage yet!