’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the state
Festive wine lovers could hardly wait
The Riedel was placed on the table with care
In hopes that the wine soon would be there
To fill up their glasses with local delights
Reds and rosés and, of course, whites
The stems were nestled all snug in their hands
As they named Michigan wineries of which they were fans
To the north and the south and the east and the west
No matter what region, they agreed it was best
To enjoy the libations produced close to home
There’s plenty right here, there’s no need to roam
As the revelers sipped, Santa arrived
Making his rounds before he imbibed
With presents delivered, it was time for a trip
From the bottom of Michigan up to the tip
Every wine region he planned to stop by
To see all the wineries and give them a try
From the Upper Peninsula to Lake Michigan Shore
To Leelanau, Old Mission and much, much more
Flying to Boskydel to see Bernie Rink
To wish him farewell and to share a stiff drink
Chatting at length with Black Star’s Lee Lutes
Sipping bubbly at Mawby in champagne flutes
Pausing at Fontaine for the famous cheeseball
Swinging by Verterra with greetings for Paul
Then Forty-Five North to say hi to Jay Briggs
Laughing with Channing between hearty swigs
Now riesling, now pinot, now cabernet franc
On syrah, on chard, on sauvignon blanc
Fill up that glass and let’s have a ball
Now drink away, drink away, drink away all!
Popping by Good Harbor to try Fishtown White
Then heading a bit south to Bel Lago’s site
Chatting with Charlie about great clones of pinot
Meeting the 2 Lads and drinking their vino
Admiring the castle belonging to Mari
Sampling their reds, he sure wasn’t sorry
Tiptoeing through lavender at the gardens of Brys
Off to Chantal and Grand Traverse for a Christmas surprise
While visions of vineyards danced in his head
Santa went to east to find hybrid reds
Like award-winning Marquette at Walloon Lake
Despite all his visits, he still couldn’t slake
His bottomless thirst for the Michigan wines
So he headed down south to check out their vines
Learning of Rhone grapes from Wally and Katie
Taking home plenty for his old lady
Then off to the big white barn that was round
Slipping in to sip wine with nary a sound
To downtown St. Joseph, to see Dr. Dave
To Lemon Creek’s farms, where Cab was his fave
Off now to Jackson to the place with the planes
Then just down the street to see Sandhill Crane
Where he bought a good sandwich on Zingerman’s bread
Got himself watered and sufficiently fed
Preparing for his journey back to the north
With memories of wine to carry him forth
And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a wine flight!
Cortney Casey is a certified sommelier and co-founder of MichiganByTheBottle.com, a website and online community that promotes the entire Michigan wine industry. She’s also co-owner of Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room, tasting rooms operated in partnership with multiple Michigan wineries, located in Shelby Township, Royal Oak, and Auburn Hills. Contact her at cort@michiganbythebottle.com.
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