Area wineries brought home gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, earlier this month. Six Northern Michigan wineries placed at the annual event, which is billed as the largest competition of American wines in the world. More than 1,500 wineries competed from 25 states.
Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery was among three area wineries that won double gold, the highest honor in each category. Winemaker Jay Briggs at Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery says the awards are helping to gain attention outside the region.
“I think we’re getting more recognition,” he says. “And while we might not be the first thing on people’s mind when they look at a wine list or when they think wine—now that the consistency of awards are coming to our area—people are starting to take notice.”
Other local wineries that won double gold were Verterra Winery and Bowers Harbor Vineyards.
These awards benefit the region as much as the particular winery, according to Briggs.
“I think it's great for Michigan as a whole when anybody does quite well at one of the international competitions or any of the competitions that are out of our state,” he said. “Michigan looked, really, really, really, really good at the San Francisco Chronicle [Wine Competition] this year.”