Harbor Country Living

This ‘Trail’ leads to area wineries

HARBOR COUNTRY — Eat, drink (in moderation) and be merry along Southwest Michigan’s newly designated Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.

Blue-colored signs proclaiming the route, a kind of Yellow Brick Road for wine lovers, began springing up along Red Arrow Highway and other county roadways two weeks ago.

Part of a marketing campaign designed to benefit the area as a whole as well as its wine-producing constituents, the idea for the Wine Trail was cultivated by a bunch of vintners known collectively as the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail Association.

Its membership consists of [locations inside and outside of Harbor Country®] St. Julian Winery, of Paw Paw and Union Pier; Tabor Hill Winery, with locations in Baroda and Bridgman; Lemon Creek Winery & Fruit Farm and Domaine Berrien Cellars, situated midway between Baroda and Berrien Springs; the Round Barn Winery at Heart of the Vineyard in Baroda; Karma Vista Vineyards & Winery and Contessa Wine Cellars in Coloma; Warner Vineyards and the Winery at Black Star Farms in Paw Paw; and Fenn Valley Vineyards & Wine Cellar in Fennville.

According to Kevin Reed, Traffic Services Manager for the Berrien County Road Commission, representatives from the association first approached the agency with the idea of establishing a wine trail several years ago.

“We had previously worked with some of the wineries on a program that tried to encourage motorists traveling on I-94 to get off the interstate and visit some of the area’s attractions,” Reed said. “I guess that’s what gave them the idea to try something a little more ambitious.”

Reed commends the group for the effort. “Instead of each business cluttering the roadways with its own signs, they were able to work together and do something a little more special that hopefully will benefit them all,” he said.

“The approach they’ve taken also helps out other local businesses by bringing more people into the area.”

A newly printed brochure and map of the Wine Trail are available at the Michigan Welcome Center and the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce. Another alternative is to visit the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail Association’s web site at miwinetrail.com. Or you can simply drive north on Red Arrow Highway and look for the blue signs, which are placed no more than two miles apart.

Sorry, but the rumor that you won’t get stopped for driving under the influence as long as you stay on the Wine Trail isn’t true. However, if you do manage to get pulled over by the police, and they ask you if you’ve been drinking, think how worldly and well-bred you’ll sound when you say, “Just a couple of Rieslings, officer — and a most delightful Chardonel!”

By Ray Gudas news associate editor, Harbor Country News July 2004
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