Michigan wineries expecting better tasting wines

BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. -- There are 50 types of wine grapes grown in Michigan, most of them  within 25 miles of Lake Michigan. Local growers say this year will be a stellar year for wines.



“They are really beautiful this year, a really nice crop of grapes this year,” says Tim Lemon, Co-Owner of Lemon Creek Winery.



At Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs, Lemon says this year's cooler summer has helped the grape crop as well as the amount of recent sunshine.



"This time of year, with the sunlight and the cool nights and sunny days, and it really finishes them off,” says Lemon.



The sun setting on the grape's outer skin combined with special soil found in this part of Michigan, makes these grapes perfect for wine.



“Just put it in your mouth, eat it, and spit out the seed and the skin, that’s what the flavor, you see it gives it the flavor,” says Tim Lemon.



According to Lemon's brother and Co-Owner, Jeff Lemon, the weather at the beginning of the season gave the grapes the jumpstart they needed.



“We did get off on kind of a cool start, which was good for the buds to staying away from the spring freezes,” says Jeff.

And a mid-summer drought was what they needed for their production.



"We have had some fairly dry weather here which is what the wine grapes love,” says Jeff.



In all, this year's weather made up the right ingredients for a perfect glass of wine.



“Pretty excited about the wines we will be able to make out of the fruit we are picking,” says Jeff.



Michigan is known for producing outstanding Rieslings and Chardonnays, and fall, especially, October, is a great time to make a trip out to the vineyards for some wine tasting.