MAIN Wines North America USA Michigan

First planted by settlers during the early pioneer days, grapes have grown to be a major industry within the state, and its award-winning wineries the envy of better known producers on either US coast.

The secret lies in the state's relative proximity to the Great Lakes - resulting in a longer growing period than in most of the US Midwest.

While for years more famous for its Concord grapes and the voluminous production of grape juice, jellies and jams by the Welch Grape Juice Company, wine production only truly took off following Prohibition.

The Michigan grape. It ain't just juice.

Although most vineyard acreage is still devoted to juice grapes, about 1,500 acres are devoted to wine production making Michigan the eighth largest wine producer in the U.S. (above, the Chateau Chantal Winery in Traverse City, Michigan).

Today, Michigan's 40 commercial wineries produce more than 200,000 cases of wine annually and have become a lure for travelers and aficionados to its world-class wine tours and tasting rooms.

See for yourself in our Web guide to the Midwest wine country with more on its wine tours & tastings and related wine festivals and extravaganzas hosted throughout the year ..

More about Michigan winery tours and vineyards around the Web:

Michigan Wines - The premier site on the subject, with a complete directory of wineries and vineyards with thumbnail descriptions, driving directions and Web site listings, a complete library of feature articles, wine tour maps, event calendar, recipes and fast facts about the industry.

Southwestern Michigan Wineries - Highlights and brief description, plus related wine sites and a history of wine growing in the region.

Southwest Michigan Wine Trail - Complete tour map in .GIF or printable PDF format with links to vineyards and wineries, and info on related attractions, events, hotels and lodging.

Wineries of Northern Michigan - Highlights and brief description, plus links to related wine sites and a historical overview.

Travel Michigan - Michigan Wineries - Brief descriptions, photos and how to get there with an interactive map, area attractions and related festivals throughout the year.

also see -> Michigan Beaches | Michigan Tourist Attractions

Michigan Fall Foliage