Tag Archives: west michigan

Jul18

Wine Reviews

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Know Your Michigan Wines

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery Dry Riesling
If wine is sunlight held together by water then Brys Estate Dry Riesling is the perfect example. It’s summer in a bottle. Riesling was a variety that this dry wine lover avoided, that was until I discovered the dry variety that wine makers in Northern Michigan were making, and well, I fell in love with it. Riesling is a grape that all the wine makers On the Michigan Wine Trail have said is made for Michigan, and I encourage you to take their word for it. This wine took a Gold medal at the Great Lakes Wine Competition and winemaker Coenraad Strasen has mastered this Michigan loving grape and captured a season in the bottle that tastes like summer!

 

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery Pinot Noir
I have to confess this is an absolute favorite of mine. It has smoothness and a depth that set it apart. On the nose fully ripe dark cherries, a hint of licorice, and spice that delivers on the pallet. I find the spiciness to be beautifully balanced with a very smooth creaminess, and the perfect amount of lingering after taste. I drink this one in all seasons but find it my go to red as the days get warmer. Cheers!

 

Chateau de Leelanau 2010 Pinot Grigio
If there are a few grape varieties Michigan wine makers seem to agree truly shine in Northern Mi. Pinot Grigio shows up on all the lists. Chateau de Leelanau is making a beautiful example of this wine. Crisp, clean and refreshing. Hints of grapefruit, apricot and lime, and dare I say I smelled a touch of strawberry on the nose. A nice after party finishes off this ‘perfect on a sunny spring day’ wine, and the flavors stay with you in the most pleasant way. Cheers!

 

Longview Winery & Vineyard 2011 Chardonnay… Yes Please!
This is a beautiful, well balanced expression of what a great Chardonnay can be. Lovely honey, pear and apple with a touch of butter, all this while remaining a dry wine. Perfect for many occasions but here it was supreme for an outing on a warm sunny day on the river, no food needed.

 

Chateau Chantal Winery 2010 Chardonnay Proprietors Reserve
A clear buttery yellow greats the eyes, while creamy apricot notes tease the nose. On the palate, a touch of inviting tartness and a explosion of fruits roll over the tongue with a clean finish that lingers, just as you would want it to. It definitely leaves you wanting more… See for yourself. Cheers!

 

2 Lads Winery 2009 Sparkling Reserve
This is sparkling wine done right. They say pear, and baked apple on the nose with limestone and peach under tones. We say, yes these smells can be found, but after a few sips you don’t really care, it’s just um, um good! A explosion of yumminess to use my finest wine speak. Dry and full bodied taking you beyond just bubbles into a fine wine. Run don’t walk for this one. And beautiful packaging to boot. 2 thumbs up for 2 Lads Sparkling Reserve— with 2 Lads.

 

Silverleaf Vineyard & Winery 2011 Pinot Grigio
This one tastes even better than it looks in this photo. It’s light and fresh like a summer day, and fruit forward. My only warning is it goes down very easy, you will have to pace yourself.

Jul11

Kids, Summer, Art and Beethoven

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Children who know the difference between Beethoven and Bach have a higher IQ. That is something I read years ago in a book on the great artist and Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci was a big advocate for whole brain thinking; to him, using and teaching to only half the brain just didn’t add up. If you find yourself nodding in agreement and singing the phrase, “yes to the arts” silently in your head or out load, read on.

Summer is the perfect time to supplement your child’s inner artist, and hopefully yours at the same time! It’s easier than you might think to incorporate this great sunny weather and creativity. I’ll assume you’ve already brought yourself and your most precious ones to our great art museums, galleries, and Fredrik Meijer Gardens. If not, start by showing your children art and encouraging them to “see.” To notice that, yes, most leaves are green but look at the variety of greens; it’s never just one shade, and what happens to the leaves when the sun is shining vs. when they are in the shade? My favorite lesson in seeing is to look up: There is a party going on in the sky just about every day – one only has to look to notice.

What you will need for your day of art:

  • a sketch book to play with ideas
  • a set of paints (I like acrylics or watercolor but anything with color that leaves a mark will do)
  • paper or canvas on which to work
  • brushes, or just use your fingers, as I often do
  • a roll of paper towel (I like Viva for strength)
  • an old blanket
  • piece of white paper with a square or rectangle cut out of the middle, to use as a view finder

It’s summer and we want to soak up as much of that warmth and light as we can, so let’s take this party outside and paint plain air, as the impressionists did. Your own back yard could work, but to add to the adventure let’s go to one of the beautiful parks we have in West Michigan. Spread the old blanket out on the ground and pull out the white paper with a hole cut out. This is our viewfinder to help us decide what area we’ll be painting. Once you decide on our composition, pull out the paints and have fun. Keep in mind, for children there is no wrong in art. Give them freedom to express themselves in color and they will. A hot pink tree can be much more interesting than yet another green one, so encouragement of expression verses expectations of realist representation will yield better results. Moms and dads, be sure to join in the fun. Kids learn by example and we don’t want our wee ones thinking fun with art ends after childhood is over.

Article as seen in the July 2012 Women’s Lifestyle Magazine