Drinking Wine in the Vineyard

3 North Vines

Date Visited:  August 3, 2019

Stop:  #39

As we left Trinity Church, I knew there was another historical marker to visit in Lexington.  However, I knew there was no way we could actually visit it – for two reasons!!!  The first reason - the sign was damaged and ultimately removed back in 2002 and never replaced.  The second reason – even if the sign was there, it would have been inaccessible, seeing it would have been 1200 feet offshore and 45 feet underwater!!!  The sign marked the resting spot of the tugboat, Sport.  Built in 1873, the Sport had an illustrious 47-year career before a major storm caused it to sink just off the shore of Lexington on December 13, 1920.  Fortunately, all five crew members washed up on shore alive, but the tugboat has rested on the bottom of Lake Huron ever since and is a favorite dive spot for scuba enthusiasts.  So, I guess officially we can’t count this as a stop on our quest, but we took solace in the fact that our next stop would be to a winery.

From Trinity Church, we headed north on Main St. for about 1000 feet and made a left hand turn onto Huron Avenue (M-90).  We drove 2.6 miles west on Huron Ave, which becomes Peck Road outside the city limits of Lexington.  On the south side of Peck Road, there is a vineyard and a long driveway leading up to the winery and tasting room.  We had arrived at 3 North Vines.

3 North Vines was founded by Nathan and Kristi Shopbell in 2007.  The two had met at a wine tasting class while students at Michigan State University.  After graduating, they married and launched their respective careers.  But they soon realized they were missing something, so they decided to turn their wine-making hobby into a new career.  They bought 35 acres of farmland between Lexington and Croswell in 2007.  They began planting grapevines in 2008, and finally opened the doors to their winery and tasting room in 2014.

On this particular day, the winery was packed with customers – maybe it was the perfect weather, or the Art Fair in Lexington, or maybe it is like this every Saturday at 3 North Vines.  In any event, I dropped Sarah and Kathy off at the door so they could get in line, and I found the very last parking spot as far away from the front door as you can get.  The tasting room sits on top of a hill that overlooks the vineyard.  There were people sitting all over the place.  The tasting room indoors was packed.  The patio area was also completely filled.  By the time we got to the front of the line, there were no seats available anywhere.  However, the servers were so friendly and wonderful – they went and found a table (made completely from the shafts of discarded hockey sticks) and three chairs and found a perfect place for us to sit under a tree with a nice view of the vineyard.  A server showed up at our table almost immediately and provided us with a wine menu and a verbal list of appetizers to choose from.

The wine list contained 11 selections:

• Lucky Shoe – sweet white blend of Seyval and Vidal Blanc, with hints of melon
• Fool Me Once – semi-sweet rosé, with citrus and cherry notes with a crisp finish
• Seyval Blanc – sweet white, has a floral nose, with tropical notes and a sweet finish
• Riesling – semi-dry white, has bold flavor of apple and bright and exciting
• Albariño – dry white with pineapple and pear flavors, with a delicate finish
• Sémillon – dry white, smooth floral and easy to drink
• X Marks the Spot – semi-dry red, red blend and hints of cherry.  Unoaked and easy to drink
• Pinot Noir – dry, light body red with hints of oak and red berries
• Pinot Noir Black Label – a dry red, light body red with an earthy smoky finish
• Pinotage – dry red, with notes of chocolate and berry flavors with light oak
• Marquette – dry red, medium body, is thick with red fruit flavors with a smooth finish

And 2 sangrias:

• Raspberry Mango
• Red White & Blue

To make it easier for customers to decide what wines to try, 3 North Vines provides their patrons with 3 Flight Selections at the bottom of the wine list:

SWEET	WHITES	REDS
Lucky Shoe	Seyval Blanc	X Marks the Spot
Fool Me Once	Riesling	Pinot Noir
Seyval Blanc	Albariño	Pinotage
Riesling	Sémillon	Marquette

It was easy for me to choose – I went with the SWEET selection.  Kathy decided on the WHITES flight, and Sarah went with the REDS.  The flights were $7 each and the pours were rather generous (at least 3 oz. each).  You could also buy wine by the glass for $7 and Sangria by the glass for $7.  It is important to note that 3 North Vines offers 5 different ciders as well – A Few Good Apples, Espresso Royale, Clear and Present Cider, The Hunt for Peach October, and Cherry Is Not Enough.  You can get a flight of cider (3 pours) for $7, or buy cider by the pint for $7.  We also decided to get a snack, so we ordered the Sweet Side tasting plate which included a variety of different chocolate desserts.

Our server took the order for our wine selections and returned shortly with our first tasting.  This was not the typical way we had done tastings in the past since most places bring all of your selections out at the same time.  With there being so many people at the winery this day, it appeared that being served one glass at a time guaranteed long waits in between glasses of wine.  But I have to tell you, that was not the case.  Our server was excellent, never letting our glass stay dry for very long before our next glass was in front of us.  She was extremely pleasant and very helpful, and we really appreciated the great service we got that day.  We enjoyed all of the wine and sangria selections, and just really enjoyed sitting outside in the fresh air.  We struck up conversations with people sitting next to us, and watched a very large family gathering try to take a group picture.  Unfortunately, because of the large number of people involved, taking a selfie so that everyone could be included was impossible, so I offered to take a few pictures for them.  By this time, we had finished our wines and our snack, and Kathy had ordered a couple of bottles to take home with us.  We spent about an hour and twenty minutes there, relaxing, people watching, talking, drinking, and just enjoying the atmosphere.  This was definitely one of the top wineries we have visited so far on our quest, and we definitely plan to return someday.

#michiganwinesandsigns #michigan #history #michiganhistory #wine #michiganwine #winetasting #historyisbetterwithwine

Wine, History, and Art

Trinity Church

Date Visited:  August 3, 2019

Stop:  #38

We were about to find out why it seemed so busy in Lexington on this perfect summer day.  If you recall, in my blog for Stop #36, Struck by Cupid’s Arrow (https://michiganwinesandsigns.blogspot.com/2020/03/two-for-one.html), I mentioned that there seemed to be a lot of people in town.  Trying to avoid making a left hand turn onto Main Street, I thought making a right hand turn onto Simons St. as we exited the parking lot from the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House would allow me to circle the block and get to Huron Ave. where I could make my left turn at the stop light.  Alas, that turned out to be an impossibility.  The first street we came to (Washington St.) was blocked off, so we continued on to Dallas Street.  There were cars parked all over the place and people walking everywhere.  Something was definitely going on, but we could not figure it out.  We turned right onto Dallas St. and knew we only had a block to go to get to Huron Ave.  Unfortunately, we could not turn right onto Huron Ave.  It too, was blocked off and for the first time, we could see why – there were a ton of tents set up on Huron Avenue with hundreds of people walking in and out of them.  There was an Art Fair going on!!!

Called the Lexington Fine Arts Street Fair, this event has taken place every first weekend of August since 1982.  It is one of the most respected art fairs in the state, and features as many as 200 artists from around the U.S. and Canada.  Exhibitors include painters, print makers, ceramists, jewelers, photographers, sculptors, leather, wood, glass, and fiber artists.  They kick the event off each year on the Friday eve of the art fair with Music in the Park.  The art fair itself is open Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10:00 am.  There is food, music, art, and fun for everyone.  This year’s fair will be August 1^st through the 2^nd.

It was another one of those pleasant unexpected surprises - unfortunately we did not have the time to stay and check it out.  What I had to figure out was how to get back on course.  Since I was not able to turn right onto Huron Ave, I turned left and ended up in the marina, with no where else to go.  I had to retrace my route all the way back to Simon and Main Streets and made the left turn onto the busy street that I tried to avoid 15 minutes earlier. 

As we headed south on Main Street, we got to pass through the downtown section of Lexington.  Again, these towns and villages along the coast of Lake Huron are quaint and homey, and Lexington was no exception.  With a population of 1,106 (2017), Lexington’s history is intertwined with that of Lexington Township.  The Township was organized in 1837, making it the oldest township in Sanilac County (which at the time also included Huron and Tuscola counties).  That same year, the John Smith family traveled from Canada and was the first to settle in Lexington (which was actually called Greenbush at the time). They built a log house on the shore of Lake Huron. 

The village was renamed Lexington in 1845, presumably named after Lexington, Massachusetts.  An act of legislature on December 3, 1848, authorized the organization of Sanilac County as a separate county with Lexington as the county seat.  Lexington was incorporated into a village in 1855, and is still a village to this day.  The village flourished as the economic center of Sanilac County through the mid-1800’s because of the lumber, farming, and fishing industries.  Lexington became a popular resort town during this period.  The Cadillac House was built in 1859 and became a popular hotel for guests visiting the region.  The Cadillac House still stands today and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.  It purportedly is haunted, so it is a popular place for ghost hunters and other paranormal enthusiasts.

Lexington remained the county seat and a major lake port until the county seat was moved to Sandusky in 1880.  The great fires of 1871 and 1881 spared Lexington, although it did end the lumbering era for the region.  By the early years of the twentieth century, many of the village’s major industries had closed, including the local brewery, foundry, and organ factory. The woolen mill burned in 1900 and its operations moved to Port Huron. Another major blow came with the historic storm of 1913 which took out all the major docks in Lexington.  Much of the shipping for the Thumb region that had previously centered on Lexington was moved down to Port Huron. At this point, the nearby city of Croswell became the economic center for the township and Lexington lost much of its allure as the economic and social epicenter of Sanilac County.

Today, tourism and farming are the main industries in Lexington.  There is a wonderful harbor (built in 1965) for boaters and fishermen, nice beaches and lighthouses short drives away, and many historic buildings to visit in the area.  One of these historic buildings just happened to be the next stop on our quest.  From the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House, we drove 3 ½ blocks to the northwest corner of Hubbard Street and Main Street.  At that corner is the Trinity Church.

In 1869, the first resident Episcopalian missionary, the Rev. Abraham B. Flower, was sent to Lexington and established a congregation known as the Church of the Good Shepherd.  They became a parish in 1871 and the cornerstone for their church was laid in August, 1874.  The church was completed in 1875 and looked much different than it does today.  The original building could seat 200 people, there were no pews (people sat on chairs or benches), and the tall steeple that defines the church today was much shorter and less majestic.  The church was built in the Gothic-style and is known for its elegant wood interior comprised of ash and butternut.  In the early 1900’s, Mary Moore was responsible for the refurbishment of the interior of the church to its current state.  Mary Moore was known for being the wife of Alfred Sleeper, the governor of Michigan from 1917 to 1920 and who was a vestryman and warden at the church until he and Mary moved to Bad Axe.  A parish hall was added in 1949.  In January, 1972, the parish was renamed the Trinity Episcopal Church.

We hung around the church for a fair amount of time, taking several pictures and exploring the grounds.  It was now nearly 3:30 and we were burning light.  It was time to hit our second winery of the day, so we set off for your next destination.

#michiganwinesandsigns #michigan #history #michiganhistory #wine #michiganwine #winetasting #historyisbetterwithwine

Two for One

Old Town Hall and Masonic Temple

Date Visited:  August 3, 2019

Stop:  #37

We completed our visit to the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House by walking all of 100 feet or so to the historical marker located at the northwest corner of the building – the shortest distance we have had to travel from one site to another on our quest so far.  With our bellies full and our thirsts quenched, we were anxious to learn more about the building we just spent an hour and a half in.  It was kind of cool knowing that we had just eaten lunch and drank wine in a building that had historical relevance back in the day.

The sign focused on the origins of the building and gave a brief history of it as well.  The building was built in 1876 in the Italianate style, and is three stories tall with a cupola topping it off.  The building was financed between the combined efforts of the village of Lexington and the local Masonic Lodge. 

Old Town Hall and Masonic Temple: Built in 1876, the three-story building on Main Street/M-25 served as the municipal offices and local Masonic lodge. The village government operated on the first two floors until 1982. The building is now home to Old Town Hall Winery. A Michigan historical marker is located at the site.

Background: "Built in 1876, the second floor housed the Town Hall and was commonly known as The Lexington Opera House. This was the cultural center for the town. The Masonic Lodge owned the third floor and built The Old Town Hall.The old fire hall was located on the first floor."

#michiganwinesandsigns #michigan #history #michiganhistory #wine #michiganwine #winetasting #historyisbetterwithwine

Struck by Cupid's Arrow

Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House

Date Visited:  August 3, 2019

Stop:  #36

Our Michigan Wines and Signs quest, Eastern Thumb Loop, was gaining momentum – we had visited 7 historical markers in 3 hours.  Even with the extra stop at the roadside park after our visit to the White Rock School, we had actually picked up our pace (I guess officially, we had made 8 stops in 3 hours!!).  It was a few minutes after 1:00 pm and we were getting very hungry and very thirsty, so we were primed for our first wine stop of the day.  After we left the Great Storm of 1913 historical marker, we drove 9.5 miles south into Lexington.   What we didn’t know at the time was that the wine house we were going to visit was also the site of our next historical marker as well – two for the price of one!!!  This would really improve our average stops-per-hour rate and gave us a glimmer of hope that our original objectives for the day could be met.  Or would it?

As we entered Lexington, there seemed to be a lot of people in town.  It was challenging to find a spot to park, but we got lucky and found a space in the lot right next door to the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House, our next stop on our quest.  This place is the wine tasting facility for the Blue Water Winery and Vineyard.  The winery itself is actually 8.1 miles north of the Wine House, located at 7131 Holverson Rd. in Carsonville.  The winery, as well as the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House, are owned by Connie Currie and Steve Velloff.

Connie and Steve were high-tech software executives living and working in Chicago.  After a few years of research with wine industry experts from the University of California (Davis), they found 10 acres of land outside of Lexington, Michigan, that they felt was a perfect place to start a vineyard.  In 2005, they bought the land, quit their jobs, moved to Michigan, and set their dreams in motion.  The vineyard was started from scratch – they had to clear the land and then planted a wide variety of cold-climate varietals.  All their sweat and muscle has paid off nicely for them.  Since 2012, they have won several prestigious awards for their wines:

2012 Best of Class Gold LA International - Gruner Veltliner
2013 Gold Medal San Francisco International - Cab Franc
2014 Silver Medal San Francisco Chronicle - Pinot Noir
2015 Silver Medal Michigan Wine and Spirits - Cupids Arrow
2017 Bronze Medal San Francisco Chronicle - Riesling

Beginning in 2013, Connie and Steve began planting and growing hops for their brewery as well. 

Connie and Steve opened the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House in 2009 in the former Old Lexington Town Hall and Masonic Temple building (more on this building in my next blog).  Connie is the winemaker and Steve is the brewmaster.  The Brewing Company and Wine House has an outdoor sitting area along the storefront.  The inside has an old-time atmosphere about it, with its brick walls and dark wood tables, chairs, and bar.  On this particular day, the place was packed and we had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear before we could be seated.  We were fortunate to get a booth along the brick wall so we had a great view of the whole place.  It was tempting to pick a beer off the blackboard beer menu hanging on the back wall, but we were on a wine quest, so the beer would have to wait for another day.  Our waitress was very nice, but was being kept very busy by the large crowd.  That gave us plenty of time to figure out what we were going to eat, and what wines we were going to drink.

The menu was rather simple – two different flatbread pizzas, 7 “Small Bite” selections (like chips and salsa, warm bread and dipping oil, and Jeff’s Brat and Kraut), and 4 different shareable platters (i.e. charcuterie board, fruit and cheese board, etc.).  We decided on the Chips and Salsa, and the Cheese and Pepperoni Flatbread pizza.  Next, it was deciding on what wines to try.  You can order by the glass ($5 to $7 per glass), by the bottle ($15 to $24 per bottle), or by the flight (four 2.5-oz. pours for $10).  It goes without saying that we all decided to go with a flight.  On this day, we got to choose from a list of 4 white wines, 10 red wines, and one dessert wine.  So, here is the lineup that each of us got:

Sarah: 

•  Blond Bombshell (Dry fruity, and floral white wine)
• When in Rome Red (Dry, full body, mineral, long finish, medium tannins)
• Marquette ’18 (Dry, big flavor and tannins red wine) 
• Cupid’s Arrow (port infused with chocolate and raspberry)

Kathy:

• Cab Franc ’15 (dry, hint of raspberry and spice, earthy red wine)
• Chambourcin ’16 (dry, medium body, cherry overtones, low in tannins, red wine)
•  Cherry (a bit on the tart side)
• Cupid’s Arrow

John:

• Semi-Dry Riesling (apples and pears overtones)
• Sweet Pinup Red (round and sweet)
• Concord (flora and fruity)
• Cupid’s Arrow

So, the flatbread pizza was awesome – we only got one pizza to split amongst the three of us, and we should have definitely gotten at least two.  All of the wines were pleasant, but we definitely had our favorites.  Sarah liked the Marquette, and she walked out with a bottle of that.  We all liked the Cherry, so that was another two bottles.  And I really enjoyed the Sweet Pinup Red, but I restrained myself and chose not to get a bottle.  But there was one wine we all raved about, and that was Cupid’s Arrow, the dessert wine.  We were trying to decide how many of those we were going to buy when our waitress wandered by and mentioned that all bottles of wine would be 50% off on the Thursday coming up.  I could hear the gears churning in Kathy’s head, so before she could even suggest it, I resolved in my mind that I would be roadtripping to Lexington on Thursday afternoon. 

And sure enough, that is exactly what I did.  Kathy and Sarah were going to attend a wine conference in Lansing that Thursday night and then meet me in Caseville for the first weekend of Cheeseburger in Paradise.  I, on the other hand, was to drive to Caseville Thursday night by way of Lexington (only an hour out of the way) with our two pups in tow and pick up eight bottles of Cupid’s Arrows at half price.  I walked into the Brewery and Wine House just a little after 7:00 pm and walked straight up to the bar.  I told the bartender I wanted to buy 8 bottles of Cupid’s Arrow and she got someone to retrieve the bottles for me.  While I was waiting, I mentioned that one of the bottles of wine was going to make its way to the Czech Republic (a gift for Sarah’s future in-laws), and the bartender says “OMG” and then tells me that her best friend’s grandmother was from the Czech Republic and that they went to visit the country just recently to trace her escape from Communist controlled Czechoslovakia to the States.  In honor of that friendship, the brewery made a Czech Pilsner, so I had to at least sample it.  Turns out it was outstanding, so I bought a growler of it with the intent of drinking it with Sarah’s fiancée, Martin, when he came into town.  So, that was a pleasant surprise and definitely added to the value of driving an hour out of the way to get to Caseville.

Overall, our visit to the Lexington Brewing Company and Wine House was very enjoyable.  The food was good, the wine was great, the service was really good, and we all loved the atmosphere.  I especially enjoyed that fact that we were eating and drinking in an historical building.  Looking at my watch, I was surprised to see that it was 3:00 pm so it was time to go outside and read the historical marker about the building we just spent an hour and a half in!!!  It was also looking like our goals for the day would not be met seeing as it took 2 hours to cover the last two stops.

#michiganwinesandsigns #michigan #history #michiganhistory #wine #michiganwine #winetasting #historyisbetterwithwine