The Mrs. and I spent last weekend on
Michigan’s Mission Peninsula. For those of you uncertain of northern Michigan
geography trivia, the peninsula is the center (land) arm of a large W while the
two wings of the W are the waters of Lake Michigan. A mile or so wide, this
peninsula offers panoramic views of two unsalted blue oceans that can be seen
simultaneously at some elevated spots. The region enjoys milder weather than
most 45-degree latitude places in the world and has long been known as the
center of Michigan’s cherry-growing region.
The
reason for our visit was a chance to mooch off friends who happen to own a
lovely home situated on the northern tip of the peninsula. The specific
occasion was the region’s annual Blossom Day (more about this later). The
Blossom Day, we learned later, is on Saturday while on Sunday, local clerics
head up an event known as The Blessing of the Blossoms.
Blossom
Day is a big deal that requires months of planning and coordination by a number
of businesses on the peninsula. This year they hit it just right. On Saturday,
the blossoms reached their peak and we were awed by the thousands (maybe
millions) of cherry trees in full bloom as they sparkled in full sun on a day
of perfect weather. The sea of pinkish-white cherry blossoms shimmered against
a backdrop of blue while adjacent apple blossoms offered a slight concession to
chlorophyll as their adjacent green leaves had just begun to form. It was a
treat to drink in the view.
Drinking
is the second treat of Blossom Days. We learned that cherry-growing on the
peninsula has a growing competitor; growing of grapes in the many vineyards has
also become big business. Our activity on the weekend included wine tasting at several of the vineyards as they
all celebrate Blossom Day. (I wanted to tell how many wine tastings I gulped
down, but I lost track after the first seven or eight.)
All the wine was wonderful and I
learned several things about winemaking from the head vintners who poured for
us as some of the establishments. For example, did you know that the best wines
are aged in white oak casks made from oak trees grown in France? Apparently,
oak trees in the US are partial to whiskey [whiskey makers use US white oak]
while exclusive wineries favor French forests. Further, wine barrels are
toasted before use while whiskey barrels are charred and both are used only two
or three times before they become bar stools in darkened pubs.
The most important thing I learned
is that, contrary to my former belief, good wine doesn’t taste like grape pop.
Rather, fine wines can have flavors like “a hint of pears and apples followed
by a crisp finish with notes of bananas.” I never tasted the bananas. Perhaps
it is because I have drunk too much dandelion wine that tastes like dandelions
and rhubarb wine that tastes like rhubarb. Or maybe it is because the Mrs. ages
her wine in used glass bottles instead of French casks, I don’t know. But, I
did learn one thing; I will plan on more wine tasting even without waiting for
Blossom Days.
