Appellation America recently ran an interesting piece on how the unique and ‘sparsely grown in America’ grape varietal Auxerrois has found it’s way into Leelanau and is doing quite well for a couple of LPVA wineries. Worldwide less than 500 acres of this varietal are being grown.

In the Leelanau Peninsula AVA of northwest Michigan’s lower peninsula, Auxerrois stands on its own as a 100 percent varietal. Both Charlie Edson, owner/winemaker at Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery, and owner/winemaker Dan Matthies of Chateau Fontaine Vineyard & Winery have made award-winning bottlings of Auxerrois. Because he believes that consumers should know, right out of the gate, what the grape variety is, Edson labels it varietally, but Matthies gives it the proprietary name Woodland White, because he believes it’s easier to market.

Continue reading the interview with Dan Matthies and Charlie Edson at AppellationAmerica.com…

For more information on the Auxerrois varietal visit Wikipedia…

Photo credit: Chateau Fontaine Vineyard III by lpwines