The perfect Sea Food Pinot Gris…

This summer’s family vacation found the Wife and me travelling to great cherry country of Northern Michigan. Where along with many other parts of the country, a large wine industry is emerging. This has been fueled by the decline in profitability of cherry growing and the exceeding endless demand for grapes, turning the former cherry capital of the nation into a large grape growing mecca. Our overall experience at the wineries in the old mission peninsula area of northern Michigan was very hit or miss, but one surprise was the great wines we found at Black Star farms and Winery.

Black Star farms has two locations, one on Old mission peninsula itself, and one on the western shores of west arm Grand Traverse Bay. Although they do share some of the same wines, each winery does have unique wines available only at that location, and the latter also produces a very yummy cheese on premise. It also boast a café that if we were to go back, we would stop at for lunch.
2010 Arcturos Pinot Gris is made from grapes from their seven hills vineyard on old mission peninsula, and was the perfect complement for our grilled scallops and grilled eggplant and tomato with pesto salad that the wife made. This vintage had a delightful lemon zest/lemon grass nose, although not nearly as lemon grassy as found in a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and ends with just the hint of something sweet almost vanilla sugar like. The taste came through very crisp with grapefruit flavor much like that found in a Fresca soda. It was balanced with effervescent qualities and clean finish, an important quality for my enjoyment of white wines. This Pinot gris contains .8% residual sugar, and is the perfect match to any grilled or steamed seafood dish.