A Grape’s Sense of Place

Grapes here in Northern Michigan have a sense of place, according to Nicole Birdsall, winemaker at Leelanau Cellars, who comes to the area from California. Quoted in "Women of Wine," an article by Rick Coates in the November 1 issue of Northern Express, Nicole states: "What impresses me most, and the advantage I see that this region has over California, is the terroir (a special shared sense of geographical/regional characteristics that give added personality to wine). There is a sense of place here for the grapes that are grown, and that was not always the case where I came from. This sense of place is important, and I think this region is growing the right grapes that match climate and soil. It makes a difference."

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