This article was originally featured in the December 2014 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.
Whether a rich Rioja red to pair with your roast beast or racy off-dry riesling to complement a cheese tray, December is an oeno-intensive month. Lucky for us the North is filthy with enlightened independent wine merchants to help you drink in or outside of your comfort zone, inform food pairings and showcase local vino alongside value and variety from across the greater world of wine. Read on this month as we find liquid love in the case stacks and bins of the North’s fine bottle shops.
Esperance
12853 US31 North, Charlevoix 231.237.9300Esperance’s massive temperature-controlled cellar is stocked with rare Burgundies, grower Champagnes and delicious work-a-day wines meticulously selected by sommelier and proprietor Pram Acharya.
Burritt’s Fresh Market
509 West Front Street, Traverse City 231.946.3300Tasty bargains from Potter Valley, California to Puglia, Italy, spill out of wooden crates lining the gleaming meat counter, while in the adjacent room Burritt’s swank and expansive cellar is stocked floor to ceiling with bubbly, barolo and craft beer.
Folgarelli’s
424 West Front Street, Traverse City 231.941.7651Case stacks of Cannonau and Corbières are right at home beside olive barrels, aging salumi and fresh-cut pasta at this Old World TC landmark.
The Blue Goat
875 East Front Street, Traverse City 231.941.9463Offering a large spread of local wines, the Blue Goat also gives access to the entire wine world with thousands of bottlings from hemispheres north and south, east and west.
Bon Vin
539 East Eighth Street, Traverse City 231.421.8577TC’s youngest shop, run by savvy longtime winos Ric Cerrini and Mark Dressler, is an oeno-emporium of food-friendly values and titillating esoterica from Austria, Portugal, Spain and beyond.
Elk Rapids Wine Shop
100 River Street, Elk Rapids 231.264.9000Wine industry veteran Rob Crandell and his wife, Mary, stock a variety of vino values culled from their wine country travels. Sample exciting new wines at the weekly Friday night tastings.
Boyne Country Provisions
127 Water Street, Boyne City 231.582.2151High, hammered ceilings and exposed brick play a charming backdrop to hundreds of boutique offerings from Northern California to Southern France in this classy Boyne City cellar. Check out owner Ed Brehm’s Wine of the Week.
Symons General Store
401 East Lake Street, Petoskey 231.347.2438California collector wines, small batch pinot noirs and a smattering of classified growth Bordeaux make this wine nook a must-see for anyone rolling through Petoskey.
Toski Sands Market
2292 M119, Petoskey 231.347.1571Specializing in high-profile vino sold at super competitive prices, Toski Sands moves boxes in and out by the truckload. Cabernet fans rejoice!